The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1890-03-15
JONAS WEDDING TRIP.
Uncle Pickett Delivers Some
Sound Advice.

looked around the disordered kitchen.
''And the cream all spelling for the
lack of some one to churn, and the
young turkeys all down with the pip,
and the white calf ailing, and me tied,
hand and foot, like thisr'
Don't fret, mother" said Jonas,
who. after q most clumsy and man-like
fashion, was frying potatoes over the
fire. It'll all come right
ut cant all come right" said Mrs.
Akin, jerking out the words between
the spasms Of rheumatism. Every
thin. will 60 to rack and ruin. o. dear.
Jonas, you'll have to hire help. The
men are coming next week to cut down
the grass in the forty-acre medder-
four of 'em, and all expecting to be
boarded here, and the doctor says it'll
be chance If I get back my strength
in six weeks"
II can put 'em of. mother" sug-
gested Jonas, cheerfully.
"And spoil the finest hay crop we've
ever growed," said Mrs. Akin. THAT
will never do. Hired help is the only
way out OF it."
Il don't know of any one to be
hired" said Jonas. dishing up his po-
tatoes in way that struck chill to
his mothers heart. There's Phebe
Potter. but she asks two dollars =
week"
''She must be crazy" said Mrs.
Akin. What does she take people for,
l wonderP Twelve shillings is an exor-
bitant price for any girl to expect. No
one can earn it."
''Euretta Clayp"
"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, thinnerr' cried his
mother. 20. dear. what q squealing
them pigs keep up; they know it's past
their regular feedin' time, as we'll as
though they we're Christians
Il guess the pigs II keep" observed
philosophic Jonas. trudging slowly
down cellar after pat of butter. Mrs.
Akin moved uneasily In her chair, and
uttered q groan.
20, dear! oh, dear! we never can get
along this way" unused she. s.Some-
thing has got to be done. Jonasv'
Yes
The curly head and sunburned face
appeared at the top of the cellar stairs,
like the Good Geuii coming up through
the stage floor in the pantomime.
look here, Jonas--you must get
marriedr
Jonas set the butter-plate down on
the table with q bang.
''Mem said he. Good Lord, mother!r
he exclaimed, "what are you thinking
OFF"
why, don't see any better arrange
ment," said Mrs. Akin. you're six
and I'm gettin' feebler and |
more good-for-nothin' every day.
There amt no gal we can hire short of |
twelve shillings week. A wife would |
come great deal cheaper, Jonas-and !
she wouldn't want no clothes for q
year. at least-and she'd sort o. take
IN interest, and do lots o. things hired |
help wouldn't undertake! There Let
" Hooper. Jonas. she's a right smart
stirring gal, and as pretty as a picter."
Jonas whistled; the idea commended
Itself to him, on further reflection, as
sminently practicable.
1T might be better economy" re-
marked he.
''Of course 1t would" said Mrs.
Akin. There's the new rag carpet
'eady' for the loom, and the spring
not attended to yet, and
Ill the milk and butter. and the turkeys
md goslings, and the Young calves,
md the vegetable garden-I sold three
lollars' worth of green peas out OF the
arden last year; and there's no sense
firing man to make garden when any
mart woman can look arter It, odd
lines; and your clothes need attending
o. and my new alpaca dress amt
made yet and--why. Ia me! there's [,
Fork for three women, at least about
ne place! Go and see Letitia Hooper
his very afternoon, before Matt Pellet
cts the start of your she added.
Jonas Akin came home at ten o'clock
hat night and told his mother Lefty |
looper had accepted him.
'Good!" said Mira Akin. ..Nov |
'e'l get something done about the 3
remises. Hurry up the wedding ~ !
Don ~ ever you can. my son; it's An | I
wful inconvenient time Of year to get /
,arried imp
'.Are you sure you're doing wise I
hing. Lettyp" said Ola Ebeu Hooper. /
hen bis daughter showed him her
'eddinR dress With blushing pride, Il
s'Why NOT htherF' ~ : !