McCook weekly tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 188?-1886, 1884-01-31

must be circumspect lest his risibilitie
would betray him, ''Ma, what do yol
think Joe has come forp'
"I'm sure I don't know" replied
mother, composedly stirring anothe
handful of meal in the boiling musl
which was to be the piece de resistance o
our evening meal.
'He has come for a wife,"
"a wifep l did not know he was &C
qnainted around here"
s'He isn't. He wants me to recon-
mend him to some girl that is strong
able and willing to work, knows how
to run house and hesitating a little
as he saw the contemptuous curve or
my mothers nose and mouth and I've
spoken about Jane"
esquire Black" said mother empha-
sizing her words still further by dash
of the pudding stick which sent the
mush flying over the stove.
Jane was q farmers daughter who
worked for US summers and went home
winters to help do up the spinning,
weaving and the like.
A mutually satisfactory agreement,
| as James services were more needed at
home in the winter than in the summer,
and mother thereby saved the board
and wages of girl during the winter
when the work was not so heavy. More
over, mother often said that Jane put
the work ahead so when she was there
that she could not keep her busy the
year round.
All, help was help in those days. But
to return to our kitchen. Father had
changed his position, getting little out
of the way of another charge from the
mush-pot, where the beating was going
on vigorously.
After pause he began again.
swell, ma, Jane is not bound to
marry Joe unless she wants to. But
perhaps she'll never getanother chance
as good. You know yourself that any
one of Aunt Annals boys is bound to
be good man and smart one.'
''None too smart if he thinks to get
wife in this way" snapped out mother.
''Let HIM try, ma, if he wants to;
let him try. 1t won't hurt him to have
the conceit taken out of him."
No reply, but the mush was stirred
as never stirred before. Another pause.
"You know, ma, Jane has been keep
ing company with that trifiing Dan
Marcy"
"Why doesn't he marry a girl who
knows HIM if he wants to get mar
ri3d?" sourly inquired mother; but the
pudding stick relaxed its vigor slightly
and father ventured little nearer the
speaker.
"He says the girls up there are all
squaws, and down by his mothers they
have too high notions.''
"Well, it's a heathenisb way of court
ing a wife," replied mother, "and if he
were to come about me that way, if l
were Jane, I'd empty a bucket of water
over him."
"Maybe she will. maybe she WILL"
chuckled father, who probably would
have enjoyed that termination of the
affair as well as any.
"But, ma, you know Jane is terribly
aomely, and
What further he would have said was
tut short by the entrance of Joe bear
ng a jar and package.
Smother sent these to you with her
Mrs. Black
Mother, who knew the flavor of Aunt
Annals cheese and honey of old, was
notified by these presents,
,ut she remained rather sulky all tie
evening; even when Joe filled her
vood-box, piling the sticks as evenly as
ath in a bundle, filled the water-pails,
ut the kindling, did the milking, bring
ng the pail in as clean, she conde-
cended to tell him, as she would her
elf or-but she checked herself and
i'd not say cor Jane.''
She would be no party to that in
guilty.
He nearly won her when he repeated
is text promptly and correctly and
melt reverently at prayers, and she
old her father she was likely young
lan," but-her lips shut close, and she
hook her head when she thought of his
lissiOn.
But before morning the sky cleared,
nd things were hurried for an early
art to James.
During the ride it was arranged that
timer was to introduce Joe's errand to t
he elders, and if they were willing Joe {
light thereafter proceed as he liked. I
So upon our reaching the farm father
nd Mr.. Holton left Joe and the boys to +
ut out the team, and they came up to '
le house and held conference with e
rs. Holton while Jane was busy build
z the fire in the best room. v
The ''best room" of an old-fashioned
rm house was dreary enough. This {
le had bright yarn carpet, several v
lit bottomed and wooden chairs with q
cushions, a low-backed
cking- chair, a wooden sssettee," i,
bic with the Bible, Baxter's "Call to Il
e Unconverted," an almanac and "
e of the Christian Era. A few sill b
uettes and prints from magazines II
ere on the walls; but, after all, its
ly ornaments were the scrupulous c,
Nd .<,