Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1889-05-30

lO-year old girl, was barefooted and freck-
led and towheaded, and the younger one
had on only a single garment and was roll
ing in the dirt.
"Cum right in an squat" said the
widow as we shook hands "Pete Mccoy
was saying last night that you was headed
this way and would stop Ar ye thirst
able? May, jostle him over a glass OF but
termnk. Wen cribbins (ea0 in about an
hour"
We talked about the weather, the state
of the roads, etc, as she hustled around to
get dinner, but pretty soon Jerry went
out of doors and called
"Nfal ma! Cum outer we're"
GERRY. Won saet" replied the mother.
ma! viii you 'un marry he 'unF con.
tinued Jerry
"Now, Jerry, if yer don't stop yer guz-
yum III skin yer alive" she exclaimed, as
she stood in the door and 1ourshed a skill
let at him.
Jerry made off and sat down on log,
ana lac widow turned to me to explain
Don't pay III, seriousness 10 he 'un, sir.
Jerry wants new pop right bad, and do
say that Pm dun tired of this yere gittin'
along alone. But I'm not gwine ter offer
myself to anybody"
Just before dinner the oldest girl made
friends with me, materially assisted by
some candy, and she suddenly bawled out
Ma! ma! gwine to marry him"
"NOw, MOllym chided the mother.
wish yer would" added the youngest,
who went by the name Of Nancy.
Now, Nancy! While l do go fur to say
he IN is the smartestl looking stranger
I've seen fur year, mebbe he 'un don't
think shucks Of me-"
kept lighting shy Of the main question
and by-and-by we sat down to dinner
The blessing had been scarcely asked when
Jerry, who had made a tremendous effort
to wash his face and comb his hair, looked
up at his mother and asked
Has he 'un asked you yit"
jerry she chided.
But don't he 'un want YER"
"Jerrvr"
''But don't want new pap and gunT
he loudly demanded,
Don't serious him." she said to me rs
she helped me to leg of a chicken.
"While 1 viii 90 fur to declare that have
seventy-siX acres of land, three nevis, a
COW, thirty-two hogs, four stacks Of hay,
and &23 in cash, I've allus sorter disagreed
with second marriages. They mayn't be
! happy"
"Your husband was good man, I've
heard, - replied
Yes. A pumpkin is good-good 'nuff
fur pumpkin. lie knowed considerable,
and thar was considerable he never
knowed. lie was all goodness-too much
( of it. Never made hundred dollars in
his life"
"You must have been quite a business
woman to have got along so we'll"
"You iiggerl kin turn dollar as well
as the best Of 'em, While l will go fur to
say second marriages are not allus happy,
the man who gifts me don't git no sitter
nor complaiuer"
managed TO turn the subject for awhile,
/ but as soon as dinner was over Jerry tool,
his mother into the other room for a con
sultaton, and Molly came and sat down
beside me, and asked
1 do You 'un like maj"
ooh, yes"
"And She likes you Wish you was my
I pap. Mebhe you will be by tO-morrer. "
went out and sat down under a tree to
smoke a cigar, and pretty soon Jerry came
out He had a business look all over his
| face as he said
"Pve aXed ma if she would hev' ye,"
Have you? You are real kind"
/ "And she says she will"
1 "lndeedH
"And how about that gun? When shall
l gitit?"
"say, Jerry did you ever have dollar
1 ali at oncey' l asked.
"Lor' no-nor two bitsl"
"lfTH give you big silver dollar, will
you let up on that gun until l come
/ again2'
"Wiu u Hoop snakes and bad fighters.
| but | Will"
/ gave him the dollar and he dashed
| through the house to show it to his sis
/ ters, and then started on a run for neigh
1 boris two miles away. When | returned
| 70 the house and said | must be going l
/ was met by such an avalanche Of protests
| that had to agree to stay until next day.
/ That might | sat up with the Widow
/ Watkins. ! got around to it after awhile
/ TO state that | was living with my third,
and had three sets of children numbering
/ five in a set. and that | couldn't possibly
! see how I could make her my wife. | was
! very sorry, but helpless, aud / hoped she
! would let me send her new Bingham
/ dress from Salisbury
That's honest and straight" she said,
I in reply. "Whilc ! win 20 fur to say |
/ like yer looks, and l believe we could
/ live happily together, if We can't marry,
| why. ye can't. Ye would if We could,
Wouldn't ye2'
"Quicker'n scatl"
,.l...t.- ,,-t g., 80 md 1917 ,.g f,,,- 80 GO .