The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1892-08-03
THE WILLING WIDOW,
1t Is Dangerous to Say Complimentary
Things tndiscriminateIy.


A rowing scribe of the N Y. Herald
writes from Posey County: A score of
us were sitting in the shade of the
depot building waiting for the train.
of oxen attached to queer-looking old
cart turned the corner. They were
driven by a woman about so years of
age, who was barefoot and wore
mans straw hat.
"Git up thar, Buck!" she exclaimed
as she laid the "gad" on the off OK with
a resounding whack. "You thar, Pete,
what you skittishun round that way
furp Whoa, now! Both of you stan
still"
She turned them up to the platform,
threw down some hay taken from the
cart, and came up among us to inquire
of the depot agent about barrel of
salt. He was busy just then and she
was waiting around when the smart
Aleck of the crowd, who was travelling
for wine house, remarked in tones
meant for her to overhear:
81 have always said that if l married
at all I'd marry a woman who could
drive oxen.
as that meant for mep" she asked
as she walked straight up to him.
care you widow, ma'am?"
81 am. Bin a widder ever since a
sawlog rolled over Jim nine years
ago"
~And you'd marry again if you had
the opportunity, would you?"
81 would. When Jim lay a dyin' in
the house he told me to marry again
if 1 had show"
"Ahem! 1t runs in our family to
love- We begin airly and keep it up to
the grave. What's your propositionf
I'm plain woman, full O. bizness, and
never do any foolin'. If you've got
anythin' TO say spit it right out afore
'em alp"
"I-I don't want to marry just now,
he stammered.
"Don't, eh? Then what's the use Of
gettin' me on my tip-toes about it!
Young man, you jest the same as asked
me to have you, and jest the same as
accepted your
oh! No, no! l merely made some
inquiries!" he replied.
"Them inquiries was about love, sir
and my hearts thumpin' away like
all get out! / said I'd marry agin, ant
| will: We are engaged. When dc
you want me to be ready?"
madam, you have totally misunder
stood me," exclaimed the young maj
as he turned all sorts of colors and ap
peared to grow small. 81 asked you
few questions out of curiosity"
"Mebbe the jury will call it curiosity
and mebbe they won't!" she said as sh,
set her jaw. "They don't allow n
foolin' round in Posey county. Whel
a feller goes as fur as you hev it's hitcl
or damages. I'm tremblin' all owe
like girl, an my hearts a tryin' t.
Jump out. It's regular love or don
| know the road hum. You don't leav
here young man till this case is set
tled!"
"But, ma'am, you see"-
81 don't see nuthin' but marriage o
damages. You've asked me to hav
you. I said Iwould. VIII you MARI.
or settleP"
| "How-how muchP" he gasped, a
he looked around and failed to find an
sympathy.
| aWall, Saginaw salt is dollar and
quarter bar1," she replied, as sh
glanced at row of barrels down th
platform. Il guess the oxen kin g
| hum with two bar'ls. Make it tw
and I'll call it squar."
Every body grinned except the youn
man. He realized that he was don
for and got out of the box by plankin
down the $3.50 to the agent. Th
cart was driven around to the spo
the barrels loaded up, and then th
woman came back to say TO the youn
man:
"I've settled this case and the salt
in the cart, but l jes want to remar
that of you happen this way agin, an
you happen to feel so awfully cunnil
that you can't hold yourself you'd be
ter go slow on widders. Thar's si1
teen of us around here, an we a
drive yaller oxen hitched to carts, an
we all 90 b'arfoot in the summer an
sigh to get married agin. The reg'la
fgger is three bar'ls of salt and poun
of tea, but OWN to your youth an
that thunderstorm comm up I've le
you off easy. Good day bub; good da!
all"