Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1884-02-20

must be circumspect lest his rlslolllties
would be,ray him, Ma, what do you
suppose Joe has come for?
Pm sure l don't know replied
mother, composedly stirring another
handful of meal into the boiling mush
which was TO be the piece de resistance
of our evening meal.
He has come for wife,
"A wife l did not know he was ac-
ouainted around her.
He isn't. He wants me to recon-
mend him to some girl who is strong
able, and willing to work, knows how
to run a house and Lhesitaung a little
as he saw the contemptuous curve OF
mothers nose and mouth -and I've
spoken about jane
esquire Black y exclaimed mother.
emphasizing her words still further by
a dash Of the pudding stick which sent
the mush flying over the stove.
Jane was farmers daughter who
worked for us summers ana went home
winters TO help do up the spinning,
weaving, and the like.
A mutually satisfactory arrangement
as James services we're more needed at
home in winter than in the summer,
and mother thereby saved the board
aud wages of girl during the winter
when the work was not so heavy. -
Moreover, mother often said Jane put
the work ahead so when she was there
that she could not keep her busy the
year round. ~s.i
Alb, help was help IN those days.
But TO return to our kitchen. Father
had changed his position, getting a
little out of the way of another charge
from the mush-pot where the beating
was going on vigorously.
After a pause be began again. ~.
We'll, ma. Jane is not hound to
marry Joe unless she wants 10. But
perhaps she'll never get another chance
as good. You know yourself that any
Que of Aunt Anna's boys IS bound tc
make good man and smart one.
None too smart II lie thinks 10 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 Stirre'
as never mush before. Another pause
'You know, ma. Jane has been keep
ing company with that trhius DaI
Marcy
why doesn't he marry a girl wb'
knows him If he wants o get married
sourly Inquired mother but the pud
ding stick relaxed its visor slightly ant
father ventured little nearer th'
speaker.
He says the girls up there are al
squams, and down by his mother
they have 100 high notions
We'll, it's heathenish, Frenchidct
wav Of courliug a wife, replied mother
and if he were to come about me tha
way, if were Jane, I'd empty buckle
water ever him.
Maybe she will, maybe she WILL
cbuckled father, who probably woul
have enjoyed that termination OF th'
fair as well as any.
But, ma. you know Jane is terriol
homely, and
What further he would have said wa
cut short by the entrance OF Joe be ar
lng jar and package.
Mother sent these TO you with he
compliments, Mrs. Black
Mother, Who knew the flavor OF Auu
Annals cheese and honey Of old, wa
some what mollifsd by these presents
but she remained rather sulky all ever
ING even when Joe filed her wooc
box, piling the sticks as evenly as lat
in a bundle, filled the water-pails, CT
the kindling, and did the milking
briu ging the pail iu as clean, she col
descesded to tell him, as she woul
herself or-but she checked herself an
did not say or Jane.' .t.
She would be no party to that IN
quitg.
He nearly won her when he r.
peted his text promptly and correct
and knelt reverently at prayers at
she told father he was likely youn
man, but'-her lips shut close, aud sh
} shook her head when she thought
his mission.
But before morning the sky cleared
and things were hurried around Tor q
early start 10 James.
During the ride il was arranged th
father was TO Introduce Joe's errand
the elders, and if they were willm
Joe might thereafter proceed as
liked. -
So upon our reaching the farm fAthe
and Mr.. Holton left Joe and the boy
to put up the team, and they came I
to the house and held conference vii
Mrs. Holton while Jane was busy bull
!, ing the fire in the best room.
The best room of an old-tashloue
farmhouse WAS dreary enough. Tn
one had bright yarn carpet, sewers
srli, bot tlomed and wooden chairs viii
patchwork cushions, low-back'
/ rockiny-chair, wooden 'settee, u
Bile with the Bible, Baxter's Call
{ the Unconverled,' an almanac, and
file Of the Christian Era. A lew 81
houetles and prints from magszln'
I were on the walls ; but, after all, /
only ornaments were the scrupulou
cleapIiness and it's big fireplace.
~ t-:.l -, o, tousahol