Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1889-11-29
jonas WEDDING

said Mrs. Akin. dolefully, as she look
ed around the disordered kitchen.
''And the cream all spelling for the
young turkeys ali down with the pip.
and the white calf ailing. and me tied.
hand and foot. like this!'
Don't fret. mother" said Jonas,
who after most clumsy and man-like
fashion. was frying potatoes over tho
fire. "Itll all come right"
ut can't all come right" said Mrs.
Akin. jerking out the words between
the spasms Of rheumatism. Every
thing will 60 TO rack and ruin. Oh,
dear. Jonas, you'll have to hire help.
The men are coming next week to cut
down the grass in tie forty-acre med
der-iour OF 'em. and all expecting to
be boarded here and the doctor says
strength in six weeks"
IL can put 'em of, mother" suggest
ed Jonas. cheerfully.
"And spoil the finest hay crop we've
ever growei." said Mrs. Akin. That
will never do. Hired help is the only
way out OF it"
IL don't know OF anyone to be
hired" said Jonas, dishing up his po-
tatoes in n way that struck chill to
his mothers heart. There's Phebe
Potter, but she asks 81 a week."
"She must be crazy" said Mrs.
Akin. What does she take people
for. worder9 Twelve shillings is an
exorbitant price for any girl to ex-
pect. No one can earn it."
"Euretta Clay"
Mrs Hopkins had her once. She's
as slow as old time, and untidy at
that
Jonas was silent; his resources had
evidently reached their limit He be-
gan to cut the bread in big. irregular
chunks.
Thinner, Jonas, thinner" cried his
mother. 'Oh, dear, what a squealing
them pigs keep up; they know it's
past their regular feedin' time, as we'll
as though they were Christians. y
Il guess the pigs'll keep" observed
philosophical Jonas, trudgipg slowly
down cellar after gat of butter. Mrs.
Akin moved uneasily in her chair, and
uttered n groan.
"Oh, dear! oh, dear! we never can
get along this way" unused she.
Something has to be done. 'Jonas!"
Yes"
The curly head and supburned face
appeared at the tsp Of the cellar stairs,
like the good genii coming up through
the stage floor in the pantomime.
Look here. Jonas-you must get
married."
Jonas set the butter-plate down on
the table with bang.
Me" sid he. Good Lord, mot h.
err he exclaimed. what are You
thiaking OFF"
why. Idon't see any botter arrange
meat" said Mrs Akin. You're
twenty-six, and I'm gettin feebler and
more good for-nothin' every day.
There amt no gal we can hire short Of
twelve shillings q week. A wife would
come great deal cheaper, Jonas
and she wouldn't want no cloth es for a
year at least-and she'd sort o. take
an interest, and do lots OF things "a
hired help wouldn't undertake! There S
Lefty Hooper, Jonas, she's right
smart, stirring gai, and as pretty
Us "a plcter."
Jonas whistled! the idea common ded
itself to him, on further reflection. as
eminently practicable.
1T might DC better economy" re-
marked he.
"Of course it would" said Mrs
Akin. There's the new rag carpet
ready for the loom and the spring
house-cleanin' not attended TO yet. and
all the milk and butter. and the tur-
key and goslings, and the young calves,
and the vegetable garden-I sold s.
worth OF green pease out OF the garden
last year; and there's no sense in hir-
ing n man TO make garden when any
smart woman can look after it, odd
times; and your old clothes need at
tending to, and my new alpaca dress
amt made yet and-why, la me!
there's work for three women, at
least about the place! Go and see
Letitia Hooper this very afterhoo n, be-
fore Nat. Pellets gets the start OF you."
she added.
Jonas Akin came home at 10 o'clock
that night and told his mother that
Lefty Hooper had accepted him.
.'Good!" said Mrs. Akin. Now
wen get something done about the
premises. Hurry up the wedding as
soon as ever you can. my son; it's an
awful inconvenient time OF year to get
married in"
"Are you sure you're doing wise
thing. Letty?" said old Eben Hooper,
when his daughter showed him her
wedding dress with blushing pride.
| ..lVhy not fatho,o's