Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1892-02-27

Can you tell me sir" said he,
where Mrs. Abel Martin lives?"
"Oh, yes, sir; l can tell you" | re.
sponded, affably, But if you're look
ing for the situation of hired man :
may as well tell you that it's filled"
The burly young man made some re.
marks, indicative, in a general way, Of
his opinion of the ficklcness of woman
kind, and departed, whilst returned
rejoicing, to the old farmhouse.
Here's a very nice beginning" said
| to myself. ut is now my business
to give as much satisfaction as posi-
BILE
Fortune favored me, in more ways
than one. My mother-in-law ~sprained
her ankle on the second day, and |
played cook as well as an-of-all-work
with distinguished success, and | had
the satisfaction of hearing her say to
old Miss Priscilla Perkins that she
didn't know when she'd taken such a
notion to anyone as she had to the new
hired man.
Hes too young and good-looking to
suit me- observed Miss Priscilla, purs.
ing up her steel.trap Of a mouth.
"He is good-looking, amt he?" said
my mother-in-law. But he's dreadful
handy about the house, and he amt one
bit afraid of work. And you'd ought
to have seen the oysters he stewed for
my supper last night, and the cup of
tea he made. Why, l don't miss Je.
NINA Stiles one bit, If only Nettie
could have stayed single till she met
such a man as this!"
smiled to myself as laid out the
kindlings for the breakfast fire. MY
accomplishments as Jack Of all.
trades had never done me much good
before. But now they were certainly
winning me some credit in the world.
At the end Of the third day she had
told me the whole story Of her daugh.
ter's runaway match with "a good-for-
nothing young city chap" On the
fourth day she had consulted with me
as to whether it was better to put the
forty-acre lot into oats or rye, and |
had won her heart by taking to pieces
the old hall-clock, which had not gone
for ten years, and restoring it to run
ming order once again.
And on the evening OF the same day
Nettie arrived, all blushing and trem.
bling.
"Oh, Dick" said she, lis she very
angry?"
"Aly DEAR" said I, 'she hasn'ta an idea
who | am"
But, Dick"
mo butts, my darling" said /, cheer
fully. LET us be julius Cesar over
again. We come, we see, we con-
quer.'"
And | dragged my unwilling little
wife into the back room, where my
mother.in.law lay on a sofa, nursing
her ankle.
Mrs. Martin jumped up, spite of the
wounded ankle.
Heres my wife, ma'am," said /,
''and ] nope she'll give satisfaction"
"Nettie," she cried, in blank amaze.
ment.
"Oh, mother, mother" faltered Net,
tie, throwing both hands around the
old lady's neck, please forgive me
this time, and I'll never, never elop.
again"
"Please, ma'am, we'll be good"
added l..
And my mother-in-law relenied on
the spot. How could she do otherwise?
Henrietta said she, you've been q
naughty girl-there's no denying that.
But your husband seems q handy man
about the house, and I'm tired of living
here alone, So take off your thipgs
and go to work getting supper. As fer
you, Richard"
Eyes, ma'am, ] know" said /. ~, 9
been playing a double part and de.
ceived you all along. But ! wanted
you to like me-and you know"
added. ''all is fair in love ard war;
"Well, ] do like you-a little" admit.
ted M mother-in-law. Sand now that
have seen you, Dick, | don't so much
wonder at the way Nettie behaved"
After that she never scolded us an ,
m IRE. And honestly believe that
th's.is the only case on record in which
a mother-in. law was conquered in so
brief a campaign. Nettie says she
doesn't know how did it. In fact.
don't qnite know, myself.-Amy Ran.
dolph, in N. Y. Ledger.