The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1890-05-21

49, stood idle at the end
of row while he sat on the fence, his
chin in his hands, wishing it we've
dinner-time. They called him Long
iawed Joe" on account of the unusual
length of his face. 1t was also pain
fully thin, but this was relieved by a
clear wholesome color and light-blue,
placid eyes. He was good-natured,
and was never known TO be angry.
Il tell You now, joe" said his broth
er, as they were unhitching at noon,
"Im not goin' ter stan it no longer"
That's what I've been thinkin',
Bill, replied Joe; "this works awful
hard"
"You know what / mean, an you
can't turn it off that er way"
What do you mean, Bill 2"
Il mean won't work myself TO death
while you loaf half the time"
"Do L loaf half the time?"
yes; you know you do"
That's argument why / should loaf,
joe"
"How 2"
"Well, if / didn't loaf half the time
you'd work yourself to death"
You're er fool, said Bill, pettishly
flashing his mule with the plow-lines.
Maybe l am, Bill. but / never hit
my mule when / git the worst of an
argument"
You're too lazy to do anything"
90, no l amt. / fixed old man
Brayton's silver bulPs-eye last night
when you was asleep, and set it runnin'
right straight along"
disposed to tinker, pap bought you a
lot of tools that only helps keep your
mind often your plowin'. He never
bought me nothin' in my life, but he
humors you-because you're lazy, L
reckon"
Il never had my mind on plowin',
Bill SO them watch-makin' tools can't
keep my mind off it, If pap never
bought you nothin'. p'rhaps it's because
you never asked him. But if you want
anything five dollars can buy, here's
the money. l made it last week, tink
erin
Il don't want your money" said Bill,
knocking his brothers hand away and
scattering the coin over the ground.
"But if you ain't too lazy you can let
down the bars"
Joe picked up the money and let
down the bars; Bill passed through,
down the lane to the horse-lot.
BILLS a good boy" he unused. slowly
putting up the bars, "but he's awful
high-tempered. 1 wonder how man
feels when he's right mad 7" His mule,
kicking at a fly, struck his shin. Look
out, Rhodom, that's my leg you're hit
tin. There amt much meat ON it, but
what it wants in flesh it makes up in
bone"
When Joe went to his "tinkerin
room" as Bill called it, that night, his
tools were gone. He said nothing.
Next morning Joe was gone. He left
letter, which read:
DEAR BILL: The crop is about lad by. /
leuv: you five dollars, to pay somebody to
do the rest of my wo k. l wasn't cut out
for farmer. but IN NIX can make Twin
tnk~rin' watches. Your brother. JoE.
His father looked solemn. but said
nothing. His mother went into their
bedroom, smoothed down Joe's pillow,
and cried. Bill said:
He'll come back when he gets hun
gry which won't be more'n a week at
furthest.
Weeks, months, years passed. The
bluebird built its nest In the hollow
stump; the crow, with one eye on
Bills gun, helped himself to the early
planting The June-bug lodged" the
woodpecker among the tall corn. The
quail made its "mallow" under the
cow-pea vines, and filled its crop with
the ripened grain the coon had thrown
down. The 'possum, grown fat on per-
simmons, fell easy prey to hunters
when frost gfistened in the starlight,
and might have been proud of his APP
pearance when, garnished with sweet
potatoes, he graced the farmers table.
But Joe came not, nor any tidings of
him.
On bright spring morning when
the bees were busy among the honey
suckle blossoms around the door and
Bill was busy in the field, letter came
to Joe's mother. 1t said
DEAR MOTHER: Five yea's seems long
time to me. and know it seems a long time
Ia you. because you haven { n ard from me.
When l lett home L made up my mind 10
do something for myself before L wrote
back. | wern't no COOL In the Held. and as
1 had n knack for watch tinkern' / thought
I'D try 10. / acme TO the city. and worked
amt much with the pen. / have done some
thin tor myself I've got ~ COOL business
OF my own, and I'm comm TO see YOU all.
But amt comm alone. i found in M
travels u little woman. with brown hair and
black eyes, who says she loves me IL / am
u ~: that my lean face aud long legs don't
make no difference TO her. Sh Is my wife.
Don't think. now. she can't cook or keep
house. You mayn't believe IL. but she can
make almost IA good corn-b bread as you
can: and as TO coOkin' greens down TO the
proper seasonin'. you will be surprised.
she proposes TO prove this bv cooKin' the
III SO dinner a'ter we come. SO, II you see
a gawky young man I'm bad-fttin' city
clothes and "A short little woman in calico
that fits her to Il" get out of hack before
the gate. don't think thew are strangers:
they will be us. Tell Bill / am vet too lazy
10 plow. but KNOWN he's not. I've bought
him a splendid mule. Did he ever find my
tinkerin' toosl Your son. JOE.
When Joe and his wife retired at
night after their first day. at the old
home, they found the ''tinkerin'
tools" lying on the table. They were
in neat box which Bill had bought
for tbo ,,ur,ooa onI NTH thor, 49,,