Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-10-22
AMILY NONC0-O OPERATION
a Story of the Creamery and the
Farmers Family.

"tather-r-r! rang out the reSOnan
voice of Mrs. Cantwell. The Ike
was two shArps, but they were sue
mellow tones that the men folks
were always charmed by the music
especially as that call always mean
for them breakfast, dinner or supper
according to the time of day and any
one who has ever breakfasted, dined o
supped with Mrs. Lyman Cantwell vii
easily understand their cause for en-
thusiasm.
This time the call meant breakfast
and after waiting for the echoin'
"Hurrah! hurrah. Observation-Disclosures
from the three flats, as Mrs. Cantwel
sometimes playfuIly called her HUSBAND
end the boys" she hastily turned, al
usual, to go in and dish up, piping hot
the vegetables, and the fragrant coffee
She had scarcely taken a step, how
ever, when her ears were startled By
such a deafening medley Of additional
responses that they came as neal
jumping as ears are in the habit Of
doing. Such jubilee of flats anC
thrown in, ad libitum, in sublime in
difference to the laws of harmony!
She turned her bright black eyes
the signature of the musical staff re-
ferred to abOVe,-in the direction OF
the sound. They settled on a drove OF
COWS galloping up the road, and the
driver,-why he had Lyman's horse
and sulky; what did it mean? Why, ii
was Lyman himself, and his face was
covered with smiles
why, Lyman" she exclaimed
where you been so early?"
"Oh, up the road apiece he replied
eVasiVely
you have? Well, you look as if
YOU had got some good news. Where'd
you find all them COWS? Whose be
they?"
Whose dye s'pose, Cynthia?"
"BedIams, [ should think by the
sound. Been getting out, have they?
Whose be they, anyway"
mo. They amt been getting out of
the pasture. They are good orthodox
blue-blooded Jerseys, every one of
them. But when they saw me coming
they took such a shine to me that |
hadn't the heart to go away and leave
them. 80 here they be, Cynthia, and
they act as though they meant to stay,
and [ don't know as I'll do anything
% hinder. Would your"
why, what do you mean?"
int anything very homely about
'em nov, is they I call EN- pretty
likely looking set
why, Lyman Cantwell! You don t
mean to say that you've been and
bought a whole drove of cows?"
Comes about as nigh that as any
thing, | guess, Cynthia. Amt you
glad?"
Glad! Where's your other woman?"
My other woman?"
yes. to make the butter [ don't
know as I'm exactly laundering after
any more work to do"
Mr. Cantwell hesitated a moment.
during which time quizzical express
sion took possession of his face, and
he said
"Oh, the hired girl! we'll, as nigh as
! can reckon it, she'll be on hand in
about an hour"
why, Lyman Cantwell! Whered
you get the money to do it all with d?
Where's the house going to get paint
ed? Where's the new carriage coming
from? You promised them this sum
mer sure, you know"
Did 1? Well you see, reckoned
you'd be go t!ckled about this, that you
wouldn't mind if you did have to wait
year or two longer for them little
r.1ktums"
"A year or two longer! If that amt
just like man! Why, you've kept
putting it off, now, till it will take
twice as much paint as it ought to.
And what's more, we haint got a wa
gon that's decent to ride in-always
breaking dOwn-and I'm so ashamed
of that everlasting clatter clatter. that
tells everybody we are coming, that
don't know what to do. 1t used to
make me so provoked when I heard
people ridiculing farmers; but declare
l don't Sc how they can help it. They
give them good reason to-"
Come, come, Cynthia, lets have
breakfast. What you say to that?
You'll feel better after breakfast"
You can eat. l amt got a particle
or appetite. But don't think I'm
blamin' you. l pity you, more like
You are man-so you can't help it!'
Cant help what?
Cant help acting out your mans
nature-going ahead and doing every
conceivable thing that comes into your
head to do, without saying peep to
the one most concerned even when
you have to trample on all her corns,
end what's worse, trample on your
own honor. o, good gracious But
what's q mans word to his wife, any
way! l wish l could see a man once
whose word could be depended on over
night"
Come, come, wife! Amt you layin
it on pretty thick?"
Not thick enough so but what you
let it slip right off'n you. it seems
like water off'n a ducks back. But
you mustn't mind what I say. 1 was sc
surprised, 1 blurted out just what
thought. You looked happy enough
over it; and if there's one that's happy
I ought to be willing he should stay
so. What you think about it, boys?'
she said, turning to her sons.