The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1891-07-29
OLD MAN MIXALL
BY HELEN FORREST GRAVES.

$50 you We got back ag'ln, Lois
said Old Man Mixall.
".Yes, Mr.. Mixall," said Louisa Hill, u
''l've got back again"
"Any news, Lo-i-sy" cheerfully piped
The octogeuarian, folding the week old
newspaper so as to bring the Financial
News on a level with his old steel spec
tacles.
Louisa shook her head.
"Well, vuml" said Old Man Mixall.
"lt's shame!" Adam Putney always
was as queer us Sancho, and do b'lieve
he grows queerer every year he lives"
Louisa Hill sighed softly, and went
about her work of preparing beans.
The morrow was bean-picking day at
desperation Hall," and there was at
least bushel of the leguminous vegeta-
bles ready to be picked over and
stemmed.
The boarders at Desperation Hall were
partial to pickles as soon as the cold
weather set in, and the matron was
anxious to keep them satisfied aud
happy.
Desperation Hall was long, low erec-
tion of gray stone that had been snuff
mill half century ago, and was now
utilized for the accommodation of the
town poor.
Captain Elias Fotherindyke, q retired
sea captain, was at the helm of this in-
stitution; and his wife, thrifty dame
of many resources, aided aud abetted
him in every respect. And of all the
boarders, old Simon Mixall was the
cheeriest aud most helpful.
"Can't / help ye, Lo.i-sy2" said he,
laying down the paper. Pears to me
yo've got a dreadful job there, with all
them beans. I'm awful sorry bout
Adam Putney. s'pose Peters clean out
o. patience with him."
The color mounted to Louisa's cheek.
"Peter don't say much," answered
she; "but, of course, he's vexed. But
l tell him that the farm belongs to Uncle
Adam, and if his Uncle Adam hasn't u
mind TO sell to these railroad people, he
can't be made TO do So"
can ye can't no ways be married
without the money! wistfully spoke Mr..
Mixall.
LCulsa shook her head.
"Peter has his mother and his lame
sister to support said she, with sigh.
awe shall have to wait, that's all.
Old Man Mixall shook his head over
the emerald drift of beans.
81 hold with the proverb," said he,
''that 'it's ill waitin' for dead men S
shoes. Aud the Putneys always was a
long lived race"
''He may live as long as he wants for
oil me-" observed Louisa. IL don't
grudge him a moment of his life, poor
old man! !"
"No, | don't believe you do" said
Old Man Mixall. All the same, it's
pretty hard on you and Pete. How's
Widow Bliven3 Any better of the rheu-
matizi Me and Nancy Bliyen we've
danced many a Virginia reel together in
our young days, though p'raps ye
wouldn't think it, Lo-i sy."
''She's a little be Ctter,n said Louisa.
"And the young folks are going to have
a masquerade frolic at the Lyceum to
earn money to paint the old Bliven house
and re-shingle the roof before fall sets in.
Pm going to borrow the Quaker dress
that Libby Weldon's grandmother wore
when she was married. 1t fits me ex-
actly."
81 want to know" calculated the old
man.
"And Peters going to ask old Squire
Lomax to lend him the chest of Revolu-
tionary uniforms and things he's got in
the garnet of the old house, added
Louisa. ''He's going to be George Wash
ington.
"Pd admire to see him, " said Old Man
Mixall. ~ wonder now if Cap'n Elias
would object to me goin' down there and
seeip' you young folks rugged upl"
''l'll ask him myself" said Louisa,
who liked the kindly old soul and wanted
him to have the simple treat.
''You see, don't often ask for an
evening out" said Old Man Mixall.
''Not but what I'd like it oftener, but il
l ask, there's forty Others would think
they'd ought to 60 too, an don't want
Cap'n Elias to hey any more trouble
than's absolutely necessary. But would
like to see how you look as a Quakeress,
and I'm mortal sure Peter Putney' Ii make
an A No. 1 Revolutionerp
And when the beans were all prepared
for the morrow's pickle, Old Man MiXal
strolled cheerily along the front OF Des