The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1884-01-24
Observation-Disclosures.

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the mush flying over the stove.
Jane was farmers daughter, who
worked for US summers and went home
winters to help do up the spinning,
weaving and the like.
A mutually satisfactory arrange
ment, 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. Moreover, mother often sail
that Jane put the work ahead so VIXEN
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 lit
tie out of the way of another charge
from the mush-pot, where the beating
was going on vigorously.
After pause he began again.
..Well, ma, Jane is not bound to
marry Joe unless sne wants to. But
perhaps she'll never get another chance
as good. You know yourself that any
one of Aunt Anna's boys is bound to
make good man and smart one.
None too smart if he thinks to get
wife 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 mush before. Another pause.
"You know, ma, Jane has been
keeping company with that trifing Dan
Marcy"
"Why doesn't he marry a girl who
knows him if he wants to get mar
riedp" 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" !"
'Wen, it's heathenish, Frenchified
| way of courting wife, =" replied moth
er, land if he were to come about me
that way, if were Jane, I'd empty
bucket of water on 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
honlely, and"
What further he would have said was
cut short by the entrance of Joe bear
ing jar and package.
"Mother sends those to you with her
compliments, Mrs. Black"
Mother who knew the flavor of Aunt
Annals cheese and honey of Old, was
somewhat Modified by these presents,
but she remained rather sulky all even
ing; even when Joe filled her wood
box, piling the sticks as evenly as lath
in a bundle, filled the water-pails, cut
the kindling, and did the milking,
bringing the pan in as clean, she con-
descended to tell him, as she would
herself or-but she checked herself and
did not say ''or Jane
She would be no party to that in
iquity.
He nearly won her when he repeated
his text promptly and correctly and
knelt reverently at prayers, and she
told father ''he was likely young
man, but''-her lips shut close, and
she shook her head when she thought
of his mission.
But before morning the sky cleared,
and things were hurried around for an
early start to James.
During the ride it was arranged that
father was to introduce Joe's errand
to the elders, and if they were willing
Joe might thereafter proceed as he
liked.
So upon our reaching the farm father
and Mr.. Holton left Joe and the boys
to put out the team, and they came up
to the house and held a conference
with Mrs. Holton while Jane was busy
building the fire in the best room.
The "best room" of an old-fashioned
farmhouse was dreary enough. This
one had a bright yarn carpet, several
split t-bottomed and wooden chairs with
patchwork cushions, a low-backed rock
ing-chair, wooden "settee," table
with the bible, Baxter's ''Call to the
Unconverted," an almanac, and file
of the Christian Era. A few silhouets
and prints from magazines were on the
walls; but, after all, its only ornaments
were the scrupulous cleanliness and
its big fireplace.
Jane hustled in and out on house
hold and hospitable cares intent, being
given by general consent some oppor-
tunity for an acquaintance and q
chance to see and to be seen before be-
ing told our errand.
You already know what she saw.
What did Joe seep
Jane was, as father had said, unde-
niably homely.
She was tail and angular. Her feet
and hands were large. Her hair was
trifle too red for auburn and not yell
low enough for gold. "Carroty' is
the proper description.
Her light complexion was freckled,
but her cheeks would have shamed the
roses. Her eyes were gray; her nose
had grown very long, and then, as if
wishing to make amends for that mis-
hap, had shaped itself into decided
pug. Her mouth was large and always
smiling, and smiling showed what was
Jane's only beauty-a set of as regular
and white teeth as ever came from
dentists hands.
Her dress was of blue flannel, every
thread spun and woven by herself
The hour or two until dinner was
spent in viewing and discussing the
stock. in telling the scanty news, and
in talking over Uncle Toms Cabin"
which was then appearing as serial,
in all of which Joe took his part sem
sibly and modestly.
At noon we were summoned to an
excellent and bountiful farm dinner.
1t was quite evident that by this time
Jane had been informed of our errand,
for from perfect Inconsistencies she
became suddenly preoccupied, nervous
and blushing. Joe enjoyed his dinner
and did ample justice to it.
After we were all done suddenly
there came break and an awkward
pause in the conversation. Joe cleared
his throat, but without other sign of
embarrassment began:
Miss Holton, I see somebody has
already told you what I've come for,
and it's right l should tell yen some
thing about myself. The Squire he-s
will tell you about my folks.
Il am 25 years old, have never been
sick in my life, don't drink whisky.
or swear, or chew tobacco. am