Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1895-09-19
HOSEA LURVEY.

THAT man with tne walking stlckr
WHY, that's Hosea Lurvey, Of Brodick,
ESQ. Looks like he owned the hull
town and part Of the next, don't hep"
mot old Hold Lurvey, Of Tick Ridge?"
"Thc very same" Hiram Tucker
smiled at his companions incredulity.
~ don't wonder you're s'prised, if you
recollect how Mrs. Lurvey used to run
things up at the Ridge. Hod had no
more to say than that yaller cat down
BY the wall But there's many
change in these fifteen years you've
been gone"
~ should have thought IT would have
taken twice fifteen years to make such
piece of pomposity out of llod Lur-
vey. lie was the worst henpecked
man ever saw" replied Jasper Bur-
roughs, tipping his chair back against
the wall, preparatory to long talk
with his old-time friend and neighbor
81 told you about the saddle they
bought, just before ! sold out didn'tlP
MOP Then | must. They come into
the store, and Mrs. Lurvey asked to
look at saddles. Of course thought
it was for herself, SO ! brought out a
womans saddle. She shook her head.
80 want a mans saddle. It's for my
husband
$50 took them out into the back
shop where there was q lot hanging up.
She looked them over, asked the price
Of this. and found fault with that, and,
finally, picked out the poorest and
cheapest of the lot. 1t was a shame,
too, for the Lurveys were well-to-do
folks, and It's cheapest in the long run
to buy good luther. 'Mayhap your
husband might like to see the saddle,
before you pay for it, | said plying
the shamefaced little man.
"'Why, don't you know Mr.. LurveyP
lie always depends on my judgment.
This is my husband drawing him for
ward, as if he had been bashful boy.
Make bow, Mr. Lurvey
"He didn't come into the shop again
while owned it, he was that ashamed,
or else that shrew Of his wouldn't let
him come to the village alone ! don't
suppose he ever had Il cent to call his
own. And now you tell me that
pompous old gentleman was Hold Lur-
vey. Why, it would be nothing short
Of a miracle.
"It's quite story, Jasper but If you
don't mind listening, I'll tell you how
1t come about" replied Hiram Tucker,
moving his chair SO that he could
watch the growing interest in his
friends face. "Things got to such a
pass betwixt the Lurveys after you
went off that jest couldn't stand it,
so one day, when Hold was cutting
bushes out in the further corner OF the
pasture, well out of sight of the house.
went over to him, and SEE, SEE |.
"Hod, why dontyou assert your in
dependence, and take your lawful
place as head Of your family
"You orter seen him start and turn
white. II cannon ball had taken
his head clean off he couldn't have
been more surprised.
"I mean it, sez |. You're full
grown man, and orter take your place
in the world as man, not mouse, to
be scarf by woman. The Scripter
saws man shall be the head of the
household There's no earthly reason
why you shouldn't be Of yourn.'
"'Do You think SOP he asked. turn
ing white as sheet The idee had
struck him all ut once, and had come
nigh being too much for him, II
showed palmer than words could have
done how it CALLED him to have things
20 the way they had. Mrs I.urvcy
saws I'm not to be trusted he added,
hopelessly.
owen trust you my time, SEE !.
Come out to the village and get what
YOU want at airy one Of the st6res'
they'll trust you till harvesting ii
You'll come out like Il man and do youi
own business
"'Do you know, you've come jest in
the nick Of timer asked llod, looking
me full in the face Mrs, Lurvey has
bargained the farm away, this Old farm
that father cleared and she says have
got to sign the deed to night I'd
ruther sign away my right hand and
il you'll stand by me won't do it,
"Well, the outcome ont was that the
farm warn't sold, but Mrs. Lurvey
hacked her trunk in hurry and went
down country to her folks, and lef'
llod with everything to see to, anC
haydn jest comm on. There was ter
cows, and seven calves, and five cosse'
lambs. and hens, and chickens, an(
ducks, and geese and turkeys, and The
three children. The youngest hadn
been weancd and the oldest warn
more'n ten year old, She thought !
Hold was conccted enough to think he
could run his own business, he nigh
tend to hern rs we'll But it was thu
best thing that ever happened TO llod
"IIe come over and wanted my Jan'
Maria 90 and keep house for him
Now, Jane was as capable girl as on
often sees at fifteen, and there was Su
san to take her place at home, SO | SEE
Co. Then he told lIen-the boy wa
growing up as lazy and sassy as Lac
need bc-that he'd pay him every weel
If he'd tend to the poultry right u
prime. That kept him and the turk
both out'n mischief
"Twas surprising how self.relian
Ilod growed from day to day II
didn't ask advice from nobody, bu
went right ahead. 1t seemed as il h
growe2 taller lie sartinly did bol'
bis head higher He got a new suit o
clothes, his first boughten suit, and
tall hat and buggy and sold two oil
cows that had been more plague thai
, profit to him, and lot OF things tina