The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-06-22
THE OLD WOOD STOVE.
By Selling It Mrs. RaIston Got a
SOn-in.Law.

! IL " d. AD SOuHd cl DtllS on the
Apennines, no Ginning of the Angelus
at twilight across empurpled vineyards
and Pontine marshes, yet it had q
CHEEKY echo under the white-b lossomeG
elderbushes and close to the old farm
even though it was only a string OF
bells stretched across wagon and
agitated by the jog-jog of an ancien,
white horse, that was as blind as the
little god of love, while shrewd old
man trudged beside him, guiding his
devious way.
''Tinkle, tinlzle. tinkle,''
Anything in my line to-day. squirrel?
asked Moses Minton, checking his march
as he caught sight of Mr. Ralston gath
ering the early apricots from the sunny
side of the wall.
Cit OUT was the terSe reply.
''Rags?' suavely added Moses, stretch
ing his neck to look at the red-cheeked
| beauties whose subtle fragrance filed
the air. Bottles? Old iron? Noospa-
pers?"
''Git out, I say" growled Ralston,
never once glancing up from his occu
patton. Il hain't no time TO bother"
NO offense, hope?" said the indom-
itably cheerful itinerant. Il seen an
| old wood stove in the shed as came
by"
well, and if you did, what business
was it of yours?" retorted Ralston.
! Wal, none, not if you look at it that
ar way" said Moses. But if SO De as
we could drive a trade"
I'VE can't then, and there's an end
| ont" answered Ralston.
! And after one or two seconds further
waiting, Moses Minton chirruped to
Old Gray, and once more the bells
| tangled merrily on the air indicative OF
move.
Strange how persistent them mis-
cradle creatures is" thought Farmer
Ralston.
Strange how Grabbed Simeon Raj
ston gets, as he gets older meditated
Moses. IF that airs what money
| brings with it, /, for one, don't want
to be rich! Get up, Old Gray"
Farther down the lane, however,
where the ripening blackberries hung
their knobs of jet on every bough and
spray and the sound of a little brook
somewhere in the distance made a
| dreamy gurgling, Moses Minton came
across Mrs. Ralston, fat, comforta bic
old dame. as unlike her husband as the
motherly barn-door hen is unlike the
gaunt, high-shouldered game-cock.
We'll, | declare" said Mrs. Ralston.
If wasn't jest a-thinking about you,
Nose Minton.'
'SWas you, though?" chuckled the old
man. Anything in my line to-day?
Who-oa. Gray. | swar to goodness
las the old horse contentedly buried his
nose in a green bank that there crit
ter couldn't find out where the clover
clumps grow no better. not if he had
forty pair of eyes, inste'd o being stun
blind,'
Me and Comfort, we was a-sayin,'
contentedly purred on Mrs. Ralston,
who was in full pursuit of a flock OF
lemon-yellow duckings who We're evad
ing her guardianship in every direction,
that you hadn't been along in quite
spell. And the bag of mixed rags IS
quite full, and there's a lot Of old num-
bers of the Missionary Review, and
But don't speak 50 loud. kind o don't
want father TO hear, he's so mortal set
ag'in partin' with anything. It's kind
o second nature TO him to hoard up
things: and as ne gets further on IN
years he's more set in his ways than
ever. Jest Won come round the back
door. He's ont and Comfort is out. and
now's first-rate chance to get rid Of
the old wood-stove rs has been rustin
in the shed for hull year.
Moses Minton's eyes twinkled. Il
was not the first time he had become
an accessory 70 Just such harmless do
nestle plots as this.
I'm 2 your orders. mum" said he.
and prices warn't never better for YOU
nor wuss for ne. Half cent pound
is what were a-Civin' for old iron now
"'Tain't much, said Mrs RalSton
''It's better than nothing argued
Moses. And really, now, amt K wuth
that to get lot OF old truck out of the
house?''
We'll. I dunno bat what you're
right. said Mrs. Ralston.
And while Mr.. Ralston was vet Gull
ing out the ripest ana deepest-colored
of the apricots Cor an especial order for
a dinner party at DIR. ,leesups on the
Hill, old Moses loaded up his cart. with
the rusty wocd-Stove in the center Of
the bags Of rags and bundles of Old
newspapers, ana drove away. jlnTliEC
his bells through the purple twilight
to the infinite disgust of The gray horse
who knew ar Eden Of clover and daisies
when he found i and was correspond
iug!y reluctant u leave =.
Presently Camfor- R@lSton came ia. 3
tai. rosy girl with iirlpid brown eve-
and luxuriant auburn locks pushed OF
her fair. frecklcd brow.
Am late. mother said She. "But
they KEEP; me longer than expected
La. child. 10 Mr. Ea.~ton r.
spondeo. Il hsin't bat jest hang the
kj5tle over. I'm sort q beaiadhand To-
night Ola Mose Nlintln IA, been he-e.
but don't, for goodness sake tell your
father. And I've sold the rays arsf ali