Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1884-02-14

mend him to some girl who IS strong,
able, and willing to work, knows how
to run house and [hesitating little
as he saw the contemptuous curve of
my mothers nose and mouth and
IYe-spoken-abo
Squire Black!' 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 rs 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 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 lit
| tie out of the way of another charge
from the mush-pot, where the beating
was going on vigorously.
After a pause he began again.
''Well, ma, Jane is not bound to
marry Joe unless she wants to. But
perhaps she'll never get another chance
as good. You know yourself that any
one of Aunt Annals 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
IS never mush before. Another pause.
"You know, ma, Jane has been
keeping company with that tritling Dan
Marcy"
"Why doesn't he marry a girl who
| knows him il he wants to get mar
ried?" 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 q heathenish, Frenchifed
way Of counting a wife, " replied moth
CT, ''and if he were to come about me
that way, if [ were Jane, I'd empty a
| bucket of water on him. p"
''Maybe she will, maybe she will, "
chuckled father, who probably would
have enjoyed that termination of the
affair as we'll as any.
But, ma, you know Jane is terribly
homely, 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 bundle, filed 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
EQUITY.
He nearly won her when he repeated
his text promptly and correctly and
knelt reverently ut prayers, and she
told father she 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 q conference
with Mrs. Holton while Jane was busy
building the fire in the best room.
The 'sbest room" of an old-fashioned
farmhouse was dreary enough. This
one had bright yarn carpet, several
! split-bottOmed and wooden chairs witk
| patchwork cushions, a low-backed rock
| ing-chair, q wooden ''settee," table
| with the bible, Baxter Call to the
| Unc0nverted, " an almanac, and 4 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 a
chance 10 see and to be seen before be-
! iOo told ON, aT,Y,a0d
You already know what she saw.
| What did Joe see?
Jane was, as father had said, unde-
niably homely.
She was tall and angular. Her feet
and hands were large. Her hair was
a trifie 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 nost
had grown very long, and then, as ii
wishing to make amends for that mis-
hap, had shaped itself into decided