The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1892-07-08
Aw1II1Na wInow.

A score of us were sitting in the shade
of the depot building waiting for the
train, which was an hour late, when
woke of oxen attached to a queer-look-
ing old cart turned the corner. They
were driven by woman about so years
of age, who was barefoot and wore a
mans straw hat.
"Git up thar, Buckl" she exclaimed,
as she laid the "gad'' on the off OK with
resounding whack. You, thar, Pete,
what you slIittishun round that way fur?
Whoa, now! Both of yous 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 wait
ing around when the smart Aleck of the
crowd, who was travelling for a wine
house, remarked in tones meant for her
| to overhear:
81 have always said that if l married
at all I'd marry woman who could
| drive oxen"
as that meant fur me?" she asked, as
she walked straight up to him.
"Are you widow, ma'amT"
81 am. Bin a wilder ever since
sawlog rolled over Jim nine years ago."
"And you would marry again if you
had the opportunity, would youP"
~ would. When Jim lay a-dyin' in
the house he told me to marry again if 1
had show"
"AhemP 1 see. Could you love a
second husband?"
81 could. 1t runs in our family to
love- We begin airly and keep it up to
the grave. What's your proposition?
Pm a plain woman, full O. bizness, and
never do any foolin'. If you've got any
thing to say spit it right out afore 'em
4 all"
I'll don't want to be married just
now," he stammered.
Don't, ell? Then what's the use of
gettin' me on my tiptoes about itP You
man, you jest the same as asked me to
have you and jest the same as accepted
you'll
ooh! No, MOI merely made some in
quiries!" he replied.
: "Them inquiries was about love, sir,
} and my hearts thumpin' away like all
git out! l said I'd marry again, and l
will. We are engaged. When do you
want me to be ready?'
MADAM, you have totally misunder-
f stood me-" explained the yonng man as
= he turned all sorts of cOlOrs and APP
: peared to grow small. 81 asked you a
S few questions out of curiosity"
Y "Mebbe the jury will call it curiosity
t and mebbe they won'tr she said as she
g set her jaw. "They don't allow nc
: foolin' round in Posey county. Wher
: a Teller goes as fur as you hey it's Z
S hitch or damages. I'm trenholm al
over like a,girl, an my hearts a trying
to Jump out. It's reg'l lar love or dom
know the way hum. You don't leave
young man, till this case is settled"
"But ma am, you see'-
81 don't see nothin' but marriage Of
; damages. You've asked me to hav'
:. you. l said 1 would. win you MARI!
! or settle?"
: "How-how much?" he gasped, as h,
looked around and failed to get an!
: sympathy. --
''Well, Saginaw salt is worth a dolla
!, and quarter barrel" as she glanced
! at a row of barrels down the platform
II guess the oxen can git hum with twt
! barrels. Make it two and I'll call /
! squar'."
! Everybody grinned except the youni
man. He realized that he was done 10
and got out of the box by planking dow
! two dollars and half to the agent TIL
cart was driven round to the spot tn
barrels loaded mp, and thon the woman
came back to say to to the young man
i've settled this case and the salt is il
= the cart, but jest want to remark tina
if you happen this way again, an yo
: happen to feel so awfully cunnin' tina
: you can't hold yourself, you'd better @
4 slow on widders. Thar's sixteen of u
: round here, an we all drive yeller oxe
hitched to carts, an we all 90 barefoot
in the summer and sigh to git Marie
. . agin. The regular figger is three barrel
: of salt and pound of tea, but OWN t
= your youth, and that thunder storm
cemin' up i've let you off easy. Goo
day, bub; good day, all!"-NeD YOr
Herald