The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1890-11-05
A PIKETOWN ROMANCE.

he badgered and bull1ed all who came
within hearing of his stentorian voice,
from his youngest daughter Martha to
his meek. pale faced old wife.
He found fault with his one hired man
to such an extent that the latt/ quit,
leaving the pillow in the furrow in the
back lot, and went in search of place
where, as he expressed it, he could
"chaw his hash in peace, an not be
cussed at w'enever he went in ear shot
of the house."
The hired man had not been rapid
worker, and as Peter had been ailing for
weeks his farm work was in a very
backward and chaotic condition.
The blowing was no more than half
done, the potatoes were not planted, the
corn ground was not fitted" and it was
already the middle of May.
The farm hands for miles around had
all secured situations, and had been at
work for weeks There was not one to
be had for love or money.
1t looked as though Peter Cummins
would have to worry through the season
as best he could without hired man.
Under the circumstances Peter did not
improve either in health or temper
"Drat the rheumatic" cried he. IF
could only git about I'd hitch up ole
Jerry an drive till | found hired man
AN one good for suthin', too. But
here am tied down-bound an gagged
with this pesky rheumatic. Ow. WOW,
wowl wot tinge tibet air was"
Although Peter was, in certain
sense, bound to his chair. he was very
far from stating the truth when he said
he was gagged, as his wife, his daugh-
tiers and every chance passerby could
have testified.
Although blowing and planting were
at standstill ON the farm the dairy
work went on as brisxly as ever. with
Miss Susan Cummins as general man
ager and Miss Martha an able assistant.
Theseventeen cows were MIXED bright
and early every morning; the milk was
'set" in large, shallow pans, and the
cream. at the proper time, was churned,
sailed and worked" into the sweetest OF
golden butter
> This was not considered hard work by
the tall, broad shouldered. rosy checked
blue eyed. flaxen haired Susan, who at 1s
years of age was as strong, healthy and
cheerful as girl well could be.
Martha two years younger although
equally as light hearted as her sister. was
her mother, who, when gal" as she
; often told her daughters. WAS considered
! a great beauty.
|
Martha had inherited her mothers Goa
black hair and eyes, creamy complexion
and slim, slender form. She was very
pretty, and not farmer boy for miles
J around but loved the ground she walked
/ on-especially when she lightly tlipped
over portion of her fathers fertile soil
The Cummins homestead would have
} been fairly overrun with admirers of the
two girls for there were many who
liked the robust Susan's style of beauty
! but for one thing. They one and all had
wholesome fear and dread Of Peters
rasping ear piercing, foghorn voice. He
also, when not down with "rheumatiz,
welded with much dexterity and ac
curacy No. 10 cowhide boot.
. So. because of the voice and the boot
the girls, though greatly admired, had
no STEADY company
The nearest approach to 1T was the
three calls Hiram Stubs had made or
Susan.
On his first visit Hiram was very
. anxiGus. apparently, to secure Peters
advice as to what he had better do with
his nine acre lot-seed it down er plant
ag'iu'
'eter. being in cheerful mood, for {
, wonder. expatiated and dwelt on the de
ightful subject at such great length
and Hiram. to propitiate him, gave hin
such marked and undivided attention
that Susan remained unnoticed save a
such rare intervals as Peter went to thu
looT to expectorate. On these occa
+ sions Hiram rolled prominent pewter
eye toward the damsel, and made hur
ried and whispered observation on the
state of the weather or solicitously in
qtIired as to her health.
The youths second visit, ostensibly TO
|, the purpose Of procuring recipe for
SPAWN liniment, passed off in much tn
same way.
When Hiram, in his store clothes, pre-
scented himself at the kitchen door of tn
Cummins homestead for the third tim
there was "a GOODNESS in the reception
rendered him by the old husbandmal
that should have warned him of break
ers ahead.
n Peter, being tired and cross, retired
early, and the young man, not to los
any precious time, at once commences
edging his chair toward the blushinl
and expectant damsel.
He reached her side as soon as coul
|. be expected under the circumstances
and had just succeeded in partially SUI
rounding her buxom form with an arr
by no means too long, when the tw
were thrown apart as by an electri
shock They had heard the followin
words, uttered IN zone VI voice ina
could be heard a full mile:
"Hi, there, Susanl Send tibet air tow
= headed fool hum, an mog your boo,
tew bed. Dew ye hear"
It was well understood that when Pete
said thing he meant it. He was ne
/, only handy with his No. 10 boots, bt
q was very muscular man and a note
trough and tumble" wrestler.
In fact Peter stated no more than tt
]. truth when he said:
81 kin down anything within ten mi
In Piketown, with one exception-thet
4 the rheumatic"
He was also great worker, being alb
= to "out-hoe. out-mow, out-chop an GU
L eat any man that he ever had in b
rs employ.
martha" said Susan day or tv
J after the hired man had taken his d