The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1893-06-24
THE OLD WOOD STOVE.
BY Selling It Mrs. Kalston Got a
SOn-in-Law.
"Tinkle, tinkle, tinkle!"

"Tinkle, tinkle, tinkle!"
1t was no sound of sheep-bells on the
Apennines, no Ginning of the Angelus
at twilight across e%mpurpled vineyards
and Pontine marshes, yet it had a
CHEEKY echo under the white-blossomed
elderbushes and close to the old farm,
even though it was only a string OF
bells stretched across a Wagon and
agitated by the jog-jog of an ancient
white horse, that was as blind as the
little god of love. while a shrewd old
man trudged beside him, guiding his
devious way.
"Tinkle, tinkle, tinkle!."
"Anything in my line to-day, squire?'
asked Moses Minton, checking his march
rs 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 filled
the air. Bottles? Old iron? Noospa-
pers??"
"Git out. l saw growled Ralston,
never once glancing up from his occu
patton. 81 hain't no time to bother"
NO ~otfense, l hope?" said the indom-
itably cheerful itinerant. 81 seen an
old wood stove in the she'd as l came
by"
"Well, and if you did, what business
was it of yours?" retorted Ralston.
oval, none, not if you look at it that
ar way" said Moses. But if SO be as
we could drive a trade"
1--WE 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
q o
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 ar's what MONEY
brings with it, l, 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, a fat, comfortable
old dame, as unlike her husband as the
motherly barn-door hen is unlike the
gaunt, high-shouldered game-cock.
well, l declare" said Mrs. Ralston,
"a -orrt@ so~% - @l,I .-
Nose Minton.'
"Was you, thought chuckled the old
man. 'Anything in my line to-day?
Who-oa, Gray! l sw'ar to goodness"
(as 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
1emon-yellow ducklings who we're evad-
ing her guardianship in every direction,
Nthat you hadn't been along in quite a
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 so loud. Ikind O don't
want father to hear, he's so mortal set
ag'in' partin' with anything. It's kind
% second nature to him to hoard up
things; and as he gets further on in
years he's more set in his ways than
ever. Jest you come round the back
door He's out and Comfort is out, and
now's a frst-rate chance to get rid of
h old wood-stove as has been rustin'
in the shed for a hull year"
Moses Minton's eyes twinkled. 1t
was not the first time he had become
an accessory to just such harmless do
nestle plots as this.
I'm at your orders, num-" said he.
sand prices warn't never better for you
nor wuss for me. Half a cent a pound
is what we're a-givin' for old iron now"
""Tain't much" said Mrs. Ralston.
"It's better Than nothing argued
Moses and really, now, amt it with
that to get a lot of old truck out of the
house?"
well, / dunno but what you're
right" said Mrs. Ralston.
And while Mr.. Ralston was yet Gull