Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1892-04-07
THE WATKINS PARTY.

her, Abigail, 60 to the party at Neigh
Dor Watkins. 1t seemed not only
ridiculous, but unjust, for during the
two weeks preceding the eventful party
night, ma had not only approved of
her going, but had even helped her
make new dress for the occasion, and
now the night having arrived, for no
apparent reason she had declared that
Abby must stay at home
This was Abby's side of the story,
and this she kept repeating to herself
as she sat in her own room late that
afternoon, looking mOurnfully at that
new dress spread out on the bed be-
fore her, and occasionally dashing
the back of her hand across her eyes
to wipe away those tears which, do
what she would, persisted in rising
rebellioSsly.
But Mother Toxins tale was very
Mrs. Hopping, who had just stopped
in for m, nent's chat, she had very
good reason for keeping her daughter
at home that night.
Now, I'll tell you. Mrs. Hopping,
because | know you won't ever let it
reach any of the Weaknesses (the good
lady knew this to be the quickest and
most reliable way to get the story to
Neighbor Watkins, family, I'll tell
You why I'm keeping Abby home.
You see, Tom Watkins has been keep
in company with my girl for most a
six month, and he's awful hard hit If
[ let Abby 90 ter-night there's no tell
IN what'll happen. She's Jest s like
as not to get struck with that city fell
Ter that's comm down to spend the
summer over to the Watkins. They
do say. them that see him before, that
he's mighty pleasant. Now, then,
where'll poor Tom be? III tell you
what It's, Mrs. Hoppin'" (and here
Mrs. Tookins heaTed deep sigh and
leaned very solemn face over the pan
of half peeled potatOes), Il tell you
'twOuld be downright wrong, wicked,
for me to let that young girl 90 and
jest p'rhaps ruin that poor Toms life
for him, wouldn't it?"
Eyes, indeed, Mrs. Tookins," the
other woman replied, "if you let her
do such a thing you wouldn't deserve
salvation nohoW," and the pious Mrs.
Hopping rolled her horror stricken
eyes toward the rafters. Soon after
As Mrs. Tookins, standing on her,
doorstep, watched her friend waddle
slowly down the road. she thought to
herself: Now, if she'll only be real
quick an tell the Watkinses, I know
it'll bring Tom round. When he
thinks he may lose Abby I guess he'll
look alive"
Mrs. Hopping, on the other hand, as
she turned at the end of the road
to say a last goodbye to her neighbOr,
said to herself: Il know she thinks
that dull-faced little Abby of hers has
got ahead of my Sarah but We'll see.
[ calkerlate Hannah Watkins won't be
over particular pleased if | let her
think Susan Toxins lookin' for higher
game than her Tom for Abby; don't
care to have 'em together much while
that city feller's round; I guess it'll
gall her Bit" And Mrs. Hopkins
chuckled to herself as she tried to hur-
ry along the road.
So the story was told half an hour
later at the Watkinses. Mrs. Hopping
"jest happened to be passin' their way,
| and thought she'd jest stop in to let
them know Abby Toxins couldn't
come that night. Too bad, wasn't it?
| But then Mrs. Toxins was always
kinder stuck up, etc., until the rest of
the story, as conceived by Mrs. Hop
ping had been told.
Meanwhile the poor girl on whose
| account these two worthy ladies
troubled themselves so much sat lone
ly in her room, thinking of the dance
that she was to miss, which all the
others were to enjoy, and-of Tom.
He would see them all but her, and
Sarah Hopping, she knew she would
be extra nice to Tom tonight, and
would look pretty, and-oh, if Tom
would only say whether he cared most
for her, Abby, sitting here alone, think
ing of him. He had said everything
else, and yet-he was so nice to the
other girls, and tonight he would see
them all but her." A thought seemed
to strike her; slowly she went down
stairs into the kitchen. MA, can |
kelp you get the supper?"
No, Abby, child. supper's all ready"
the mother replied. Now, you just
sit down and pail be in in mint,
and we'll hev a real good evenin' to-
| gether; I wouldn't mind the old party"
! ADbN sdIu uObulIS, anu oOoh' do
Mrs. looking had predicted, pa came
in. Then they set down to table, and
after a long grace, during which Alb
by's eyes would wander towards the
clock, supper began. They didn't
talk much. Ma was thinking.
Nov, I'm sure eff Tom Watkins
hears I'm keepin' Abby away from
that city teller on his account he'll
speak right up soon, er he amt the
honest chap took him fer. He amt
goin' to lose her, / don't think, but,
oh, my! he is slow, to be sure, in COM
in to the pint" AS for Pa Toxins,
he was utterly bewildered, and SO held
his peace. Ma had said Abby was
goin' to the party and then that she
wasn't goin'. Pa Tookins believed these
facts and asked no questions. Abby,
too, was silent. She was listening to
the occasional rumble of wheels and
the sound of merry voices, as some of
the village folk drove by on their way
out to the Watkinses; besides, Abby
! was thinking.
| Ats o'clock that evening. after Pa