The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1888-10-18


Nv son Is my SON
TIL he takes HIM 4 WITT
4 You do everything and Dear everything
for his sake, and just a. you're beginning
to take Il little comfort of your life, oil
/ he goes after some girl that'll be Il trial to
you for the rest Of your days. Gil, don't
marry thai girl! Take your mothers ud-
vice. She's only a little, insignificant
chit. and you'll repent it,"
Gilbert looked PANIED.
Mother" said he, "dont you think
that this is subject upon which every
man and woman ought to choose for
themselves"
Mrs. Carson screwed up her lips and
shook her head.
"Rcmcmbrr what the Bible tells y"u,
said she, '.llunor thy father and thy
mother And tell you plainly never
can feel ike mother to Nellie Ilar-
wood"
But mother"
"If it was Lefty Norman, now" went
on Mrs. Carson, knitting away as if for
dear life, I'D be suited exactly. a nice,
handsome, stirring girl, that would be
sure to push a husband on in the world.
DO need pushing, mother" said
Gilbert, with half smile
Every man does, eNasively retorted
Mrs Carson.
so you would like me to marry Lefty
Moormar
I'D like it Of all things cried the old
lady, her keen eyes beginning To sparkle
again. 81 don't know a brighter girl
than she is; nor prettier, nor sweeter-
tempered.
"But perhaps she wouldn't have me,
mother" hazarded Gilbert.
Mr.. Carson luiJ h,.r hand siuulX
II her sons arm.
There amt many as would say no to
on, my boy" said She.
For n moment or two he was silent
You are asking a good deal Of me
mother" said he, in a serious tone.
You have never disobeNed me yet,
pleaded the old lady. "Dont let this
time be the first
Gilbert returned to his work among the
gcrauiums. Mrs. Carson knitted on,
with flying fingers and needles that
CLEANED like lines OF electricity, and IN
her minds eve she hehcld all the para
phernala of joyful welding, aud saw
black eyed Lefty Norman sitting at the
head of the little round table pouring out
the tea and dispensing the preserve,
" lille she herself occupied an henorea
post.
.I'm certain she and me will get along
together firSt-rate' thought She with
thrill of exultatioa at her heart.
In the afternoon, when the geranlums
were all placed in the sunny window, aud
the homework was done, Mrs. Carson put
on her hest silk gown and started to 80
to Mrs. Rickcrt's to tea.
II II 20 by way of the woods she
Thought, land take Lucy Rickerts some
o them red berries that she's $50 fond of
painting ON plaques Poor Lucy, she's
lame and she's pleased with any such lit
tie attention.
The berries, however, grew higher up
than Mrs. Carson had anticipated; and 1t
was lust when she was balanced on the
top Of rather an unsafe wall, with long, |
scarlet-dotted branch hooked down with
the end of her umhrela-handlc, that she
heard gay, young voices in the thicket
beyond.
Its Lefty" she said to herself, land
Martha Dixon. | must keep still rs
mouse till they've got by.
For Mrs. Carson realized that, however
harmless her occupation might be. 1t was
scarcely diguicd position for stout,
middle-aged matron to be climbing ON
the top of stone walls, and she did not
care to be seen.
IN DnSenSc. lsclly CltdI, sweet
voice rang out. ale never asked that OF
me He might know would never put
up with a fuSsy old mother-in-law. If
any man asks me to accept his home aud
his heart, must have clear field.
But she thinks deal of you, Lefty,
demonstrated Miss Dixon, the village
school mistress. I've always thought
So
More than do OF her" retorted Let
ty. Gracious me, Matte, don't you
know that young folks and old fogies
cant get along together? 1t isn't in the
nature OF things"
lit : hard on mother, though, isn't
itE"
That doesn't signify" said Lefty. in-
differently. IL tell you-as | mean To tell
him-no interfering old mother-in-law
for me.
A thrill OF gay sweet laughter fol-
lowed her words, and then the voices of
the speakers died away in the leaiy dis
lance, and Mrs. Carson, with scared,
pale eountenance, scrambled down from
the stone wall. with her trophies of scar
let berries. clasped tightly 10 her breast.