Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1883-02-09


bUt wanted divorces "rznt here md ri4it
Now"
S" III" men went of, and tho women vert hor.e
And h, rclfter viii do their h"usr-ricaniuE
While their former partners srtick"r.
WHY PEGGY MARRIED SILAS.
used 10 ho called an old maid. |
think cid Nancy Vincent WAS icalpu,.
or she newer would have started out
all over the nriyhhoriond on purpose
10 tell folks that | was cut out for III
old mail But thanks to my knowl-
edge of human nature. | have at last
got good man, and Nancy mag
storm and whistle till her mouth is
all ont of shape.for what do | care. |
married Silas Harris one year ago.
and am going TO tell you all about it.
You see old Mrs Harris got took
down sick an they had 10 one to do
the housework. sich as Dakin' washin'.
ironin' an swecpin': So |, fcelin'
kinder tender hearted L always was
an exceedingly tender hearted cree
teri went mp there an told Mr..
Harris, which was Mrs. Harris son.
that l would stay an help EN-. 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?"
1 was afraid after l had spoken that
they would notice how mad [ was.
but they didn't; and | told 'em plain
ly that ali Nan Vincent WAS after WAS
Il husband told 'em about her cook
in, what miserable bread she made.
what a tigScr she cut at the .mcetin'
house. with a-a her hustle clean up to
her shoulders an told all about her
tryin' to catch Parson Smiths son.
who is only about -, and she 81, an
| didn't know but she might ne a.
Well. if she is such Il creature We
don't want her here, said Mrs. Harris
You'd better believe that was glad
to hear her say SO. Mr. Harris had a
good farm, q nice house an barnard
1 had no notion of lc:tin old Nance
come in ahead of Inc though never
did care anything about the men sex.
never; still l didn't intend to have
wool pulled over my eyes. L always
knew her to be apesky old gossip. |
don't tell stories about my ncighbors,
and l don't CAD all over town-unIess
there is something To gad about.
She is all I've told You and more
too" said l, and then MIR. Harris,
which is now my husband. tod me to
come and stay with his mother and
he would pay me.
Il won't ask no pay" said |. ''She
is my neighbor, and neighhors should
help each other in case of sickness"
We'll, come if you can and will
see that you don't loose anything by
it."
Of course, 1 went right up there:
what else could l do? Mrs. Harris
made me bake some riz' bread the
fust thing; then | baked some pies,
and then, as it was near supper time,
| cooked some nice slap jacks. Then
L put a clean white spread on the
table, placed some of lay riz bread on
together with some of my best ounce
sauce, that | had brought from home,
fixed the slap jacks. butter and tea in
their places, then l blowed the horn
to call Silas to supper.
Pretty soon he came in, but who do
yon think was with him? Why, no
body but old Nancy Vincent | WAS
mad. She went right up to Mrs
Harris. and. taking parcel from un
der her old yallcr shawl, said: Il
thought you'd need some cookin'
done, bein' SO unwell Ike an not
bein' able to work. an | took the Ii
berty to bring some chicken an
cheese then she laid her vittlcs ON
the table and looked at Silas, while
her old mummy face wrinkled up
into what she meant to he sweet
smile, but it looked more like u
dried old bacon, sixty years old.
THANK you very much but we've
got a good cook" said Mrs. Harris.
us she the one?" and Nance
pointed at my face. while her squint-
ing green eyes fairly snapped sparks.
Il came with the intention of
helping our sick neighbor until sue
was able to help herself" l answered.
You did. did you? 1 don't see
what you are meddlin' around in"
"She is not to blame. told her to
come" suddenly broke in Silas.
Then 1 s'pose it's all right, if
you told her to come, but there's
folks in the world that knows moro
about sickness an nussin', l can tell
you," and Nance fiounced toward
the door.
"Stay and take supper with us,
won't you?' asked Silas
81 don't know but will seem as
how your mother is SO unwell"
That's right, Nancy, sit down and
be neighborly once in your life" and
| placed a chair for her at the table.
[ could see that Nance felt dreadful
uneasy, though | felt all right. except
that | was kinder mad. Siias praised
ny sauce. and said my slap jacks
We're the best he ever ate. And Mrs.
Harris said my bread couldn't be beat.
Nance never said Il word, but she
was the spiteiulcst lookin' critter |
ever did see. | determined that |
wouldn't touch her old chicken and
cheese. and so she thought she'd pass
it round herself.
Try somo of my chicken, Mrs.
Harris. You'll like it'll know you will"
Mrs. Harris took small slice. but
only just tasted OF it.
Have som" cheese" and she
passed the plate, but the sick lady
only took a small piece. gave q glance
at 1t and laid it on the table, with the
remark that she dare not eat cheese.
You'll take a piece, Silas?"