Morris tribune., 1882-06-29
WHY PEGGY MARRIED SILAu
Her Own Account oft to a Sympa-
thizing Friend.

Springfield Republican.
l used to be called an old maid,
think old Nancy Vincent was jealous, or
she meyer would have started out all
over the heighborhood on purpose to tell
folks that was cut for an old maid. But
thanks to my knowledge of human ma
ture, 4 have at last got good man, and
Nance may storm and whistle till her
mouth is all out of shape, for what
care. l married Silas Harris one year
ago, asd am going to tell you all about
it.
You see old Mrs. Harris got took down
sick, an they had no one to do the
housework, sich as bakin', washin', iron
in, an sweepin'; so I, feelin' kinder
tender heartfelt always was a tender
hearted creeter-I went up there an
told Mr.. Harris, which was Mrs Harris
son, that would stay an help 'em, if
they couldn't git anybody that would
suit 'em better.
Nancy Vincent has been here and
offered her services" said the old lady.
Then she has been here, has she??"
was afraid after had spoken that they
would notice how mad was, but they
didn't; and told 'em plainly that all
Nance Vincent was after was husband,
told 'em about her cookin', what mis-
cradle bread she made, what figure
she cut at the meetin' house, with a-a
her hustle clean up to her shoulders
and told all about her tryin' to catch
Parson Smiths son, who is only about
cH1 l.
out she might be seventy.
don't want Der here" said Mrs Harris.
You'd better believe that l was glad
to hear her say so. Mr.. Harris has a
good farm, nice house an barn, and l
had no notion of lettin' old Nance come
in ahead of me, though never did care
anything about the men sex, never;
still l didn't intend to have the wool
pulled over my eyes. I always knew
her to be pesky old gossip. I don t
tell stories about my neighbors, and L
don't CAD all over town-unless there is
something to CAD about.
"She is all I've told you and more too"
said l, and then Mr.. Harris, who is now
my husband, told me to come and stay
with his mother and he would pay nc.
Il don't ask no pay" said /. She is
my neighbor, and neighbors should
help each other in case OF sickness"
well, comeif you can and / will see
that you don't loose anything By it,
Of course l went right up there; what
else could do? Mrs. Harris made me
then baked some pies, and then, as
it was near supper time, 1 cooked
some nice slap jacks, for l knew silas
liked slap-jacks' Then l put a clean
white spread on the table, placed
some of my riz bread on, together
with some of my best ounce sauce
that 1 had brough int from home, fixed
the slap-jacks, butter and tea in their
places, then I blowed the horn to cal
Silas to supper.
Pretty soon he came in, but who do
think was with him? Why, nobody
but old Nancy Vincent. 1 was mad!
She went right up to Mrs. Harris
and, taking paper parcel from under
her old ya1ler shawl, said: 'I thought
you'd need some cookip' done, bein' SC
unwen like an not being able to work
an l took the liberty to bring yol
some chicken an cheese" then she
laid her victuals on the table and looked
at Silas, while her old mummy face
wrinkled up into what she meant t.
| w Il Sllllt. UlL IL lOOhSu IuUIo llhc i
dried bacon, 80 years old.
''Thank you very much, but we've
got good cook" said Mrs. Harris.
"Is She the one?' and Nance pointed
at my face, while her squirting greer
eyes fairly snapped sparks.
II came with the intention of helping
our sick neighbor until she was able Il
help herself" answered.
You did, did you? l don't see wha
you are meddlin' around in"
"She is not to blame. told her t.
come" suddenly broke in Silas.
"Then I s'pose it's all right, if yor
told her to come, but there's folks il
the world that knows more about sick
ness and nursin', l can tell you," an,
Nance hounced toward the door.
''Stay and take supper with us, won
your" asked Silas
II don't know but will, seein' as no,
your mother is so unwell."
That's right, Nancy, sit down and b
neighborly once in your life," and
placed chair for her at the table.
. could see that Nance felt dreadful ur
} easy, though felt all right, except ths
l was kinder mad. Silas praised m
sauce, and said my slapjacks were tn
best he ever ate. And Mrs. Harris sal
| my DreaQ C0uldnJ De peat.
Nance never said word, but she wa
the spitefulest lookin' critter ever di
see. 1 determined that I wouldn
touch her old chicken and cheese, an
80 she thought she'd pass it round her
self.
''Try some of my chicken, Mrs. Hal
ris, you'll like it, know you will"
Mrs. Harris took asmall slice, but onl
just tasted of it.
"Have some cheese," and she passe
small piece, gave glance at it and lai
it on the table, with the remark that sh
dare not eat cheese.
you'll take piece, Silas2"
II don't care if do," said he.
She again passed her plate, and Sils
J reached out his hand and took up
piece, but just as he was going to bite O
chunk, little shower of white ski,
pers ratified off into his tea.
You'd better believe he didn't e:
| much of that cheese. He got up, sudde
J like, and said his head ached. I didn
see him again very soon. Mrs. Harr
) said she felt sick to her stomach, an
!; left the room. Nance didn't know VIII.
! to make of it all but she b1lstled up an
/ said I'd been tellln' stories about he
80 that could catch Silas myself.
"You lie, you know you do, Name
Vincentp' I didn't care if I did tai
q plain, bein' as how Silas and Mrs. Harr
= : was out of the room.
4 "You lie yourself, you old cap-setti1
snipep'
Now to be called cap-settin'' snipe,-
to be called 30 by old Nance Vincent,
was more than I conld stand; so we1
: at her, Hammer and tongues"
: "Nance Vincent" said ,-and you
better believe felt mad &c do you thin
I you can. come here, with your old fly
. blown cheese, full Of shippers, with yor
: old chicken, so tough that IA dc
couldn't eat it, with the expectation I
catchin' Silas Harris for husband?"
j "You may talk and talk" said sh,
.. sniveling, 'fbut can tell you one thing
and she looked vindictively at me. "
didn't come here to lie about folks. an