The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1888-09-13
A SMART WOMAN.
BY HELEN FORREST GRAVES.

s'That woman, " said Squire Dockley
within himself, fought to have been a
man.
The EagIish language, as the squire
interpreted it, had no higher form of
praise than this. The squire believed
implicitly in his own sex. And when
he said that Maria Poole fought to have
been a man." he did homage to her ca
pacity.
Squire DockIoy was on his way to the
postoffce. lie liked to go in the early
morning, before the thermometer had
mounted to too high degree, and
while the dew yet sparkled upon the
close, short grass along the road.
Old Mr. Poole had been postmaster at
S1ssafras Gap for y years, but his
daughter Maria performed all the duties
of the position, as the old man was bed
ridden, deaf and helpless. Maria also
worked the farm, with the aid Of a va
clnt-face haired auxiliary, named
E las Smith, who came for half wages
on account of limp in one leg; and
she kept boarders in summer.
'There'8 the clothes all out on the
lines, and it Amt o'clock yct," said
the squire. "And not weed in the
garden, and nobody to raise fager
about the place but Maria. I declare
that woman ought to have been a man!'
Close beside him was the well, shad-
owed with a canopy of bIuc-cuppad
morning -gIories which had not yet
folded their silken tents away from tho
sun.
The squire stopped to get drink Of
water, when suddenly human head
popped up before him like a jack-in the
box.
'Je-ru-sa-Iem - calculated the squire,
starting back. "Why, it's you, ain t it,
Miss PoO'e"
Eyes, it's me" said Maria. 'Tve
been down the we'll to clean it. A tin
trumpet, two doll babies, spelling
book, a cocoanut she'll and fourteen ap-
pie -cores---thats what the boarders'
children have dropped down since this
day week. l sometimes Think" giving
herself shake, and sending the sur
plus moisture of the we'll flying in all
directions, that King Herod wasn't 50
far wrong as folks pretend to think. If
you want drink, Squire DockIey you'd
better go down to the spring house. The
wells sort O stirred up"
The squire meekly followed Maria
Poole down to the cool, sweet-smelIing
spring g-house where living stream
flowed beneath the shelves, all laden
with pans of milk and a glittering
spring bubbled up in the corner like q
magnitied diamond.
"Made much butter this year?" the
squire inquired as he slaked his thirst.
1.-TWO hundred and nine pounds,
packed down a'ready," was Maria's re-
sponse.
'Wen, declaror admiringIy COM
mented the squire, as he laid down the
gourd- shell. You'd ought to have
been man, Miss Maria; and so I've
said ag'in and ag'in."
"Humph, " observed Maria. 'If I
couldn't a-made a smarter man than
some l know of, would give up. Well,
squire, don't want to hurry you, but
its most time to open the post office
and see about the morning mail"
Il was a-thinkin' of calling for my
letters and papers," said Squire Dock
ley, wiping his mouth with a red ban
danna cket-handkerchief.
Cant nobody get into the postoffice
not if they had a letter for the presi-
dent himself-afore 8ocIock," ," said Miss
Maria, curtly. Business hours is bust
ness hoursw
"Yes, know--I know apologized
the squire, as he followed Miss Poole
up the winding path; "but 1 was caIcu-
latin to speak to you. Maria"
well, what is it3 Don't keep me
longp
The squire shifted from one foot to
the other Was ever lover expedited
like this before2
II was a-thinkin', Maria" said he.
'that it wan in place for a woman to
be kesPin' Postoffioe~~r