The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1885-06-26
Mother Hawkins's Daughter.in.law
BY MATTE pYER BR1rTs.

Mother Rawkins's Daughter.in.la
BY MATTE DYER BR1rrs.
Oh. come now, Nancy! if was you
wouldn't take on! Maybe it'll all turl
out right, said the sociable neighbor
who had dropped in to take dish o
tea. as Mother Hawkins wiped her eve.
with her apron.
oval. mebbe TWILL" sighed the good
lady. "But it don't seem 80 now. Si
up, Mis- Jones; the cream biscuit'l
spile with waitin'. Poor Will! he wa.
80 fond O them biscuits! I'll bet she
can't make 'em! 'Taint his marryin'
mind SO much," she went on, as she
poured the fragrant tea into the thin
old, china cups. "Tf he'd a-married q
decent country gal, an let her come
here to live long O. ME, wouldn't
a-cared. But no! he must go taggin'
after one O. them finified city gals
Nothin' else 'ud do him! Mis- Jones'
do have another lump O. sugar in you,
tea?"
"No, Mis-. Hawkins, the ten is les,
right now."
"Wal, take slice more O. this briled
ham, then! It's our own home.cured
pork"
"Thankye, I don't care Of I do take Q
bite more. I don't eat much in general
but your vittles is 80 good, they kind o
give one an appetite"
"Wal, yes," said Mother Hawkins
with another sigh. "Will always lowed
I was fair cook. And lie was that
fond o good eatin'! And I'low he'll
git none O. it now"
''Mebbe he will, Mis- Hawkins. I've
knowed some O. them city folks what
was fust.rate cooks, an liked the
country, too."
ooh, yes! they oil like to come out
fur week or no while the berries Is
ripe. But you fetch 'em ont an set 'em
to cookin' fur harvest hands when it's
right hot, an you'd see!"
willis wife may not he one O. that
kind, Nancy"
"Bet she is! He found her boardin'
in one of them big hotels. <,cre they
go to bed at midnight, and eat break
fast next day after decent folks has
cleared mp dinner. I know 'em. AM,
amt going to have anything to do
with EN-, that's fiat! And | told Will
so, when he writ for me to come and
see 'em married."
LA. Mis- Hawkinsl litln't You COZ"
"No, | didn't. Here, have another
spoonful O this honey, Mis- .Jones-tlo! !!
It's made O white clover, and us clear
as can be. There! No, | didn't 90,
and writ to Will he needn't fetch her
here. neither"
"Now, Mis- Hawkins! You didn, t
really?"
eyes, I did," said the old lady dog
gedly. II know the hull lot O. them
city gals-a-switclin' an a-dragglin'
their long-tailed gowns, an, a-bangin'
their hair when they ought to have
their heads banged, an a-humpin'
themselves up with blstles, to look like q
camel, an the Lord knows what all
fur l don't. But set my face agin 'em
Will is a-makin' money there, and there
hell stay till she spends it all. Then
he'll want to come bnck to his old
nanny. But he can't do it, Tie left
his mother an took up with her, an now
he may jest stick to her, an make the
best o his bad bargain! 'Tain't any use
to talk to mel"
Mrs. Jones knew the stubborn old
lady we'll enough to believe that. So
she SAID no more. But after she got
home she said to her own family:
"If l had as likely q son as Will
Hawkins, I wouldn't go back on him fur
no gal that ever drawed breath; and
I'll bet pretty penny Nancy Hawkins
lives to wish she hadnt~
Meantime, in his cosy homo IN the
city, Will had been gloomily reading his
old mothers last curt letter.
Don't let it worry you, WILL" said
his bride, soothingly.
~ can't help it, Lily" was his reply.
"She has always been such good moth
er to me that it hurts me to have her
be so wrong and obstinate"
"Go out and see her, and talk it over"
suggested Lily. -
Never" answered viii, firmly.
"Unless business takes me, [ shall never
enter my old home, unless you go, too.
If my mother cannot receive my wife,
she cannot receive me. It is no use
talking to me about it.a
There was touch Of the old lady's
stubborn spirit in the son, you see!
Mother Hawkins was u stout, fleshv
old lady; but she did oil her own work.
except for few weeks in summer.
when having and harvesting came on.
This season, right in the midst Of
haying. Mary Jane. the hired girl, fell
put IF the hayinow, where She was
hunting for eggs, and broke Aey ann.
Qf course. she haa to go home, Not
anotller girl ooull he got for love or
money, and 40 Mother Hawkins had to
do all herself.
The two hired men could get the
wood. aud do tho milking and chnrn,n..
But Mrs. Hawkins had to sweat over
the stove, and the weather growing
hotter every day, ~
And one morning Mother Hawkins
couldn't get up. The hired men got
the best breakfast they could, and then
Mrs. Hawkins sent one Of thqu after
the doctor, bidding him stop on the
way hloMse and SEQ il Lucy Jones
Weulaht come and stay until she could
find girl.
Now it so happesed that important
business brought Will Hawkins out TO
Downport that very morning, He did
not intend "a y.s,s tis mother; but he
saw John coming ont of the doctors
office, and he stopped him and learned
how sick his mother was.
Then he felt in dnty hound to call on
her. He went. and tho old lady was
-.