The west Tennessee star. (Bolivar, Tenn.) 1888-1888, 1888-09-14


YES; but he's doing it for his ma;
he wouldn't put no bell on the door for
| himself, - replied Job Harding.
After awhile wagon loads of furni-
ture began to come-bedsteads with
Stats across them instead of ropes,
washstands with cupboards in the bot
tom, chairs with little holes through
the seats, and two lounges with arms
only at one end of them.
| where's the front-room set?" Tim
asked OF one Of the drivers on a fancy
painted wagon.
wen bring that out tomorrow, !"
he replied.
The next day they brought some
furniture that made the folks eyes
stand right out of their heads. A big
oak bedstead with a headboard six
feet tall and a lot of fancy carved
things on it, with never a rope nor a
slat to its name, but springy sort of
thing made of bright wire crisscrossed
in and out for the real hair mattress to
! lie on. When Aleck Dempster lay down
on it after he had helped set it up in
the front room he bobbed up and down
and said, ''Gosh!'' and looked as if he
would like to lie right there and teeter-
tauter the rest of his days. Then
there was a washstand just like the
bed, with a cupboard under it and a
real marble top to it, and a big chair
with the cushions made right into it
cushions all over it-and a sort OF
rattan rocking-chair and chest OF
drawers, or rather low kind of bureau
with a looking glass on it that showed
you all over to yourself.
WAL" said Jabez Duncan, 81
s'pOse that's about the comfortablest
spare room in this country"
That's not a spare room," replied
Tim; that's mothers room. We're
not going to have any company come
to see us that deserves a better room
than my mother does"
"Geer' said Jabez. $50 this is for
your ma? Waal, Tim, you're a great
blessing to your ma, that's all I've got
to say"
"And you haven't writ a word about
it to her?n asked job Harding.
mo" said Tim; Il want it all to be
a surprise to her"
''Waal, it will be a surprise, sure
enough. ! snum, but I'd like to see
her eyes when she sets 'em onto this
room"
Gran'ma Bolton cane back las
week. Tim went clear to Buffalo anC
/ met her. Before he went he hireC
Lizzie North, who was sort of living
! on Aunt Becky, to go over and stay a
! the new house and do the work, be
cause he said his mother was gettinl
along in years where she ought not t,
work much, and then Lizzie would b
! good company for her, too, when h
!. was off about his work.
? When the stage came in last Wednes
), day and Major Watts fetched hi
horses up with a short turn and
= flourish of his lines in front of tn
= store most all the folks were eithe
over there or standing in the door
q looking out, for when Tim went ava.
he said he would be back with hi
;, mother that day.
Sure enough, there he was and Their
was Gran'ma Bolton, just as brigh
), and happy as good mans good mothe
can be. Everybody crowded up aroun
! her, and the women all kissed her an
told her she was looking ten year
d. younger $50 she was) and the me
sort of sided ashamed-like arOun
the edges of the crowd and said That
r, so" to every thing they heard tn
women say.
! Come on, mother" said Tim; a.
II guess they've got dinner ready for us.
: Yes" said Lizzie North, who ha
run over bareheaded, wiping her hand
|, on her apron and rolling down he
- sleeves as she went; ''it's all read
: and waiting" Half the women of tn
village had had hand in making
:, ready.
: As Gran'ma turned toward home sh
: saw the new house.
y "Why, Timothy, what is thatP" sh
asked as If it frightened her.
= That's your new house, mother,
- he replied.
The men and women all tried to g,
- around in front where they could sc
!, her face.
ooh, Timothy!" she said, and thel
she stood stock still and looked at
= She couldn't speak another word. "Ol
> Timothy!" that was all, and her eye
- were moist and shiny, and a big rour
g tear just bubbled out and ran dow
- into the wrinkles of a smile Thu
- didn't seem to want to play about h,
- mouth.
! 'Do you like the looks of
- mother?" asked Tim.
~ yes, my dear boy; it is very bea
tiful, very, but
l. Never mind the butts, mother. 1t
a all paid for, and we can afford it. "
- might as we'll spend our money as v
go, and get some good out Of it. Con
- along
Gran'ma Bolton didn't seem to wa
- to move. She just wanted to star
- and look at the beautiful new house.
A. Deacon Bib0s' wife nudged Mr.
o. Watson behind Gran'ma Bolton, al
~ the two looked into each others ey
as if to say: Isn't she surprise
ia thoughpn
Is Job Harding, of a little way, sa
n to Daniel Toppin: "Waal, they car
"a nobody say Tim amt worked this thi1
- bout right"
After little they went over to Il
NJ house. AS the rest walked up Il
m front steps Lizzie North whisper,
al something to Mrs. Watson and n
Az around to the back door tight as 81
could leg it.
,d "SeePn said Deacon Bibbs' VIII
10 'sYour own name on the door, Sary