The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1895-11-07
HOSEA LURVEY.

'That man with the walking stick?
Why, that's Hosea Lurvey, Of Brodick,
Esq. Looks like he owned the hull
town and part of the next, don't he2''
"Not old Hod Lurvey, of Tick Ridge?''
1.-THE very same" Hiram Tucker
smiled at his companions incredulity.
II 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 o
change in these fifteen years you've
been gone"
II should have thought it would have
taken twice fifteen years to make such
a piece of pomposity out of Hod Lur-
vey. He was the worst henpecked
man ever saw" replied Jasper Bur-
roughs, tipping his chair back against
the wall, preparatory to a long talk
with his old-time friend and neighbor
II told you about the saddle they
bought, just before sold out. didn't I?
No? Then l 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 a mans saddle. It's for my
husband
$50 I took them out into the back
shop where there was a lot hanging up
She looked them over, asked the price
of this, and found fault with that, all,
finally, picked out the poorest and
cheapest of the lot. It 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.. Lurvey?
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 let
him come to the village alone. don't
suppose he ever had a 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 q miracle"
"Its quite a story, Jasper; but II you
don't mind. listening, Ill tell you how
it 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 Hod was cutting
bushes out in the further corner of the
pasture, well out of sight of the house.
I went over to him, and sez, sez I:
"'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 turn
white. II a cannon ball had taken
his head clean off he couldn't have
been more surprised.
~ mean it. sez I. You're a full
grown man, and orter take your place
in the world as man, not a mouse, to
be scarf by woman. The Scripter
says a 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 at once, and had come
nigh being too much for him. 1t
showed palmer than words could have
done how it CALLED him to have things
go the way they had. Mrs. Lurvey
says I'm not to be tru,ted.' he added,
hopelessly.
"'We'll trust you any time sez I.
Come out to the village and get what
you want at airy one of the stores;
they'll trust you till harvesting If
you'll come out like man and do your
own business
"'Do you know, you've come jest in
the nick of time? asked Hod, looking
me full in the face. Mrs. Lurvey has
bargained the farm away, this old farm
that father cleared, and she says Ihave
got to sign the deed to night. I'd
ruther sign away my right hand, and
II you'll stand by me I won't do it.
"Well, the outcome ont was that the
farm warn't sold, but Mrs. Lurvey
packed her trunk in a hurry and went
down country to her folks, and left
Hod with everything to see to, and
hayin' jest comm on. There was ten
COWS, and seven calves, and five cosset
lambs, and hens, and chickens, and
ducks, and geese, and turkeys, and the
three children. The youngest hadn't
been weaned and the Oldest warn't
more'n ten year old. She thought If
Hod was conceited enough to think he
could run his own business, he might
tend to hern as well. But it was the
best thing that ever happened to Hod.
HE come over and wanted my Jane
Maria go and keep house for him.
Now, Jane was as capable girl as one
often sees at fifteen. and there was Su-
san to take her place ut home, so SEE:
Co. Then he told Ben-the boy was
growing up as lazy and sassy as a lad
need be-that he'd pay him every week
if he'd tend to the poultry right up
prime. That kept him and the turks
both out'n mischief
"'Twas surprising how self-reliant
Hod growed from day to day. He