The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1883-10-19
AT THE WOOL-PICKING.

Good-evenin'. Mis- Hornish.n
"Why, is that YOU, Mis- Manly:
Come in, won't you? I wouldn't a.
knowed you, but for YOUR voice, SEEM
as your bonnet is so fur over your face.
an this ham a-fryin' does make sech
fumes around my head"
Mis- Manly stood in the doorway.
1t was dusk. She wore long gray
bonnet of the kind known as "Shaker, -
with a yOluminous skirt that wrapped
her figure ike comfortable mantle. II
You could have peeped like star within
that bonnet, you would have seen a
Very tired, worn face, and ewes that
looked with something like envy into
the comfortable kitchen where Mis-
Hornish was frying bacon for "his''
supper. In this Western country, the
shy matrons always speak of their hus-
bands as :. hey
g It's SO late l can't STOP" said Mis-
Manly. Il just dropped round to say
Twas tryin' 10 Git up wool-pickin' for
tomorrow. an to see if you an Deb
would come"
Debby Hornish was busy at the iron
ing-table, pressing out a white dress
with an overskirt and three ruffies; but
she stopped moment, pushing back
the little black rings of hair from her
rosy brow, to say:
<.Whv. Mis- Manly, what pityi I'd
have helped you with all the pleasure in
life; but there the picnic, Whatever
possessed you to have the wooI-pickin'
the same day?''
Amt it lust my luck?" cried the
widow. You see, I've been kind o.
slack about my wool: an yestiddv
mornin' Mr.. Simlins said if I'd have it
ready agin Thursday. that he'd take it
in TO Mulkytown an sell it for me. 1t s
the only chance I'll get to send it off.
and wool is up now TO fifty cents in
money, and fifty-five in trade; so I Just
felt as if | must geS it out tomorrow,
come what might"
''How many have promised to
GOMEZ"
''Well, you see, this picnic spoils
everything. 1 could a-got fifteen or
twenty, and we could a-finished it up
before noon. But everybody was plum
crazy about this picnic. amt got the
promise of more'n five ladies, an YOU
know that amt no show at ali to pick
out the wool of twelve sheep; an it
seems like my sheep was always the
.dirtiest sheep-an' the fondest O bram-
bles and Intercollegiate any in the
country"
Here Miss Manly let few tears fall;
mild as the rain of drilling day, and
quite as depressing.
ats too bad for anvthing..'' cried
Mrs. Hornish, with hearty sympathy.
s'I'll come over. of course; but Deb.
you know, couldn't give up the pic
mic"
Law no. it couldn't be expected; I'm
powerful glad to have you. You'll come
early, won't you?"
..Ill be bound that I get over before
you have your dishes done up" said
Mrs. Hornish, with a Jolly laugh.
The Widow Manly took her sad face
home; the supper was dished; "he''
came in from the wheatield; and the
white dress was finished and fiuted; but
somehow Debby Hornish did not feel
quite happy.
s.She did look so pitiful, - she thought,
recalling the pinched little face under
the sun-bonnet. 81 should have beeh
so glad 10 have helped her.
In truth, the poor, complaining little
woman needed help a good many times
IN the course of the year. HE" had
been killed in mill where he worked
some five years before, leaving to his
wife Tour children, small farm, few
sheep and cow; all of which she man.
aged as well as her load of fears, agita-
tons and chills allowed. They all had
ehills, poor things; they had given up
the doctor as vain luxury, but they
bought quinine and calomel by the
pound, and worked on dismaliy be-