The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1885-06-25
Mother NawkinS's Dauglter.in.l law
by MATTE DYER BRITTS


with her apron.
oval, mebbe twill" sighed the good
ady. "But it don't seem so now. Sit
~, Mis- Jones; the cream biscuitll
pile with waitin' Poor Will he was
SO fond O. them biscuits I'll bet she
can't make 'cm! 'Taint his marryin' I
mind so much," she went on, as she
poured the fragrant tea into the thin,
old, china cups. "If he'd a-married a
decent country gal, an let her come
here to live long o me, 1 wouldn't
a-carcd. But no! he must go taggin'
after one O them finifed city gals
Nothin' else nd do him! Mis- Jones,
Ito have another lump O. sugar in your
tea?"
"No, Mis-. Hawkins, the tea is jest
right now"
oval, take slice more O. this Drilled
ham, then! It's our own me-cured
pork"
"Thankye, I don't care eff I do take a
bite more. I don't eat much in general
but your vittles is so good, they kind o
give ono all appetite"
oval, yes" said Mother Hawkins,
with another sigh Twill always lowed
I was fair cook. And he was that
fond O. good eatiu' And I low he'll
git none O it now"
'Mebbe he will, Mis- Hawkins. I've
knowed some o. them city folks what
vas fust- rae 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 'cm out an set 'em
to cookin fur harvest hands when it's
right hot, an you'd see"
evils 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 EN-, that's flat! And told Will
so, when he writ for me to come and
see 'em married"
"L,l, Mis- Hawkins! didn't you go?''
"No, I didn't. Here, have another
spoonful O this honey, Mis- Jones
It's made O white clover, and as clear
as can be. There! No, I didn't 60,
and l 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. Il know the hull lot O them
city gals 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 b1stles, 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
tell 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
Y Jest stick to her, an make the
. his bad bargain faint any use
ak to mel"
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
~ gal TINT ever drawed breath; and
I'll bet q pretty penny Nancy Hawkins
ives to wish she hadn't!'
~
Meantime, in his cosy home IN the
city, Will had been gloomily reading his
,.o.>kl,o,. Ia IT o1rt 1attar
"Don't let it worry you, WILL" said
his bride, soothingly.
II can't help it, lily" was his reply.
eShe has always been such good moth
er to me that it hurts me to have her
be so wrong and obstinate"
eco out and see her, and talk it over"
suggested Lily.
"Never!" answered Will, firmly,
s'Unless business takes me, shall never
enter my old home, unless you go, too.
If nv mother cannot receive my wife,
j; she cannot receive me. It is no use
talbing to me about it.. p"
There was touch of the old lady's
stubborn spirit in the son, you see!
Mother Hawkins was stout, fieshy
old lady; but she did all her own work,
except for a few waeks in summer.
when hayipg and harvesting came on.
This season, right in the midst OF
haying, Mary Jane. the hired girl, fell
> out of the haymow. where she was
hunting for eggs, and broke her arm.
] Of course, she had to go home. Not
, another girl could he got for love or
money, and SO Mother Hawkins had to
do all herself.
The two hired men could get the
wood, aud do the milking and churnlng
But Mrs. Hawkins had to sweat over
the stove, and the weather. growing
hotter every dny.
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 them after
the doctor, bidding him stop on the
way home and see if Lucy Jones
Swouldn't come and stay until she could
find girl.
Now it so happened that important
business brought Will Hawkins out tc
Downport that very morning. He did
not intend to visit his mother; but he
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 on
her. He went, and the old lady was
greatly surprised, and, az he could see,
somewhat pleased to see him.
But not once did she ask for or even
allude to his wife.
Mother, you ought to have girl,
said Will.
"Well, goodness, 80 ought" groaned
the old lady. II told John to get Lucy
Jones few days, if lie could, But she
amt NO manner O count, if she comes
And where to get anybody the mercy