River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1890-05-22

women who are good for something be-
sides gidjy-gaddying and tat ling"
"Yis, yis," answer ed the deacon, I'VE
/ can all testify to your valley and worth.
| You're a real honor to your sex.
/ You re-yOu're a bright and shinin'
| beacon-light to the trifiin' and vain
| minded women of the world" and the
speaker waved his hand at the conclu-
sion of this little oratorical flourish.
Then hitch, hitch, hitch, went the
chair Miss Keziahward. Don't you
feel sort o. lonely at spells?" he asked,
insinustingly.
Miss Keziah glanced suspiciously at
/ the rapidly advancing chair. She
dropped her knitting and went to the
/ fire and piled mp the blazing stacks of
wool Then she came back TO the table
and set her chair on the further side of
it, thus putting barrier between her
and her visitor. I'm never lonely.
deacon; plenty to do is the best medi-
cine for loneliness"
"But wOman's a tender, dependent
/ creatur. Woman's a vine" here the
deacon took up his weekly prayer meet
/ ing drawl. "and needs suthin' to cling
I to when the troubles, desolatin' waves
/ and winds O. affection and sorrow roll
over her"
.'Stuff and nonsensew exclaimed Miss
/ Kcziah. with contemptuOus sniff. Il
shouldn't have expected that man of
your sense. deacon. would repeat such
silly trash. have no patience with the
people who are always talking as if a
| woman couldn't stand alone, and needed
propping up like a rag doll that hadn't
| any backbone. I'm no vine, or such
creeping. helpless thing, can tell you.
| can stand alone as we'll as anybody, i
the Lord so wills it althO' | admit,
deacon. that it's pleasanter to have some
one to keep you company"
That's Jest il; We hev hit the nail
squar' on tie head! Its pleasanter to
hev' company in our sojourn on this
mortal yearth.''
The Deacon seized his chair with both
hands. and by circuitOus line of hitch
| ing placed it within three feet of Miss
Keziah's table. You're a fOre-handed
woman. Miss Keziah; I'm a man of
prominence and influence in the COM
munity; it seems to me that it would be
a good thing if we could walk hand in
hand through this vale of tears Prov
idence seems 70 point its finger that
way" The deacon was thinking that
very moment of the money he would
save by a thrifty manager like Miss
/ Keziah in the place of his inefficient
wasteful hired woman
/ Miss Keziah was dumfounded. She
dropped her knitting. and the ball of
yarn rolled across the floor. Mercy"
she finally gasped.
III make We a first-rate husband.
and yen make me a good wife. We've
been members OF the same church for
thirty years OF more. and we've been
members of the same spritooal family;
well now be members of the same
human family"
Miss Keziah Strengthened herself up
in her high backed chair and drew in
her chin, while her voice rang out shrill
and clear: Il rather guess it'll take
two 70 make that bargain"
1 A second look at the aged admirer,
who was edging up to her with sheep
/ ish shipper. exasperated Miss keziah
beyond control.
/ The old fOol.~ she said wrathfully.
The color came into the deacon's thin
cheeks. and he started to his feet, look
ing anxiously toward the door. as If
meditating hasty retreat But the
yarn was wound around his boots, and
he was forced to remain
Miss Keziah likewise rose, and, fold
ing her hands primly in front of her,
remarked. grimlv: when you first
began your talking 1 hadn't the least
| idea what you were driving at.
thought you were limiting about Betsey
Hill and wanted TO take me into your
confidence. ] never dreamed that you
meant me. Why, l supposed that every
one in town knew that would not give
up my freedom for the best man living.
! RAtsev Hill Is Nous likely woman: