Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1890-10-08
Jonas Weddipg, Grip.

Jonas Weddln9, Drip.
al never thought to come to this"
said Mrs. Akin, dolefully, as she
looked around the disordered kitchen.
"And the cream all spelling for lack
of some one TO churn, and the young
turkeys all down with the pip, and the
white calf ailing, and Inc tired, hand
and foot like this,"
Don't fret, mother" said Jonas,
who, after a most clumsy and man
like fashion. was frying potatoes over
She fire. .'lt'll all come right"
"It can't all come right" said Mrs.
Akin, jerking out the words between
the spasns of rheumatism. Every
thing Will 90 to rack and ruin. Oh,
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 expected
10 be boarded here, and the doctor says
it'll be a chance if l get back my
strength in six weeks"
IL can put 'em off, MOTHER" sug-
gested Jonas, cheerfully.
"And spoil the finest hay-crop we've
ever growed,n said Mrs. Akin.
"That will never do. Hired help Is
the only way out of it."
81 don't know of any one TO be
hired" said Jonas, dishing up his
potatoes in a way that struck a chill TO
his mothers heart. ..There's Phebe
Potter, but she asks two dollars a
week"
"She must be crazy" said Mrs.
Akin. '.What does she take people
exorbitant price for any girl TO expect.
No one can earn it,"
..Euretta Clay?'
"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 hmit. He
began 10 cut the bread ia big, irregular
chunks.
Thinner, Jonas, thinner!" cried
his mother. "Oh, dear, what a squeal-
ing them pigs keep up; they know its
past their regular feedin' time, as well
as though they were Christians"
al guess the pigs'll keep" observed
philosophic Jonas, trudging slowly
down cellar after pot of butter. Mrs.
Akin moved uneasily in her chair,
and uttered a groan.
"Oh, dear! oh, dear! We never can
gs- along this way" unused she.
"Something has got to be done.
Jonas!"
"Yes."
The curly head and sunburned face
appeared at the top of the cellar stairs
like the Good Genii coming up through
the stage floor in the pantomime.
"LOok here, Jonas-you must get
marriedr'
Jonas sat the butter-plate down OF
the table with bang.
"Mer' said he. Good Lord
motherp p he exclaimed, .what arr
you thinking of"
! .Why, l don't see any better ar
-angement," said Mrs. Akin. YOUR,
I six-and-twenty, and I'm gettin' feeble
/ and more goOd-for-nothin' every day
/ There aint no gal we can hire short o
/ twelve shillings a week. a wifi
would come a great deal cheaper
/ Jonas-and she wouldn't want n,
clothes FOR year, at least-and She,
things a hired help wouldn't under
take! There's Lefty Hooper, Jonas
she's right smart, stirring gal, an,
as pretty as picter."
Jonas whistled; the idea commende,
itself TO him, on further reflection, a
eminently practicable.
at might be better economy" re
marked he.
.'Of course it would" said Mrs
Akin, "There's the new rag carpet
ready for the loom, and the spri.l!
house-cleanin' not attended To yet, ant
all the milk and butter, and the tur
keys and goslings, and the youn!
calves, and the vegetable garden
sold three dollars worth Of green pea
out of the garden last year: and there
no sense in hiring a man to make gar
den when any smart woman can loo
arter it, odd times; and your clothe
need attending TO, and my new alpac
dress aint made Vet, and-why, Ia me
there's work for three women, at least
abo.lt the place! Go and see Eetiti
Hooper this very afternoon, before Ma
Pellet gets the start of you"' sh
added.
Jonas Akin had come home at tel
o'clock that night, and told his mothe
hat Lefty Hooper had accepted him.
..Goodi" said Mrs. Akin. Nov
well get something done about tn
premises. Hurry up the wedding a
soon as ever you can, my son; its a
awful inconvcnient lime of year to &C
married ini"
+ '.Are you sure you're doing a wis
? thing, Letty?" said old Eben Hooper
|, when his daughter showed him he
. wedding dress with blushing pride.
..Why not, father"
'.Those Atkins have the name o
, being very hard. And Mrs. Green
> their neighbor, says JONAS is only get
! ting married to save the expense of
. hired girl"
! IL think he likes me-" said Lefty
: shyly. "'And I'm awfully sorry fO
, his poor rheumatic mother.'
II guess you'd better keep your pit
q for YOURSELF" observed Mr.. Hooper
shrewdly. .By all accounts, you
need it! Going TO Uncle Prickett
: for your wedding trip, ELI? Well, it
4 pleasant part of the country. daI
say You'll like it."
: Uncle Prickett was a leather-con
plexioned old man, with keen blac
|, eyes, snd sharp, yellow teeth, lii
= those Of an elderly monkey. lie CAV
. them a cordial welcome.
That's pretty little new wife {
-or1ra Mr. A{tip ~ ssid ha aAnd ,