Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-05-02
A STRANGE WooING,

muscles out of doors.
At last the change came. During Il
forenoon the thermometer indicated ri
ing temperature and about nsidday til
old woman mp in the sky began elNptyin
her feather beds"
Thick and fast the downy snowflake
fell, wrapping every tree and shrub in
garment OF pure white, and making eve
the 'stakeand-rider" fences, the log barn
and corn cribs things of beauty, whic
were too truly joys not to last forever.
Hastily we children were clad in coats
cloaks, scartS, nittens and all the parapher
malta OF outer garments which lovtn3
mothers provide and insist on being worn
despite the protests OF the wearers.
AT last we were free and out upon tn,
hill near by, where there was grand sport
sliding, snOW-balling and making snow
men.
The afternoon slipped quickly by, tn.
snow ceased falling, and the evening wa.
settling down clear and cold, when upor
the opposite hillside came in sight :
farmers box sleigh, drawn by span OF
bay horses. Very hastily we drove oul
Sleds to the foot of our hill, and we reached
it just in time for a hitch
visible
The hand which guided the team seemed
rot a hand, but huge wad of buckskiu
and yarn, and it proceeded from a sort OF
tower of bed-quiits, blankets, buffalo robes
COmfOrterS, surnounted by head-piece
enveloped in green and red Bay State y
shawl. There was q little crack that was
undoubtedly left for the eyes, but no eyes
could be seen by Us.
Edging around a very little, but probably
as much as circumstances would allow, the
roll OF dry goods and furs inquired if " Yon
house was squire Black's?"
We replied atfirmatively, and settled
down TO the enjoyment of a ride to our own
door, during which we exchanged many
whispered CALCULATIONS as 80 who the Stran-
ger might be.
When the sled stopped, a committee of
Us reported the arrival at the house. while
the remainder watched the tying and
bianketing of the horses, and then formed
voluntary escort.
In answer to u mutfled rap father opened
the door.
Squire Black, suppose"
les, sir; come in. Getting quite cold
outside, said my father cycling his guest
Clriously.
We'll, yes, we've had fearful spell O
weather, and I've been on the road for the
last two days Of ii. I see you don't know
me, Squire, and swan, my eyes were so
full o frost that l hardly knew you; but |
reckon you'll see who | am when ! get this
tOggery Off.
From the moment our visitor had stepped
inside, he had been engaged in unwrapping
one garment after another, a process for all
tue world like peeling an onion.
At last there stood young man of four
and-tWenty years, q six footer, with broad
shoulders face bronzed by exposure to the
weather, but . goodly face to look upon
with It's rather square jaw, rudy cheeks
full, smiling lips, brown hair curling over
broad forehead, and blue eyes. which an
swered my fathers questioning look by
merry twinkle.
In moment father extended both of his
hands, and grasped the strangers most cor
daily.
You are one of Aunt Annals boys"
A hearty laugh preceded the reply.
" | wasn't Altered but you'd git it right,
Squire, if | give YOU time enough. I'm
the same little Joe Tolon you taught long
division to-"
We knew Aunt Anna was former land
lady of fathers when he was 4 pedagogue |
that she lived forty or fifty miles from US
great distance in those days-and our in |
btstsil W dllGI IlblIleT came from
the kitchen, and the conversation was con- |
tiaued about old neighbors, of whose exist
ence We had been ignorant. We betook |
ourselves TO the kitchen, where mother |
soon followed.
Presently, while Joe was caring for his |
team, father came in, and, all unmindful |
Of the old adage about little pitchers" |
said, with an air of one who must be very
circumspect lest his risibilities would betray
him:
" Ma, what do you suppose Joe has come
for?1
I'm sure don't know, replied mother.
stirring another handful OF
meal into the boiling mush which was to
be the piece dc resistance of our evening
meal
'' He has come for a wife"
" \ wife? | didn't know he was ac-
luainted around here"
" He isn't. He wants me 20 recommend
him to some girl who is strong, able, and
willing to work, knows how to run house,
and " thesitatng little as he saw the very
curve of my mothers nose
nd mouth" nd-Ive-spoken- about
lane"
Squire Black {" exclaimed mother. en-
her words still further by a dash
If the pudding stick, which sent the mush
lying over the stove.
Jane was q farmers daughter who
worked for rs summers. and went home
Winters to help do up the spinning weav-
ng and the like
A mutually satisfactory arrangement. as
lanes services were needed more at home
Il the winter than in summer. and mother
hereby saved the board and wages of a
ar! during the winter, when the work was
lot so heavy. Moreover, mother often said
lon s4.-1~ 4 L
vas there that she could not keep her busy
he year round.
All, help was hoip in those days But To
eturn to the kitchen. Father had changed
lis position, getting Il little out Of the way
4 another charge from the mush pot ,
where the beating was going on vigorously |
After pause he began again:
Well, ma, Jane is not bound to marry
oe unless she wants to. But perhaps ,
he II never get another chance as good. +
'ou know yourself that any one Of Aunt ..
mas boys IS bound 20 make good t
ran and a smart one" r
None too smart if he thinks 10 get a &
life this way, snapped ont mother /
" Let him try, ma, if he wants to. let him
y. 1t won't hurt him 10 have the cOnceit r
-ken out Of him d
NO reply, bur The mush was stirred as
ever mush was before. d
Hou.know. ma, Jane has been keeping v
1mpany with that trihng Dan Marcy c
Why doesn't he marry = girl who
nows him, if he wants to get married, b
lquired my mother but the pudding a
ick relaxed its Vigor, somewhat, and 5:
ther Yentured little nearer the speaker.
He says the girls up there are all
luaws, and down by his mothers they +
ave too high notions" =
Vel it's hcathcniSh, Frenchiied way y
counting wife replied mother, and )
ne We're 70 come about me that way. if .
ere Jane, ia empty bucket Of water on :
Maybe She Will, maybe She will, a
lucSled my father, who probably would %
ave enjoyed that termination Of the affair -
) well As any one u
" Bnt ma; you know Jane IS terribly "a
What further he would have said was cut II
,9Ft o{ the entrance ofJoc, bearing a jar 10
.