Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1888-06-28

accustomed delicacies would disappear
from their table. how the fires would
be scantily fed and other home COM
forts abbreviated that the parlor
might boast of the handsomest carpet
| in town. And now, Martha! Well. is
not human nature the same the world
over?
"You amt got any ole close. Mis-
Whelan, w'ah yoh amt goin' to use
any noah. dat nd make nice stripe?"
| said Martha. her hand on the latch. as
she started home. II calkalated on
gittin' Jim Dunley's. de culled gemple-
man wat carries de papers, ole red
fannens wen he was done weaTin'
'em. washed fur i'm md l seed dey
was gittin' pow'ful thin. But dat
Mandy Snow-he goes wild one Of her
gals-she had de imperdence to ask
i'm fob 'em to put in her cahpet. l
told MIR. M'gom'ry I'd go without a
cahpet befoh I'd do de like-'n me a
doin' his washin' too! I tole i'm he
might take his washin' to Mandy
Snow. too. after dat"
"Oh. Martha, you can not afford to
lose such q good customer as Jim
Dunley. because of small matter like
that" expostulated
"Doan' yah be a bit afeard. Mis-
Whelan." chuckled Martha MANDY
Shows de wusr washer" n ironer in
dis town. KANT iron collar or fine
shirt fit to be seen. Dem new red
flannens OBJ his'n'l be shunked up tel
my Marcus 'Relius couldn't git into
'em hefoh see washes 'em twice. Lo,
doan' yoh be bit afearl honey"
WASN'T so sangine as Martha but
l promised to look through the ward
robes and closets and gather up what
l could for her carpet. That evening
Marcus and little Nose. Martha's two
eldest boys, came for the bundles. 1t
was bitter cold winter weather, and
little Marcus. with bare ears and
neck, was shivering with cold. Now
rs had myself given him very COM
Portable muller, remnant of an old
crimson cashmere shawl, which he
usually wore with a great deal of
pride. could not help remarking:
"Why, Marcus. this is such a cold
day. you should have worn your
muller.
II KANT nebber wear it any
moah," returned Marcus, shifting at
the thought of his lost treasure.
Mammy's done gone md put it in de
caphet."
Twas vexed; but, as the child was
not to blame. l reserved my express
sions of disarprobation until should
meet the real offender. The next
Mon';ay, Martha not appearing as
early as usual, l had John. our man
of all work, fill the boiler. that it
mighs be ready on her arrival. But
the water boiled, the forenoon passed
away, and still no Martha. She had
never failed me before, and l knew
some calamity, sickness or otherwise.
must have befallen her. l went
around to her home that afternoon.
l raped at the door. and. after a
time. Martha herself opened it. But,
alas her usually plump. smiling
countenance was scarcely recognize
able. Her face was swollen until one
eye was entirely shut and white
bandage, which bound on some sooth-
ing lotion or poultice, rendered her
appearance still more CHASTITY.
"Why. Martha. what can be the
matter?" exclaimed.
Neurology md rheumatic. Mis-
Whelan." groaned Martha. IN Mr..
NJ gomery nd de chilluns done gone
nd tuck sick, too. Use haben de
orfullest time. But ives all got to
hab our trials nd tribillations. as de
preacher says" continued Martha
SIMULTANEOUSLY.
but how did you all manage to
get such colds, Martha?" l asked at
last.
| "Hit's de change in de weddah. l
'spect. Mis- Whelan," said Martha
Hits de change in de close, Mis-
NJ gom'ry.'' came in sepulchral
voice from beEeath the bedclothes
where Martha's better half was UNDER
going a sweating process with stove
lids. bottles of hot water, ETC.. so
Martha had told ME.
Hits all along oh takin' off dem
flannels nd putin on dem thin cot
ton close"
LA. Mis- Whelan." said Martha,
since further evasion was useless,
mebby dat did help little; but who'd
fought de weddah was goin' to keep
on glttin cold md hit nearly de fust of
Mauch? An dem flanen tings dey's
wore clear out, an lse sick N tired
pathin' 'em. So l cut 'em up into
cahpet rags. md deys heap potter
red dan Mandy Snow has in hers"
But Martha looked crestfallen and
guilty notwithstanding the triumph
ant air with which she ended her re-
marks. As I looked at her swollen
face, l fancied that she had already