The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1888-12-01
Mrs. Ripley's Trip.
(Harper's Weekly.]

Ripley" set like chicken trapon the
vast Iowa prairie. Uncle Ethan was
1nendins his old violin, with many
York State "dums! !" and 81 gal
darns !" totally obiivious Of his tireiess
old Wits, who, having Shnished the
supper Dishes" sat knitting a stocking,
evidently for the little grandson who
lay before the stove like cat. Neither
at the old people wore glasses, and
their light was u talIow candle; they
couldn't afford "none o. them new.
tangled lamps" The room was small,
the chairs wooden, and the walls bare
"a home where poverty was never
absent guest. The old lady looked
patheticslIy little, weazsped, and
(whose origina! color had long since
vanished), intent as she WAS on the
atocking in her knctted, stitlened fja~
grrs, but there was peculiar sparkle
jn her little black eyes, and an unusual
resolution in the straight line of her
withered and shapeIess lips. Suddenly
she paused, stuck Il needle in the spare
knob of hair at the back of her head,
and looking at Ripley, said, decisiseIy {:
''Ethan Ripley, you'll haf1 10 do your
own cooking frotn now on TO New
Years; I'm goin' back to Yaark
S.ate.''
The old mans leather brown face
s,tfened into a look of quizzical sur
prise for moment then he cackied,
incretiutousiy clio! Flo tar! Sho |!
be ", now? I want to know if y be-"
"Well, youth iud cut"
''Goin' to start tomorrow, mother :'
sNo, sir, 1 amt; but l am on
Thursday. want to git to Sally's by
Sunday, sure, an to Siias's OH Thanks
givin'."
There was note in the Old woman's
voice that brought genuine siupefaction
into the face of Uacle Ripley. o.:
course in this Case, as in ell others, The
money consideration was urpermost.
aHowgy Expect to ge: the money,
mother: Anybody died an left yeh
pile::'
.'Never you mind where get the
money so's't you don't haH to bear it.
The land knows, If I'd awaited for
you to pay my way
:You needn't twit me ui being poor,
OLD woman," said Ripley, flaming up
after the manner Of many Old people.
"I've done my part T. get along. l'Vo
worked day in and day out
"Oh! amt done no work, have
?' snapped she, laying down the
stocking and ievelling a needle at him,
and putting frightfui emphasis on
a."
IL didu't say you hadn't done no
work."
eyes, You did -
"I didn't, neither. I said-"
II knoac what you said.'
81 said I'd done my pGri"' roared
the husband, dominating her as usual
by superior lung power. 81 didn't sag
you hadn't done your part be added
with an unfortunate touch Of emphasis
on "say.''
know y didn't sag ii, but y
meant it. / don't know what y call
doin' my part, Ethan Ripley but if
cnokin' for Il drove of hervess hands
and threshtn' hands, takin' care O. the
eggs and butter, m djgGin' taters an
m,lkin', ain't n1y past, don't never
expect to do my part, M You might
as we'll know it fust 's' last. I'm sixty
years DID," spe went on, with little
break in her harsh voice. dominating
him now by woman's logic, san I've
never had day to myself, not even
Fourth O July. II I've went
a-visitin' y to a picnic, I've had to
come home and milk n get supper
for you nlen.folks. 'ain't been away
t stay overnight for thirteen years in
this house, m it was jest so tu Davis
County for ten mUGe. For twenty
three years, Ethan Ripley, pve stuck
right TO the stove an churn without q
day or night off, Her voice caoked
again, but she rallied, aud continued,
impressively, "And ROW Pm a-soin'
back to Yaark State.''
Ethan was vauIGisheG. he stared
at her in speechiess surprise. his jaw
hanging. 1t was Incredible.
uEor twenty-three years." she went
on, musingly, "l've just about pro-
missed myself every year I'd go back
an see my folks" She was distinctly
talking to herself now, and her voice
had a touching, wtstful cadence. ''fvd
wanted 10 go back an see the old
folks AN the hills where we nlayed,a ,an'
eat apples off the old tree dOwu by the
old well. I've had them trees an
mills In my mind aays an days
nights too-an' the girls I used to
know, an my own folks
She fell into silent muse, which
lasted so long that the ticking OF the