Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1890-01-25

''Nothin' within the range of my OBJ
Servation. There won't be much more
a-goin' now till lection time; things'l
be pretty lively then"
"Want to buy any hay this yeara"
chirped Miss Keziah. Mine is extra
good this season; my hired man says
it's the best harvest yield in town"
II rather guess I'll hev enough to
carry me thro' the winter. If ! don't
I shall know where ter come fur hay
as is hay. / declare, your farm does
beat all! | feel kind O. rugged like
when think the best farm in town is
managed bya woman"
Miss Keziah smiled graciously, and
the deacon drew his chair little
nearer his hostess. ut must be a great
load for We to carry alone. Such a
large farm is tremendous response
bility for lone woman"
"Oh, don't mind it; it keeps me
proper busy"
The deacon hitched his chair along
few inches farther. "Yed ought to
have brother or cousin, or some rela-
tive like, to share the burden with ye."
my shoulders are plenty strong"
returned Miss Keziah, good naturally.
"I'm glad to show the folks that there
are women good for something besides
giddy -gaddying and tattling."
''Yis, yis," answered the deacon.
1--WE can all testify to your valley and
worth. You're real honor to your
sex. You're-you're bright and
shinin' beacon light to the trifiin'
and vain minded women of the world"
and the speaker waved his hand at the
conclusion of this little oratorical
flourish.
Then hitch, hitch, hitch went the
chair Miss Keziahyard. Don't you
feel sort O lonely at spells2" he asked,
insinuatingly.
Miss Keziah glanced suspiciously at
the rapidly advancing chair. She
dropped her knitting and went to the
fire and piled up the blazing sticks of
wood. Then she came back to the ta-
BILE and set her chair on the farther
side of it, thus putting a barrier be-
tween her and the visitor. I'm never
lonely, deacon; plenty to do is the
best medicine for loneliness.
''But woman's tender, dependent
creatur'. Womans vine, here the
deacon took up the weekly prayer
meeting drawl, 'sand needs suthin' to
cling to when the troubles, desolatin'
waves and winds o affection and sor-
row roll over her."
STUFF and nonsensef' exclaimed
Miss Keziah, with a contemptuous
sniff. Il shouldn't have expected
that a man of your sense, deacon,
would repeat such silly trash. I have
no patience with the people who are
always talking as if women couldn't
stand alone, and needed propping up
like rag doll that hadn't any back
bone. I'm no vine, or creeping, help
less thing, can tell you. l can stand
alone as well as anybody, if the Lord
so wills it, although l admit, deacon,
that it's pleasanter to have some one
keep you company"
That's jest it; We hev hit the nail
squar' on the headi It's pleasanter to
hev company in our sojourn on this
mortal yearth."
The deacon seized his chair with both
hands, and by circutous line of
hitching he placed it within three feet
of Miss Keziah's table You're fore
handed woman, Miss Keziah; I'm a
man of prominence and influence in
the community; it seems to me that it
would be a good thing if we could
walk hand in hand through this vale
of tears. Providence seems to pint its
finger that way" The deacon was
thinking at that very moment of the
money he could save by thrifty
manager like Miss Keziah in place of
his inefficient, wasteful hired woman.
Miss Keziah was dumfounded. She
dropped her knitting, and the ball of
yarn rolled across the floor "Mercyr'
she finally gasped.
"Fll make We first rate husband,
and yell make me good wife. We've
been members of the same church for
thirty years or more, and we've been
members of the same spiritooal family,
we'll now be members of the same hui
man family"
Miss Keziah Strengthened herself up
in her highbacked chair, and drew in
her chin. while her voice rang out
shrill and clear:
Il rather guess it'll take two to make
that bargain"
A second look at the aged admirer,
who was edging up to her with
sheepish shipper, exasperated Miss
Keziah beyond control.
1.-The old fooll" she said wrathfully.
The color came into the deacon's
thin cheeks and he started to his feet,
looking 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 grimly in front Of her,
remarked grimly:
when you first began your talking
hadn't the least idea what you were
driving at. thought you were hint
ing about Betsy Hill, and wanted to
take me into your confidence. never
dreamed that you meant me. Why,
supposed every one in town knew
that would not give up my freedom
for the best man living. Betsey Hill
is pious, likely woman, she'll make
a good home for you and she needs
home herself
The deacon was completely wither-
ed, and Miss Keziah continued; IF
you'll step around little hyeiier, dea-
con, and pick up the stones on your
lots and put them into good fences,
and NOW down those pesky weeds,
there's no earthly reason why your
farm shouldn't look as well as mine.
If I've said anything to hurt your feel
ings, deacon, / hope you'll overlook it.
Why, you are all tangled up in that
warn: I'll untangle it.
The delay of unwinding the yarn
from the deacon's feet gave Miss Ke-
xiah chance for further remark:
ss'One word more, deacon; have you
heard about the western landsl"
The deacon wished he was any