The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1884-03-06
HANS Won WILCOX.
An Old Fashioned Story in New
Fashioned Dress.

SIDE lIONlI-
toned ciliianey-eCrner and the summers rock
inc themselves on the broad. low rooted porch
overlooking broad meadows sweeping down TO
the blue SusqEehaana.
The Noa Yiliocks were thrifty race, and old
Fritz had Inherited richly from his ancestors,
not only Of noble lands and chests OF home
spun, aad good. round. shining silver dollars,
but OF those rarer domestic gifts which no
money can bay ald no love confer, but which
follow naturally enough the descendants of
long line Of prGaent marriages foresight, close
fstadscss aud thrift.
Fritz Non Eillock's life had been one Of in
cess2nt toll until his son grew old enough 20
share his lahors and has pains, bat, as every
thing lie touched was prosperous, he always
wore CHEEKY, smiling aspect aad grew rotund
and Tnaly as the years diminished his jctty
locks. Aud, iftie Ruth must be told, his toll
WIS no. Of The sackng sort; for he always had
trocp o. lew tliick-sel Hollandcrs IN bsue short
froeks and yellow brooches, who handled the
plough and the rake and groomod the sleek. lat
horses that were hitched four and sometimes
six 81 them, 10 tie great covered Gccp-b2ttoied
wagons that carried the grain and vegetables
over Tie rambling turnpike to Philadelphia aad
Lancaster Then, too. Fritz had always Insisted
on his mag Ct nlu.lad cider at bedtime and a
k,g of brown beer 2t Christmas and al harvest
tire, which he deemed very essential to the
health OF both mind and body.
As for Frau Won Wilcox, there was not q
co'nelicr, brighter-eyed, pleasanter spoken dame
this side of tie ocean. And like herself her
house was neat as pin, and, all in eli. gOoGly to
lc0k upoa The floors were white and sanded !;
the beds heaped high with b;lowy feather beds
and brilliant patchwork; the cellar was sweet
and clean and oaorous of apples aud cTull,rs
and sanaages; the spring-hoase shonc with
crooks OF golden cream Of rolls OF yellow but
ter; the oTcn teened with brown, generous
lo2ves and tempting, juicy pies IN broad yellow
plaiters, and crisp carr0way and spice cakes.
Everything in and about the house betokened
comfort and prosperity, from the shining black
kittens scampeung around the plump, short
skirted rnilk maids TO tie fat contcnted cattle
lowing 1T the b2rn-yard.
And Hans, what broad, strong. sturdy fell
low he was-hale handsome, and happy as
twenty-five years OF health wealth. and par
ental tenderness could make him. Less OF either
has spoiled many = man. but Hans was made
OF excellent material, and could bear rich diet
without growing dyspepiic.
Hans had two sisters, Fritz Won Wilcox s
first wife's daughters; but they had married
years ago and never eaiae home any more, liy-
ing lar away and having numerous families of
their own- So x was that Hans was first and
last and all the time IN the minds of father and
mother And IN their thoughts Of him but one
desire came up TO mar their sweet contentment.
and that desire was that Hans should take
INTO himself wife as If il was an easy
thing to bring into the home of the Won Vii
locks woman who could fill the place of
his capable mother. If Hans thought OF the
matter at ali. il was 10 dismiss it speedily.
being sensitsle fellow, with the remarks:
Girls are too idle and bothersoIne nova
days. When can find one as good and indus
ffious as my mother I'll marry her. which
looks as though ! should live single the rest OF
my days"
And Hans kept on going 10 cuttings and hnsk-
inss and apple-cuts and let the girls pet and
panpcr him To their hearts content, vet never
20 much rs limited that he wanted wife. much
70 the cbagEin and discomfort OF them ALL
Bat by and by the good Frau Won Wilcox
took severe cold and was SO stiff with rheuDa-
tism IN her joints that she could not look after
her maids and could scarce hold her knitting
needles IL hsr busy fingers And the bread be-
gan 10 be soggy, aud the kraut TO spoil in
the barrels, ard The butter to look streaked
and lnarbled and the milk 10 turn sour IN the
coffee and the bsds 10 get uneven and lnmpy,
and The lint to stick TO the dishes, and even
Hans beautiful Sunday shirts 10 cling limp
and rnupled 70 his broad BOSOM
Then FRAU Won Wilcox called her son to her
and admonished him upon the necessity OF
bringing home a wife, and that right speedily
Now. Fran Ven Wilcox had fixed upon q
yonng girl who would be best Of all suited foI
Hans wife. bit she would not have been the
wise woman she was had she told him so. In
stead. she said:
Hans my son, is there no one you like bet
Ter iAaa another among al the Susquehanns
naidsy1
and HAIRS admitted that there was one. OF
Father three, but he thought the little one
pleased him best Of all
But she IS idle. mother, and too much of a
butterfly 10 bring home TO FIJI the place of my
mother in the great house Of the Won YilIocks.'
Bat great was Frau Won Nillock's JOY when
he added
Mother, 1t i Bertha GeroIdv
For Bertha was her pride and Joy, and she
knew that the butterfly abroad was a thrifty
little eiik-worFn at home who spun wonderful
garments and filed the house with treasure
but ike the wise woman she was she only
sighed and closed her eyes as if in pain Aftel
awhile she took Hans hand and told him o
piGn that had just come to her.
Hans listened with his handsome eyes and
mouth both open, and when she was through
laughed 50 long and heartily that the greai
brass andir0ns on the hearth ratified with plee
Next morning Hans was up bright and early
c0snbing his brown curly hair, and trying Oh
his ru1led dicky. Then be put on his best jeaI
suit and his tasseled boots, took down red rid
ing whip from over the looking-glass swung
his saddle over his shoulder and went whistlint
down stains 10 his breakfast Of eggs and bacon
Throwing the saddle on the stoop he entered
for a moment has mothers room, saying, Visit
me JOY, by mother; shall bring you home th,
finest girl Oh the Susquehanna for your daugh
Ter"
Hans ate his breakfast in silence answering
only yes and no 10 his fathers man,
seUestions and IN another quarter was ridin)
down the turnpike at a furious, pace In
little time lac had reached the farm of tn,
Heinmuellers, and q moment more drew III
before the sto0p where the pretty Nina st0ot
with a broom in her plump, brown hands.
20 Nina, my brown horse is sick, and moth
ing VIII help him but some scrapings from
bread-bowl Mother has none aud sent me L
yon. Can you give me some, and save mucl
sorrow 10 me and mineS"
And the pretty Nina dropped her broom ant
ran quickly away for the bread bowl, but witt
all her scraping and scraping, she could onl,
get him teaspoonful; and again he mountel
HE horse and rode rapidly on.
il was working well. this wise mother
scheme; for Frau Won Wilcox had said. 81 Who
ever keeps clean bread-bewI is saving an,
tidy and cleanly, my SON"
And be had vowed that either Nina Helm
mueller Rosa Bortz, or Bertha Gerold Shout
be his wife by test like this. But as he rod
rapidly on, how obstinate the wish became tha
Bertha Gerold should fall TO his lot, butterf
though she was and idle maybe.
Rosa Bortz stood at the gate as he came ~
and as Hans scanned her closely he though
fhc had never seemed SO untidy before. dc
haIr was frowsy. her slippers down at the hee
and he distinctly saw two grease spots on he
home-spun dress. And he said 10 himsei
IL 49,