The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1888-06-21
HER SONS. CHOICE.

HER Sun > CHOICE.
The bright October sun was fiinging
its golden rays into the red and brown
leaved woods. and shining down upon
the quaint old gables of the farmhouse,
while Mrs Carson, knitting briskly at
the south window, watched her tall son
potting her favorite geraniums and
bringing them into the house one by
one.
Hell be doing it for somebody else
next year." she murmured to herself,
and tear splashed down upon the
worsted that she was fashioning At
the same moment Gilbert looked up,
and saw the glitter of the prismatic
drop as it fell. In an instant he set
down the scarlet blossom that. he was
trimming off, busted the earth from
his hands, and came hurriedly into the
sunny room.
Mother" said he, 'are you crying?
What's the matter, mother dear?'
Nothing" said Mrs. Carson; moth
ing out of the ordinary, l mean. It's
only what all mothers have to stand,
suppose.
Gilbert put his brown hand kindly on
his mothers shoulder.
Tell me what you mean, mother"
said he.
You oughtn't to let me hear it from
village gossip" said Mrs. Carson,
mournfully. eff it's really true, why
didn't you come and tell me yourself?"
'.But, mother, l don't know what
you mean"
about your engagement to Nellie
HARDWOOD" said Mrs. Carson, sternly,
transfixing her son with her eyes. ''Oh!
/ see-you're blushing. 1t must be
truei"
Gilbert did color little, buthe smiled
nevertheless.
'Your accusation is little sudden,
mother" said he; land do not know
who has been talking to you. l am
not engaged, although / don't deny
that should like to be. l am very
fond of Nellie. mother"
"a little dark thing like that" spite
fully muttered Mrs. Carson, with no
more idea of Housekeeping than yon
kitten. Oh, Gil, how can you talk sol"
Il love her. mother" the young man
answered simply.
81 know it." said Mrs. Carson, sob
bing. .sThe old saying is true enough
My son is my son
Till he takes him wife
You do everything and bear everything
for his sake, aud just as you're begin
ming to take little comfort of your
life, off he goes after some girl that'll
be trial to you for the rest of your
days. Gil, don't marry that girl! Take
your mothers advice. She's only
little, insignificant chit, and you'll re-
pent it.
Gilbert looked panied.
"Mother," said he, ''don't you think
that this is subject upon which every
man and woman ought to choose for
themseives?"
Mrs. Carson screwed up her lips and
shook her head.
Remember what the Bible tell you,"
said she, "tHonor thy father and thy
mother And l tell you plainly, |
never can feel like mother to Nellie
Harwood."
''But mother"
'.If it was Lefty Norman, now, :"
went on Mrs. Carson, knitting away
as if for dear life, ''I'd be suited exact
ly. A nice, handsome, stirring girl,
that would be sure to push husband
on in the world"
do need pushing, mother?" said
Gilbert, with half smile.
Every man does, evasively retorted
Mrs. Carson.
$50 you would like me to marry Lefty
Moorman?"
I'D like it of all things" cried the
old lady, her keen eyes beginning to
sparkle again. 81 don't know a bright
er girl than she is; nor a prettier, nor a
sweeter-tempered."
''But perhaps she wouldn't have me,
mother" hazarded Gilbert.
Mrs. Carson laid her hand caressingly
on her sons arm.
''There amt many as would say mo-
to you, my boy" said she.
| For moment or two he was silent.
s.You are asking good deal of me,
mother" said he, in a serious tone.
'You have never disobeyed me yet, "
pleaded the old lady. Don't let this
time be the first.
Gilbert returned to his work among
the geraniums. Mrs. Carson knitted
on, with flying fingers and needles that
! cleaned like lines of electricity, and
in her minds eye she beheld all the
paraphernalia of joyful wedding, and
saw black-eyed Lefty Moorman sitting
at the head of the little round table.
pouring out the tea and dispensing the
preserves, while she herself occupied
an honored post.
I'm certain. she and me will get
along together first-rate," thought she
with thrill of exultation at her heart
In the afternoon, when the gerani
ums were all placed in the sunny win
| dow. and the housework was done
Mrs. Carson put on her best silk gowr
and started to go to Mrs. Rickert's tc
tea.
"I'll go by way of the woods" sh'
thought. land take Lucy Rickerts some
O. them red berries that she's so fonC
of painting on plaques. Poor Lucy
she's lame, and she's pleased with any
such little attention"
The berries, however, grew higher
up than Mrs. Carson had anticipated
and it was just when she was balanced
on the top of rather an unsafe wall
with a long, scarlet-dotted branch
hooked down with the end of her um
brella-handle,. that she heard gay
young voices in the thicket beyond.
'.Itss Lefty" she said to herself, "an'
Martha Dixon. must keep as still a
a mouse till they've got by"