The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1885-06-25
Mother Hawkins's Daughter.in.law
BY MATTE DYER BRITTS

with her apron.
! oval, mebbe twill" sighed the good
ady. "But it don't seem so now. Sit
--p, Mis- Jones; the cream biscuit'll
pile with waitin'. Poor Will he was
so fond O. them biscuits! I'll bet she
can't make 'em! faint his marryin' I
mind so much," she went on, as she
poured the fragrant tea into the thin,
old, china cups. eff he'd a-married a
decent country gal, an let her come
here to live long O ME, wouldn't
a-carcd But no! he must go taggin'
after one O them fnifed city gals!
Notlin' else 'ud do him! Mis- Jones,
do have another lump O sugar in your
tea?"
"No, Mis-. Hawkins, the tea is jest
right now"
oval, take a slice more O. this briled
ham, then! It's our own home-cured
pork"
"Thankye, don't care eff do take a
bite more. don't eat much in general
but your vittles is so good, they kind O.
give one all appetite.
"Wal, yes" said Mother Hawkins,
with another sigh. Twill always lowed
I was fair cook. And he was that
fond O. good eatin'! And low he'll
git none O. it now"
''Mebbe he will, Mis- Hawkins. I've
-, fol1 ,1,rk
was fust rate cooks, an liked the
= country, too"
ooh, yes! they all like to come out
fur q week or so while the berries IS
ripe. But You fetch 'em out an set 'em
to cookin' fur harvest hands when it's
right hot, an you'd see!"
"Wills wife may not be one O. that
Kind, Nancy"
"Bet she is! He found her boardin'
=. in one of them big hotels, where they
go to bed at midnight, and eat break
fast next day after decent folks has
cleared up dinner. I know 'em. An,
amt going to have anything to do
with 'em, that's flat! And I told Will
SO, when he writ for me to come and
see 'em married"
"La, Mis- Hawkins! didn't you go?"
"No, didn't. Here, have another
spoonful O this honey, Mis- Jones-do!
It's made O white clover, and as clear
as can be. There! No, didn't 60,
and writ to Will he needn't fetch her
here. neither"
"Now, Mis- Hawkins! you didn't
really?"
Eyes, did," said the old lady dog
gedly. II know the hull lot O them
city gals-a-switchin 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 bustles, to look like a
camel, an the Lord knows what all
fur don't. But set my face agin 'em
Will is a-makin' money there, and there
hell stay till she spends it all. Then
II want to come back to his old
my. But he can't do it. He left
ther an took up with her, an now
Jest stick to her, an make the
o'his bad bargain! 'Taint any use
ak to me!'
Jones knew the stubborn old
Il enough to believe that. So
no more. But after she got
:, said to her own family:
had as likely a son as Will
aims, wouldn't go back on him fur
TO gal that ever drawed breath; and
I'll bet pretty penny Nancy Hawkins
Lives to WISH she hadn't!'
Meantime, in his cosy home 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.
IT can't help it, Lily" was his reply.
aShe 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.
"Neverw answered Will, firmly,
"Unless business takes rae, shall never
enter my old home, unless you 60, TOO.
If my mother cannot receive my wife,
+ she cannot receive me. It is no use
TALKING to me about it.
There was toucl, of the old lady's
stubborn spirit in the son, you see!
Mother Hawkins was stout, feshy
old lady: but she did all her own work
except for few waeks in summer
when hayipg and harvesting came ON.
- This season, right in the midst O
y haying, Mary Jane. the hired girl, fel
~ out of the haymow. where she wa!
T., hunting for eggs, and broke her arm
q Of course, she had to go home. No
another girl could be got for love o.
money, and so Mother Hawkins had t.
do all herself.
The two hired men could get thu
wood, aud do the milking and churnlng
But Mrs. Hawkins had to sweat ove1
the stove, and the weather growing
hotter every dny.
And one morning Mother Hawkin:
couldn't get up. The hired men go
the best breakfast they could, and thel
Mrs. Hawkins sent one of them afte
Che doctor, bidding him stop on TIN
way home and see if Lucy Jone
<wouldn't come and stay until she coqlt
. find girl
= Now it so happened that importan
:. busfness brought Will Hawkins out t.
Downport that very morning. He dit
not intend to visit his mother; but b.
saw John coming ont of the DOCTOR
office, and he stopped him and Learned
how sick his mother was.
Then he felt in duty bound to call O,
her. He went, and the old lady wa
greatly surprised, and, as he could see
y somewhat pleased to see him.
But not once did she ask for or eve1
allude to his wife.
"Mother, you ought to have girl,
said Will.
"Well, goodness, SO ought" groane'
the old lady. II told John to get Luc
Jones few days, if he could, But sh
amt no manner O count, ifshe comes
And where to get anybody the mere
= knows-l don't I've tried everywhere.