Cheyenne transporter. [volume] (Darlington, Indian Terr.) 1879-1886, 1884-07-05


from pantry to dairy-and in those
primitive days when neighbors assist
ed each other, and there was friendly
interchange of work in all homely
tasks. how ready the young men
always were, in haying or harvesting,
to lend helping hand to good old
Grandpa Parsons
Lefty, now, at the date of my story,
was in her eighteenth year. About a
mile from her home was the little vii
lage, where some time before, an en-
terprising man who had lately become
owner of farm in Greenplain, had
thought fit to open store. Any one
who has known a remote country vii
lage will remember the variety store"
where "a little of everything is sold,
not only groceries and agricultural inn
plements, but articles of dress and or
nament. John Hartman was n man
of hard, unyielding temper, but of
brisk and cherry address, and his well
known store was very attractive
spot; doubly so; as he united the func-
tions of merchant and Postmaster, and
his place of business was also center
of intelligence.
One autumn lay Hartman was gone
on a business journey, and Lefty had
been visiting his wife during his alb
sence. Hours had passed in social
gossip and exchange of condolences,
and the day was near its close. The
talk had turned on dress and fashion,
when Mrs. Hartman, suddenly rising,
exclaimed:
Lefty, I've something to show you.
John got some new goods from the
store last week when he went to the
city, and there are some lovely things
YOU must see.'
She left the room and directly re-
turned, bringing box of pretty jew
elry. Imitation stone, but to Letty's
inexperienced eyes like the gems of
the Orient. One after another the
pretty things were examined. and loud
were the eXclamations of delight and
admiration,
Lefty" said her hostess, Il am 90
ing to make you present of this set.
They II be vely becoming. Try them
Il! Mrs. Hartman! those beautiful
things"
''Yes, Lefty. I'm going to give them
to you-they're just the thing-I've
been meaning to make you some pretty
present, and I'm glad thought of this.
You've been very good to me-I'm
sure nobody ever found kinder friends
in new place than / have in Green
plain, but there's been nobody like
your folks. Who could have been
kinder than you and your dear grand
mother when my baby was sick last
spring? What could we have done
without you? But, Lefty, if you don't
mind 1 wish you wouldn't wear that
set, or anything about it quite yet;
wait just little while till the rest have
been in the store few days. You see,
these things are new around here, and
John expects they'll be very taking.
So we wouldn't want them seen yet,
you know. The goods will be put in
as soon as Sim Blake gets the new
shelves done. That will be in about a
to waiting, would you, Letty?'
mo, indeed, not a Bit" said Lefty,
stoutly. Not bit. tell you-I'n
wait until Thanksgiving; that won't be
too long. shall have my new crimson
bombazine done, and III wear the
jewelry with it Thanksgiving day.
You're very kind, Mrs. Hartman, and
| am much obliged to you. I'll say
nothing at present, not word even to
grandma.
Days passed on. Sim. Blake, like
many other hard-pushed men, proved
a false prophet, and his fortnight
heightened into month. But the
new shelves were at last up, and the
new goods delighted the eyes of Green
plain.
"Susan," shouted John Hartman,
as he came to dinner the other day