The Monticellonian., 1895-08-02
HOSEA LURVEY.

 Why, that's Hosea Luryey, of BrodiclS, Esq. Looks like he owned the hull town and part of the next, don't he?'
 Not old Hod Lurvey, of Tick Ridge?"
 '4The very same" Hiram Tucker smiled at his companions incredulity. "I 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"
 "I 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 henpeeked man ever saw replied Jasper Bur youghs, tipping his chair back against the wall preparatory to long talk with his old-time friend and neighbor.
 II told you about the saddle they bought, just before l sold out. didn't l? No? Then l must. They come into the store, and Mrs. Luryey asked to look at saddles. Of course l thought it was for herself, so l brought out woman's saddle. She shook her head.
 "'l want mans saddle. It's for my husband
 'So 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, and, 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.
 "'Mhy, don't you know MT. Lurvey? He always depends on my judgment. This is my husband' drawing him for ward, as if he had been a bashful boy, Make a bow, Mr. Lurvey.
 "IIe 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. l don't suppose he 1ver 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"
 Its quite story, Jasper; but if you don't mind listening, I'll 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 Lurgeys after you went off that l 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. l 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?'
 ou orter seen him start and turn white. If cannon ball had taken his head clean off he couldn't have been more surprised.
 ".I mean it, sez l. You're full grown man, and orter take your place in the world as a man, not a mouse, to be seart by woman. The Scripter says man shall be the head of the household. There's no earthly reason why you shouldn't be of yourn.'
 "Do you think sol? he asked. turn ing white as sheet. The idee had struck him all at once, and had come nigh being too much for him. It showed palmer than words could have done how it galled him to have things go the way they had. Mrs. Luryey says I'm not to be trusted he added, hopelessly.
 "'Wen trust you any time,' sez l. 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 decd to night. I'd ruther sign away my right hand, and if you'll stand by me l won't do it.
 Well, the outcome ont was that the farm warn't sold, but Mrs. Lurvey packed her trunk in hurry and went down country to her folks, and left Hod with everything to see to, and hayin' jest comin' on. There was ten cows, and seven calves, and five cosset lambs, and hens, and chickens, and ducks, and geese, and tekeys, 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 at home, so 1 sez: Go Then he told Ben-the boy was growing up as lazy and sassy as 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.
 "'rwas surprising how self-reliant Hod growed from day to day. He didn't ask advice from nobody, but went right ahead. It seemed as if he growed taller He sartinly did hold his head higher. He got neV suit of clothes, his first boughten suit, and tall hat and buggy, and sold two old cows that had been more plague than profit to him, and e lot of things that he had been hankering to do.
 '.The neighbors begun to hope that Mrs. Lurvey had gone off for good, Hod was getting on so much better with