Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1895-09-10

~sSA 'btTaWDefry p a G. II
~ ag'in! Oh! oh! that's
the fifth time this
mornin. an I've druv 'em out with
stove wood ev'ry time. 1t don't do a
bit o good. They just get into nice
hill and go to wallerin' an scratchin'
an cluclsin'! The cluclkin' makes mo
almost as aggravated s the scratchin'
it sounds just as ii they was DARN
me. because they know dursn't kill
'em. Oh, just look at 'cm! A-houn-
d'rin' right n the middle O. the incest
hill! It's enough to aggravatc saint!
Father! father! won't yuh go and scare
'em out with stove-wood?"
Mr.. Willis got up stifily from the
dinner-tablc. He was patient faced
old gentleman, with blue. dreamy
eyes. He had little stoop In his
shouldcrs-from over much hoeing in
great potato fields, he always cx-
planned with his gentle smile; but some
of his neighbors were won't to declare
themselves that "livin' all them years
with MIS- Willis tongue was enough to
give him stoop n his shoulders with
out even techin' hoe"
why, mother" he said, going hcsi-
tatingly to the kitchen door, II don't
like to throw stove-wood at 'em. l
might hurt EN-"
"Yuh might hurt 'cn, aigh? Well,
want that yuh sh'u'd hurt EN-! / want
that yuh sh'u'd kill 'em if they don't
stay out o. that strawberry patch.
What was the use n our movin' into
town to spend the rest o. our days if
we're to have the life pestercd out O.
MS by our neighbours CHICKENS? Yuh
amt got any answer to that, have yuh?
Aigh?"
Mr.. Willis took two or three sticks
of wood from the well-fllcd box that
was covered neatly with largc-low-
cred wallpaper, and started again for
the door in half-hcarted way.
"Oh, my land" exclaimed Mrs. Will
lis, contemptuously. Sho ran after
him and snatchcd the wood from him.
why don't yuh wait all day? Why
don't yuh wait till they scratch the
Strawberries up by the roots? never
see! ! notice yuh like to cat the ber-
ries as we'll s anybody, but yuh amt
willin' to turn your hand over to take
care of EN-"
She rushed down the steps and out
into the yard, throwing the sticks Of
wood with fierce strength.
Mr.. Willis watched her anxiously.
"Oh, mother, look out!" he called,
deprecatingly. "Yuh most hit that
little pullet."
II want to hit that little pullet!"
The chickens flew, caclling, over the
low fence and down the hill.
Mrs. Willis stood watching them in
grim satisfaction. When they had
disappeared among the ferns, she came
back slowly. Her face was flushed
with triumph. She was breathing
hard. OH show 'cm!' she said.
''Yuh hadn't ort to throw ut 'em,
mother" Mr.. Willis spoke gently.
"Yuh might hurt one of 'em. There's
Mis- Arnspiller a-standin' in the door,
a-watchin' yuh, too"
well, I'm glad she saw me. Where's
my sunbunnit? I'm goin' right down
to give her tallin' to. I've tell her
three times now that her chick'ns is
ruinin' my Strawberries. All she ever
Bays ~, Wcll, she O1Tul sorry; an she
thinks it's that old specified hens
fault, an she'll drive 'em down towards
Briggs. l wonder # she thinks the
Briggs want 'em any worse'n do?
She's got to get rid O them chick'ns!
There's law ag'in havin' cm in town,
an l amt goin' to stand it another
day!'
Now, motheFssif yuh 60 down there
yuh'll be sorry
"Yuhff'tend to your own effairs,
father, will yuh? won't be set upon
by nobody--let alone that Mis- Arm
spiker."
Mr.. Willis went into the kitchen and
sat down. ''rhere's no use n arguin'
with mother" he said. with sigh of
resignation.
Mr.. and Mrs. Willis had crossed the
plains in the SOS, and settled on a
ranch in what was then the territory
of Washington. Hero they lived life
Of toll and deprivation-a hard, mar