Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1883-08-01
HANNAH'S OFFER.

for me-"
"All right, mother" said Josiah.
"What is it9''
why, I'd like to have Hannah's
help while the boardcrs are here" said
Mrs. Conner. "And If you'll ask her
ma TO let her come, and tell her I'll give
twelve dollars a month, shall feel set
tied. III Hannah Barker won't come
Sarah Smiley will. But Sarah has to
be told everything, and Hannah, she
Just sees what's to be done and does IL.
Come right out about the offer. don't
want 90 be thought to be asking favOrs
ofmy neighbors' daughters; and Hannah
is practical.
Josiah Conner, who had been hoeing
the garden, put his hoe in The corner
and went into the house. He took on
his gray flannel shirt and put on white
one, linen coat and n straw hat with Il
blue ribbon around ii. He further sac
rificed to the graces by tying his most
becoming neck-tie around his throat
under stiff, new collar. His mother
noticed this, but made no remark. She
was rather pleased that he should be
particular for reasons which she kept to
herself.
She watched him go down the road
with u certain pride, for she thought
him very good-looking, indeed. Not
the sort of man for an old bachelor
she thought, "but he's iive-and-thirty
tomorrow, and can't see rs he's taken
Il shine to any one yet"
She sighed as the thought crossed her
mind. For though when son desires
to marry, his mother generally opposes
i. l.. 4. L.
anxious that he should.
Hannah Barker is a capable, Savin'
girl she said to her milk-pan, as she
rubbed il. But beauty Is all young
men ever think of, and Hannah isn't
pretty
And just rs these words passed her
lips Josiah entered the Bankers gate.
Mrs. Barker, n very fat and very stu
pid old lady, was sitting on the porch
shelling peas. She had a reputation
for making a mistake whenever IL was
possible, and Josiah knew it.
Likely enough, if I'm not careful,
she'll think mother wants Hannah to
help her for nothing" he said tn him
self, $50 I'll begin in plain words that
she can't help understanding.
And then he made his bow and said:
Good morning. How is your health,
Mrs. Barker?'
We'll" said Mrs. Barker, slowly.
lit an'tcxtry. but ought To be thankful
ant worse" Mrs. Barker thought il
ungcnteel to be too well, and always
answered in these terms to any inquir-
les regarding her health. "HOw'syour
poor map
There was no one less TO be pitied in
the place than Mrs Common; but your
poor ma was II form she invariably
used in inquiring after any ones mater
nal parent.
"Mother is well, said Josiah, taking
Il seat on the lower step, land she sent
me over to make an offer to Hannah"
"Lorr' said Mrs Barker. dropping
her handful of pea-pods. Il want to
know
you see we've got boardcrs. They're
coming up Monday" said Josiah,
twirling his straw hat, land mother
thinks Hannah beats every girl she
knows. She considers her worth more
than twelve dollars month; but. at
the same time, was To make her that
offer, and she'll consider it favor if
she'll accept it,
" Hannah is worth all that" said Mrs
Barker with sigh. I'm sure don't
know how I'll do without her myself
Still, | hadn't orter stand i'm her way, I
know; and Melissa has made all the gin
gcrbread and sponge-cake for two or
three months. and Samuel can milk the
cows"
"Why. yes. MIXED four at Sans
age said Josiah
| I 20 Innu-ff a,;I
ker. Then she added, calmly: 81 don't
know when was more surprised than
by that offer YOU Jest spoke of making
TO Hannah. | hadn't the least idea il
was thought Of, not for a minute; but
girls are so sly nowadays they don't
tell anything To their poor mothers.
"Oh. it hasn't been mentioned be-
fore" said Josiah Hannah didn't
know. Can say it's scttlcdP"
- For all o1 you may" said Mrs.
Barker; land her poor pa don't inter-
fcrc often, and | don't see why he
should now; but If Hannah don't Know
yet, it seems curious you should speak
to me. You'd oughter ask her first, you
know. | amt Turk. Their poor mas
do sell them unbcknown, I'm told; but
il ant my way"
where is Hannah, Mrs. Barkcr?"
added Josiah. "rll go and ask her
now"
She's down to New York, shop
ping said Mrs. Barker. ''and she man
stay all day; most likely WW. But to-
morrow is Sunday, and I'll have the
lamp lit in the parlor. and you can talk
it over with her. I'll tell her you re
coming, and why, and all. couldn't
keep il to myself. But faint heart new
or won fair lady, Josiah, and nobody
couldn't expect girls poor ma to do
their counting for UNI. YOU know, unless
it UdS them Turk ladies the minister
spoke of, poor dears. | should think
sSo'd say yes. It's her first offer. only
from old Deacon Slinkins. Though
Morris Power is calling sort of irrcgu-
lar-and Hannah Is twenty-one. You
make your offer yourself Josiah.
That's the way to get wife, If you
want one
Then Mrs. Barker arose and went into
the house without further ceremony, and
Josiah, who had come to sudden COM
prehension of her mistake, stood staring
after her, quite dazc, and giddy. What
should he do? Run after her and cy-
plainp That would he n dreadful thing
to do. Perhaps his mother could help
him out of the pickle; and with this
faint hope he ,,urricd home, and arrived
red in the face and utterly breathless.
"Wcll, Betsy Barker has put on the
cap sheaf now" said Mrs. Conner
but, Josiah, wish YOU didn't feel so
about it. ] wish you liked Hannah.
She's girl after my own heart"
II do like her. said Josiah. sheep
ishly. "She's a splendid girl. I've
often thought that II was man that