Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-09-15
REJANNA.

was OF German parentage. Early in life
she had married, and her husband diving
after four years of married life without
much "ahead," the support of the two
children fell on her. "Kornelias" and
"Malyine" were quite small but were ''the
apple of her eye" so she said. Neverthe-
less, these apples had to be supported, and
Reianna went out washing and took it in,
whenever she was at home to admit it.
She was tall, black-eyed, swarthy wo-
man, with strong physique, and her gait
was long striding step that bore her
swiftly home after a haru days work.
"Shank's mare" she observed, was more
safe than the blooded horses that the doc
tor drove. IF | ever set up kerridge
for myself it will be an OK cart they are
Study; no galivanting about them" As
her father drove those animals, she proba-
bly, knew by experience their speed and
staying ION the road) power and qualities
Some years passed, and Rejanna entered
for the second time into the matrimonial
state. Number two was a cousin of num-
Der one. Rejanna said he "peStered her
to marry him." SO she did, and at his death
came in for widows thirds two years later.
By this time "Kornelias" and "Malvine"
were grown up, and their mother always
referred to them as "my young lady and
gentleman; vite as milk and rosy cheeks
like pore George; just the picture of him"
Then the red kerchief would be held to
her eyes at the old memory that this color
ing would call up.
Rejannas many employers always
noticed one trait in her; in conversation
you could never tell her anything she did
not know. As for jewelry, she always had
friend that had something just like it.
This gave her the nickname of "Cant be
Beat" One day, in speaking of the Queen
of England to her, she tossed her head and
shifted, Lord, give the woman green APP
pies, and she'd be Just as sick as common
folks" Yes, Reianna was very democratic
in her sentiments, and had no mind to fol-
yourself lowly and reverently TO all your
betters and superiors."
At this time the Baptists were holding
revival meetings, and every night and
afternoons Rejanna would attend. Her
experiences were something fine to hear,
and her prayers were louder and not quite
as grammatical as some who had had more
advantages. They were expressed in a
tone and manner as if she was telling a
friend some news. One never-to- be-forgot-
ten night, we listened to it, and her voice
was declaring: 81 am like broken svs-
TEN, oh Lord, and been abiding my light
under pecks, and Pm not going 10 hide it
longer, oh Lord. I'll take it out and let
it shine, and do good amongst the erIities
Of this world" So the next day, coming
from work, she waylaid her sister mag"
and tried to make her go with her to
revival" "No SIGH dog frolics for me,
said Mag, and Reianna knelt in the road
and prayed for her there and then.
Her son tried his hand on his cousin.
Mays boy, by quoting his mothers sayings
to him this way: "John, you are wander
ing in the rocky mountains of sin, and
you will be drowned in the flood of tribu-
lations, if you don't come to meeting"
Don't kere if Pm on any mountains,
Pm not stealing rabbit snares, nohow,"
said John, in fine scorn. Judging by this
remark, Rejanna's "apple of her eye''
needed home mission work done on him.
Well, years passed, and KorneIias
brought home wife. He kept bothering
his mother to make over the homestead to
him. Said he could support her and Nal
vine too. "No, | never trows away nv
spoon before Pm done with it." was the
reply, short but to the point. "When you
was sailing of the old COW to catch the
calf you should have halter'd her soo.''
By this speech he meant that he ought to
have made his mother-in-law give the girl
something. Sailing the cow" was being
nice to the old woman, so she would give
him the daughter.
Malylne was out at service, so Kornelias
had all his mothers property to use and a
great deal of her earnings. But he was
essentially selfish and greedy, and would
like his Woodworking mother to give him
everything.
One day Rejanna seemed unusually
lively over her washing, and going into
the room, l asked the reason of her liveli-
ness" Nothing, miss, only I'm to be
married soon, and Pse a letter with me I'd
like you to answer, my hand is that raw
from washing can't handle a pen more
then pig"
Her brown cheek flushed as she handed
me the letter. Concealing my surprise
somewhat, l asked her the particulars.
"Well." she said, at is Just here. Hugh
CASTOR, from VALLEY Center, has been
visiting Kornelias. He is nice spoken,
well-to-do man, nigh as old as am, that is
tifty-two next Christmas week after. He
says he wants me to marry him soon, and
he'll give me a silk dress soon as | makes
my mind up to get ready"
"What do you want me to write" l
asked, willing to oblige her, for since my
childhood she had worked for us, and I
rather enjoyed the romance of the old lady
"Oh," she said, 'just you contradict it
word for word. If he says he loves me- Just
say it back from me-" So with this origi-
nal plan to worked on, answered for
weeks the letters that came, regularly as
washdays came.
Now and then she would suggest ink
spots for kisses, with little fence around
them, so he'd know "they were made a
purpose"
In week or two she told me she had
decided on ''pruney kind of plum cold"
silk to be married in. "More suitable for
me as a third-time BRIDE" she remarked.
One day she told me she had decided her
house and property to Kornelias, "cause
CASTOR had plenty for her and Malvine :"
also that Hugh (she pronounced it
"Whew') had been down Sunday, and she
had knit him stree pairs of underwears,
and given him her old wedding rings for
luck" Poor soul, her heart was quite
wrapped up in Hugh CASTOR. Woman-like
she laid all at his feet, because she cared
for him, and he might trample on her if
he wished to, if it gave him happiness.
Her step was light as any girls, and her
black eyes sparkled, and her cheeks would
flush crimson when talking over this late
lover of late years. Surely fate would be
kind to her, this true woman that she was.
Although only a German washerwoman,
yet her heart was large and her nature
generous.
So matters went on, then the letters
ceased coming. She was in perfect fever
of anxiety. Could he be sick. No. she
would have heard of. Was he dead; if So
no one knew oft. Then it began to dawn
upon her that he had no intention of mar
rying her. Kornelias kept away from
home at this period, and his wife was at
her mothers. So all along Rejanna fretted
over her desertion. Every week, as she
came to town, her steps seemed slower, her
whole manner spiritless. If she thought