Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1895-09-19
Ma1Yina'S RpaSdnS.
II Amt got long for to stay here;
l amt got long for to stay here"

0inS got lQH1S LOT % stay neres
amt got long for to stay here"
Malvina had been repeating this affect.
ing information over INC over during the
| whole forenoon. But she enjoyed music
when she could accompany herself on Che
~washbOard.
There was certainly no suggestion of de-
a wing strength in the voice, neither in
her personal appearance, when little Miss
Ltdie," her faithful c%ontidante and advisor
went out to the washhonse to hcar Malvina's
reasons for giving notice.
"How do you do today, Aunt Viney?"
asked the young lady as she perched he1-
self on the edge Of the table.
LIE mighty porely today, honey" an
swered the widow, with a Respondent
shake of the head.
why. whatever Is the matter now"
"Tze mighty troubled, chile-mightily
troubled" she repeated, with q deep sigh,
as she seated herself upon a tnb turned
bottom side upward.
"You do seem to have a lot of trouble"
said the young girl alphabetically.
"Yes, honey, l have q heap. Dis yere
niger pears jest born fer Elections. Three
funerals In less'n five year, think Of that"
This was said with an air Of chastened
pride. But 1t am a mighty purity sight,
Miss Lidie." she continued, yisibly bright
ening. ITO see dem three boys lawn side by
side, just the same length" Malvina, it
may be remarked. was the relict III 1.-THE
three boys" but she always spoke of them
with an affectiOnate superiority that her
added years since their decease seemed to
warrent.
Il should think it might" responded
Ida somewhat laTely.
"But Ize never mOurned for dem boys
like I'd Orter, honey" she went on in q
detected tone. IAN Use nightly troubled
fer not shown more respec' fer dere mem
blances."
"Why, you put up tombstones for all OF
them" remarked the little comforter.
s.Yes'sum, that's a fac, aud | know de
boys'd be scandalous proud to see dere
names in print on dem marbles, responded
the widow, with jnstiiiable citation.
But she relapSed into a more disconso-
late tone as she confined her sorrows to the
care of her ever faithful sympathizer.
Don't YOU know, Miss Lidie, yestiddy
lat meetin'. Sis,ah Hammer Davis had on
one OF dem fixin's wild de long black wells
fallin down benin, just like the high tuck
white folks. l heerd som of the gals call
them widder's weeds, though | declare fore
gracious 1 thought dey meant chillun, right
at fnst. But you jest orter see her, Miss
Lidie. Wild de hair crinkly, sOrter like de
veil. aud de dark complexion, 1t meek q
colored pnssOn look q heap more mourn
fuller dan a white pussOn. 1 never seea
co'ored Lady look SO high tuck a Sistah
Davis.
s.I'ze been thinkin," she went on, with
emotion, ''dat | Orter mourn like dat fer
dem blessed lam's dat lie put away. |
think Id look jest about rs tixy as any
body" Malvina paused expectantly for
confirmation of her views.
You'd look awful nice, Aunt Whey.
can just see you now"
Its made me feel mighty soliumlike.
| Nobody what don't know can tell what an
orful thing 1t is to be a widder. Would you
git de Grape veil den II you's me, Miss
Lidie?"
Indeed l would,' responded the fun
loving girl promptly. "And mourn for the
three boys all together"
s'Itll take three or four weeks savin up
to git it, but l low I'll be able to get II long
bout Easter, il nothin happens" said
Whey hopefully as she started home that
afternoon.
II amt got long fer to stay here:
! amt got long fer to stay here"
chanttd Malvina faithfully for three suc-
/ CC6Sl}C NCrASs .4#Es #Et8
"Giye me de money in chicken feed,
please, Miss Lidie. /" meaning small change,
''den l can put some OF 1t away handier.n
She would then stow it away temporarily
somewhere in the roomy hollows Of her
mouth. Malvina had a fine sc0rn for
purses. Peoples alius losin money outer
dem little polices," (valises) was her con-
tention. when l got it in my nous, I
know It's dere."
Laws a mercy, honey" she would de-
clare when Lidia sometimes demonstrated
against the habit on sanitary grounds. IAN
de money Viney'll ever git niu't going to
pizen her"
But she found Monday the widow re-
ceived her confidante with placid cheerful
ness written upon her face.
Reckon | won't get dem weeds Jest yit,
Miss Ida" she began.
"Why, what's the natter" queried Ida
In surprize.
"Well, you know dat tormentin black
man named Tom Martin? He's been keen
after me fer q long time. and I Z declare fore
gracious, chile. jest couldn't git shet O.
him noways. | didn't give In. though, till
l foun two knives at my plate on de table,
and dat am q sure sign at q woddin. Seems
as doh everything went ag'inst me yestiddy
any how
Ida, perched In her usual place on the
kitchen table, looked rather disappointed
at this tnrn Of affairs, so Malvina pro-
ceeded with excuses for her inconsistency.
First thing in TIE mornin l dropped de
dish rag. Dat showed somebody was
comm. Del do old rooster walked right
up into de dore and crnwed fer all OATS
out, and i knew II was 4 man comm. Sh0
nutf long bout dinner time in walks dat
black man. Tom Martin. and when we set
down at de table deere was dem knives say
ing .weddin. jest as plain as print.
Den | thought" she continued refec-
lively, ''he'd be q heap o. company fer de
chillun and q right smart help round de
house about meckin de gyarden dis sum-
mer."
But don't you hate to give up your
bonnet and craps veil?" put IN Ida.
lit took lots o. grace to consign dat bon
net, honey, but de preacher showed us
yestiddv evyenin dat we must walk In de
pointed ways, and all dem signs seem HE
q voice right outer de sky. faint no use
trytn to fly In de face o. Providence.
What's to be is goin to be. Ize a Pesber-
terion Jest like you Is on dem points, heney,n
she said with q chuckle.
"Den you know, Miss Ida, faint like
as II | couldn't expec' to get II some time.
Tom aim overly healthy, and It's powerful
likely I'll get dat dere widows bonnet ret,
Frances Hanley 10 Buffalo Express.