The Van Buren press., 1895-08-17
HOSEA LURyEY.

Esq Looks like he owned the hull
town and part of the next, don't hep
Not old Hod Lurvey, Of Tick Ridge9''
The very same" Hiram Tucker
smiled at his companions incredulity.
II don't wonder you're sprised, II YOU
recollect how Mrs. Lurvey used to r,,n
things up ut the Ridge. Hod had no
more to say than that yaller cat down
BY the wall. But there's many o
change In these fifteen years you've
been gOne."7 857as 6W fafA 80 ara
be Il should have thought It would have
taken twice fifteen years TO make such
piece of pomposity out OF Hod Luf.
vey. lie was the worst henpecked
man ever saw" replied Jasper Bu,-
roughs, tipping his chair back against
the wall. preparatory to q long talk
with his old-time friend and neighbor.
II told you about the saddle they
bought, just before sold out, didn't II
NoP 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
woman's saddle. She shook her head.
"'l want 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 shame,
too. for the Lurveys were well-to-do
folks, and It's cheapest In the long run
to buy good luther. .dayhap your
husband might like to see the saddle,
before you pay for It, said, pitying
the shamefaced little man.
"'Why, don't you know Mr.. Lurveyf
He 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 lei
him come to the village alone. don't
suppose he ever had cent to call his
own. And now you tell me that
pompous old gentleman was Hod Lur'
vey. Why, it would be nothing short
Of miracle" sfAeJh .k
"It's quite a story, Jasperi but II yor
don't mind listening, I'll tell you how
II come about," !" replied Hiram Tucker
moving his chair SO that he coult
watch the growing interest In hi
friends face. Things got to such &
pass betwixt the Lurveys after yor
went of that Jest couldn't stand 1t
30 one day, when Hod was cutting
bushes out in the further corner Of the
pasture, we'll out Of sight OF the house
/ went over to him, and sez, sea l:
"Hod. why don't you assert your in
dependence, and take your Lawful
place as head Of your family"
"You orter seen him start and turr
white. II cannon ball had taker
his head clean off he couldn't hav'
been more surprised. ..s,ses-.--s..----
".I mean it, sez l. You're a full
grown man, and orter take your plac'
IN the world rs man. not mouse, z
be scarf by woman. The Scripte
says man shall be the head OF th'
household There's no earthly reasoi
why you shouldn't be OF yourn.'
"'Do you think SOP he asked, turn
ing white as sheet. The idee hat
struck him all at once, and had com
nigh being too much for him. l
showed palmer than words could hav'
done how 1t CALLED him to have thing
90 the way they had. Mrs. Lurve.
saws I'm not to be trusted he added
hopelessly.
".We'll trust you any time, SEE
Come out to the village and get wha
YOU want at airy one Of the stores
they'll trust you till harvesting
you'll come out like man and do you
own business. ssassna
nDo you know, you've come Jest II
the nick Of timer asked Hod, looking
me full In the face. Mrs. Lurvey ha
bareained the farm away, this old farm
that father cleared, and she says lhay
rot to aign the deed to night II
ruther sign away my right hand, AM
II you'll stand by me won't do it.
"Well, the outcome ont was that tn
farm warn't sold, but Mrs. Lurve.
hacked her trunk in hurry and wen
down country to her folks, and lef
Hod with everything to see to, ant
bavin' Test comm on. There was tel
| COWS. and seven calves, and five cosse
llambs. and hens, and chickens, ant
| ducks. and geese, and turkeys, and tn
lthree children. The youngest hadn'
ha.n weaped and the oldest warn
more'n ten year old. She thought l
Uod was conceited enough to think n
could run his own business, he nigh
tend to hern as well. But IT was tn
hest thing that ever happened to Hod
"He come over and wanted my JAM
Maris no and keep house for him
Now. Jane was as capable girl as on
often .ees at fifteen, and there was Su
san to take her place at home' 40 sez
-y,o Then he told Ben--the BOY wa
growing up as lazy and sassy as q las
need be-that he'd pay him every weei
II he'd tend to the poultry right VI
prime. That kept him and the turk
both out'n mischief.
llaTwas surprising how seii-reiian =
HID orowed from day TO- day. H'
didn,t ask advice from nobody, nu
went right ahead. II seemed as as, II n, n
arowed taller. He sartinly did hole
Sis head higher. He got new suit o
clothes his first boughten suit, and
tall hat and . buggy, and sold two oil
cows that had been more plague .nal a
nrofit to him, and lot Of things tina
he had been bankering to DO.
wrhe neighbors begun to hope tina
Mrs. Lurvey had gone off for good, l,.s ho'
was w. getting on so much better win n
| ""S ,,hor the stage stopped q