The Bad Lands cow boy. [volume] (Little Missouri, Dakota [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-1886, 1885-02-26
4 II. NEW YEARS. STORY \

A MI n YEAkS SIOkl.
Mercy how the snow beats against
The window. Erton, my boy, will You
replenish the fire 2" and good old Mrs.
Scott looked up from her knitting to-
her only son, who was looking over the
last Law Journal. re- II. y
Yes, mother" he said, laying the
paper aside. II will make the CRATES
red hot.p sS::.;
i3!jaA And scorch my stockings, laughed
the old lady. There, Erton, do not
fill the stove with wood. want some
to skindle with IN the morning Why,
only look at the boy T. she exclaimed,
looking into tho wood box. I declare
if he hasn't poked all my f1rewood into.
the stove. Why what do You mean, !;
Erton 2" = s,' s.$s ;;s5 n
II mean to have good fire with dry
wood, !" he laughed; and as for your
firewood, i will get mp early in the
morning and make the fire. You know
I always do when I am at home. y rs :.
y The young lawyer resumed his seat
and turned his attention to the paper.
he did not know his mother had dropped
her knitting, and Twas regarding his face
with tears stealing down her wrinkled
cheeks. Suddenly she dashed them away
and spoke. s;$' N g,5
Erton.n u 81 Isl iEt5 Il, N
The young man lowered the paper.
II want to breach 8 ubject that has
been long upon my mind. 4 am old !;
to-morrow Twill be seventy zone. The
number Of my remaining years can be
counted on the fingers Of your hands,
You are my only son, and = would have
. daughter y n sf s|:S
.Stt.Y on want me to marry, then. =
nc = Yes, Erton. You are almost twenty
three and yet remain single. Your
friends and scho olmates are marrying;
but you refuse to comfort me with q
laughter. Why is it thus, my boy !2nt{ss
1T am really at q loss to tell you,
mother, said Erton smiling. But 7
suppose it is because no girl is willing
to take me for better or worse land there
fore I am doomed to die in the state of
single blessedness "A. 8 5.S5ss,
Say misery, Erton. Are there not
girls il. Elkton, who would make any
man happy q"
~ es, mother. 4
Then why not select the one who
suits You and court her. There is Mag
gle Estonyille !, AZ
Poorl mother, she is too prone. = "
Well there's Ellen Harcout.n
s Too extravagant. She would ex-
haust the presidents salary I'M 4 Eaix
month. !" 33;s
You are too hard. on Ellen, Erton. I
really like her. and would Welcome her
as youriwifes 2 lz5
If I had the income Of the ruler Of
the Russians mig hit make proposals TO
Ellen; but i am nothing but q lawyer = =
But rich enough to support wife
my son. But = see you are prejnd diced
against Ellen. I think you have not
forgotten chat party at the parsons. =
81 have NOT, mot her; and I tell you
had not Ellen Tilted me that night. she
might have been my wife tod She
has repented Of that deed, and hopes ]
will resume MY calls. But I have not
/ forgo tton q. though q have forgiven
her"
But, Erton, I want you ol1 to get 9
wife, = said the widow solemnly and I
want you SO make me q promise.
Well II. n S$i
q adWili5 yoa promise to marry during
/ the coming year N ext Sabbath is the
last day of this year, and on Monday
YouE Hsaslz haGina -,
rs The lawyer smiled and looked down
into the face Of: his mother. He saw
that she was! in earnest, and 5tlat her
greatest ambition was to see; him we'd
sded before she left this world to Join
his sainted father who had passed over
the5riyer years before. e Z
-s$ss am afraid the promise will. be q
difficult one to fulfil. he said but diff
fcult OF not mott ] promise Z Il
God Bless you my noble boy she
Scried, and rising from the armchair she
kissed his forehead. IS. And Il know You
will fulfil the promise; yes I know you
will. Z "a "a. Is 81
Believe me, ], viii try, mother. he
answered aStear glistening in his eye.
= And my wife shall possess all the y1r-@
tues yon 50: highly prize. 7 shall leave
tomorrow IS
But you will be. home Sunday. z
No, mother, I have promised to: dine
with q friend in Morley. 4 will dine
here New Year and bring q very dear
friend with me-. 's fsS5
The widow did not see how her sons
cheek glowed when he spoke Of his
friend She had resumed her knitting
and was thinking 5of 3 rtonis promise.
She was wondering how his wifeiwould
I look, Whetherssh were fall OF small,
whether she would be. q parsons daugh-
ter or 3 merchants But she would see
when the lady came; ate wished he
would marry in January for sl1e was
impatient to kiss her Jew daughter. d
want You toE fixup a good dinner
i New Year said Erton ], Z for my friend
i s very ieula r 80 Brsing ont the silver
ware, and the new tablecloth. / will
come on the twelve o'c clock train and
Mr.. Bodkins will bring us to the house
in his sleigh. Have a rousing fire IN
the parlOr.. Sss ls. III
viii do every thine, Erton. only
look around for d wife. "
vii. motker. 7 NoWI win 90 tony!
& fton: rose md put Oh lis embroider-
Yon vii not return then, TIL ons;
day 22
., mother, & s9s'Sls
Then you must bring b me d New
Years. present. on SnoR what 4 d
Chrfstmas giftI gave you !, Il Il
I Yes, The answered glGncing down DC