Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1891-10-31
WINNING A WIDOW.


his chief farmland.
"Well, what's wantin'T lazily re-
sponded lothian Hardcastle, with a half
masticated straw between his teeth, as
he looked up from the bit Of harness he
vas mending.
"The Widow Palmleaf has taken the
cottage at tho foot of the lane"
"Tell me something l didn't know
afore," said Jotham, with more freedom
than reverence in his manner.
"And If she sends up to b,rrow the
rake, or the hoe, or the spade
"Well, what thenr'
"rell her she can't have 'em. Women
are always borrowing. knew Hobart
Palmleaf when he was alive; he was a
chronic borrower. don't want any
thing to do with his widow"
Gall right" observed Jotham, .philo-
sophically, and his master resumed the
perusal of his newspaper once more.
"JothamY said Mr.. Wiggleton, about
ten days afterward, as he came in heated
and out of breath from a walk. (Mr.
Wiggleton wasn't as spry as he had been
before his five-and-fortieth birthday, and
the Locust Hill was pretty steep ascent
"Well, what nowf"
81 wonder il that was the Widow
Palmleaf l saw gathering blackberries
into basket by the south wall of the
cottage garden?"
"Kind o. slim and tall?"
eyes"
"Blue eyes and hair as shiny as satinP''
"Yes."
"And a little white parasol, lined with
pinka"
eyes"
"Reckon likely it was" said lothian.
But" persisted the puzzled land
owner, "she doesn't look at all like q
widow"
There's as much difference in widows
as there is in other folks" observed Jo-
than, dryly.
Mr.. Wiggleton was silent for a mo-
ment or two.
"Jotham!" he finally said.
"Well?"
elias she sent to borrow anything?"
"Sent yesterday forenoon--asked il
we had screw driver to lend-the hinge
was comm loose on the garden gate"
"And what did you tell herr"
"Said my order was contrary wise to
lendin' or borrowin'."
GOTHAM, you arc fool"
"'Tain't the first time you've said so,
and 'tain't tho first time you've been
wrong" said Jotham, with q calmness of
demeanor that was beautiful to behold.
"Hard words is considered in the wages,
and amt tho man to find fault. ! only
did as you told me-"
"Yes, but, lothian, never mind; the
next time she sends let her have what
ever she wants"
"Said somethin' about wantin' man
to come and hoe them early potatoes. BE
Ito go?"
Certainly of course. Neighbors
should act like neighbors, especially in
the country"
And Mr.. Wiggleton sighed, and wished
that he was not too corpulent and unused
to labor to hoo the Widow Palmleaf's
early potatoes himself.
But he did the next best thing; he
went over to look at the field after 10
than had hoed it, and gave the widow
good advice oncerning certain rocky
up hill bit of sheep pasture that belongts
to the cottage.
"Td lay that down in winter rye if
were you, ma 'am," said Mr.. Wiggleton
II am so much obliged to you," SAID
the widow, sweetly. "Since poor, dear
Hobart was taken away have no ono tC
advise me on these subjects"
And Mr.. Wiggleton thought how sof,
and pretty her blue eyes looked as she
spoke.
"Oh, pshawv' said Jotham, leaning Oh
the handle Of his hoe, "winter rye AIM
the sort o. crop for that spot. Spring
wheat's the only thing to grow there"
"Hold your tongue, Jotham~ cried hi
employer, testify.
"Yes, sir, WILL" said lothian, with G
broad grin over Mr.. Wiggleton's shining
bald head.
"And about these hyacinth beds
ma'am," said the latter, recovering hii
equanimity, "Tll come over this evening
II you will allow me-
~ shall be delighted" interrupted tn,
widow, with smile that showed q Sc
Of teeth as white and regular as pearls.
"This even ing, ma'am," repeated Mr.
Wiopleton, with q bow. land vel