Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1888-07-07
1 Ef:SWMr~. q
!sAha. S/lRn22> 1h

~si TS>~ Nl/3~SSSSNEA
to say, Thomas, that you can't speak
here in the kitchen?" calmly asked
Mrs. Morley, who was scrupulously
neat and industrious housekeeper,
whose busy life did not prevent her
being faithful and devoted wife and
mother.
"Yes, Mary Emily; lis important to
me, and hope it is to you"
Very. we'll; take the lead, and I'll
follow"
On reaching tho sitting room, the
important tete-a-tete was begun.
"Now, Mary Emily, what 1 want to
speak about is, that baby Of ourn, our
Youngest and last of four, our Madge,
she is jest at that age now to begin
thinkin' of hevln' beaux; and the worst
of it is she's powerful handsome, and
she needs tight rein and the closest
vigilance to keep her from givin' these
sap-headed lads chance to fall in love
with her. l must say, Mary Emily,
tho l don't want to hurt your feelin's,
you are not, and never have ben, half
nor quarter strict enough in your gov
eminent OF our children; you give 'em
too many chances to go it. Gaddiu'
the streets is poor business, and gaddin'
off to church sociables and the like is
poor business, too. Eff it hadn't been
fer your lowin' the other three girls to
go TO them evenin' getnerin's they
wouldn't one of 'em ben gone to-day
as it is, the hull three of 'em are mar
ried. Eff our last and all goes and gets
married our homell be broken up sure,
and it's our dooty to try hard to keep
her with u.s."
20, Thomas, It's the same old story
you're always borrowing trouble about
our girls, and better daughters could
not be found. Madge is not yet six
teen, and 1 dare say never thinks of
the men, and has never yet had beau.
Rather queer that you so declare war
against all men who dare to look at
your daughters, when we think how
very young I was, Thomas, when VIC
were married. Why, when I was
Madge's age our Emily was born"
This is not q parallel case, Mrs.
Morley. Your pa was not able to take
care of his big family, and then you
were old fer your years, too. You
want bit like Madge, who sits on her
old dads knee to-day and seems as
much baby as when she was four
year old. We can never give her up,
Mary Emily; there's no use talkin'."
Time enough to worry, Thomas,
after she has her first beau. I've never
known of young man looking at her
yet.
! Now you remind me of what come
in here to say. You say you never
knew of young man lookin' at her
yet. Now, l hev. It's me that goes
prowlin' round, a watchin' and q
lookin' fer these scamps that's always
after pretty girl. Before / gave
neighbor Wells lease fer the house
and lot jining this one. took mighty
good care to inquire eff he'd any grown
up sons, or single relatives of the male
persuasion on his side or his wife's side
that ever stopped with 'em. He told me
Now, fer the past week I've seen q
dandy dressed TELLER over there, and,
what's more, I've seen him a lookin'
and a leerin' over this wav at our
Madge. Last night, when she and
Wells little girl were playin' croquet,
he had the boldness to stand there like
as If he was star-gazin', and l see his
eyes dead set on Madge more'n once.
NOW, won't hev it, so I've Jest had the
lumber brought to build high fence,
and to-morrer my carpenter puts up
the most towerin' fence that dude |
across the way ever see by a long shot. !
It'll be a reglar bulletin board l. Ike |
they hev in big cities; but here she
comes. Now, jest let on as if we'd |
been discussin' the weather when she
comes in,'