Sullivan republican. [volume] (Laporte, Pa.) 1883-1896, 1891-07-31
OLD MAN MIXALL.
BY HELEN FORREST GRAVES.

$50 you've got back ag'in, Lo-i.syw
said Old Man Mixall.
eyes, Mr.. Mixall," said Louisa Hill, :"
'I've got back again"
"Any news, Lo-i-sy9" cheerfully piped
the octogenarian, folding the week old
newspaper so as to bring the Financial
News" on level with his old steel spec
tacles.
Louisa shook her head.
"Well, l YUM" said Old Man Mixal.
''It's shame!" Adam Putney always
was as queer as Sancho, and l 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 Hail." and there was al
least bushcl 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 and
happy.
Desperation Hall was long, low erec-
tic gray stone that had been snuff
mi "a century ago, and was now
utilize Y the accommodation of the
town po,
Captain : Fotherindyke, retired
sea captain, " vt the helm of this in-
stitution; and / wife, thrifty dame
of many resources. Naided and abctted
him in every respect. And of all the
boarders, old Simon Mixall was the
cheeriest aud most helpful.
Cant l help ye, Lo-i-sy2" said he,
Ewing down the paper. /" Pears to me
rot dreadful job there, with all
.nem I'm awful sorry bout
Adam Putne, s'pose Peters clean out
O. patience with nIn.."
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 a
mind to sell to these railroad people, he
can't be made to do 80"
''An' ye can't no ways be married
without the money!" wistfully spoke Mr..
Mixall.
Louisa shook her head.
''Peter has his mother and his lame
sister to support" said she, with sigh.
"We 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 sits ill waitin' for dead mems
shoes. And the Putneys always was a
long lived race"
''He may live as long as he wants for
all me-" observed Louisa. 81 don't
grudge him moment of his life, poor
old manu-
''No, l don't believe you do" said
Old Man Mixall. ''All the same, it's
pretty hard on you and Pete. How's
Widow Blivens Any better of the rheu-
matiz2 Me and Nancy Bliven we've
danced many Virginia reel together in
our young days, though p'raps ye
wouldn't think it, Lo-isy."
"She's little BETTER" said Louisa.
Sand 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.
I'm 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 garret of the old house," added
Louisa. ''He's going to be George Wash
ington.
"Pd admire to see him." said Old Man
Mixall. III wonder now if Cap'n Elias
would object to me goin' down there and
seeip' you young folks rugged up9"
"ip ask him myself" said Louisa,