Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1893-07-15

it had a CHEEKY echo under the white
blossomed elderbushes and close to
the old farm, even though it was only
d 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 Milton, checking
his march as he caught sight of Mr..
balston gathering the early apricots
from the sunny side of the wall.
"Git out - was the tersc reply.
Rags suavely added Moses.
stretching his neck to look at the red
heeked beauties whose subtle fragrance
ltlled the air. BOTTLES? Old iron?
Noospapers?"
''Git out, [ sayl" growled Ralston,
never once CHANGING up from his occu-
patton. ST hain't no time to bother. +"
"No offence, I hope?" said the in
iomitably cheerful itinerant, 81 seen
.n old wood-stove in the shed as /
came by"
"Well, and if you did, what bust
ness 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 trade"
"We can't then, and there's m end
ont answered Ralston.
And after one or two seconds fur
Their waiting, Moses Minturn chirruped
to Old Gray, and once more tho bells
tangled merrily on the air indicative
of move.
Strange how persistent them mis-
cradle creatures is" thought Farmer
Ralston.
Strange how Grabbed Simeon Rails
ton gets, as he gets Older" meditated
Moses. "If that ar's what money
brings with it, /, for one, don't wants
to be rich. Get up, Old Gray"
Farther down the lane. however.
where the ripening blsckberries hung
their knobs of jet on every bough and
spray and the sound of little brook
somewhere in the distance made q
dreamy gurgling, Moses Minton came
across Mrs. Ralston, fat, comfortable
old dame, as unlike her husband as the
motherly barn door hen is unlike the
gaunt, high shouldered game cock.
well, | declare" said Mrs. Rails
ton, eff | wasn't jest a-thinking about
you, Nose Mintonl"
"Was you, thought" chuckled the
old man. Anything in my line to-
day? Woo-on, Gray! / sw'ar to good
aess' las the old horse contentedly
buried his nose in green bank that
there critter couldn't find out where
the clover crumps grow no better, not
if he had forty pair of eyes. insted O.
being stun blind p
Me and Comfort, we was a-sayin', '
contentedly purred on Mrs. Ralston,
who was in full pursuit of flock of
lemon ducklings who were evading 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 lot of old numbers
of the Missionary Review. and But
don't speak so loud I kind o don't
want father to hear, he's so mortal set
gin partin' with anything, It's kind
o 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 nows a first-rate chance to get rid
of the old wood stove as has been
rustin in the shed for hull year. "
Moses Minton's eyes twinkled. II
was not the first time he had become
an accessory to just such harmless
domestic plots as this.
I'm at your orders, mum, said he.
"And prices warn't never better for
you nor wuss for me. Half cent a
pound is what we're agiyin for old
iron now.
"'Taint much, said Mrs. Ralston
'It's better than nothing" argued
Moses, "And really, now, amt it with
that to get lot of old truck out of the
Aouse?"