Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-05-28

100; ne was always next to father
with me-"
Having drained the bowl OF the hot.
bitter tea, and saying
1T tastes just as it used to-" she
dropped off into a quiet sleep.
Aunt Editha went and stood on the
hearth rug with her husband, without
saying a word. She stood erect and
held up her head; it seemed as if she
was foot taller than she had been
before for years.
EphTiam glanced at her; it was evil
dent a purpose was forming in her
mind, and man-like he FASTENED to
forestaH any expression of it by say
ing
I can't help feelin' sorry fur
Enoch's folks; they must be master
disap'inted."
Yes" said she, woman-liI1e, care
fully feeling her way.
Would it be your mind to let EN-
know?"
TWouldnt be no mOre'n human"
Going to the window and looking I'D
through the neighborhood, he added
I'll wait till the pesky neighbors
have gone to bed, an then I'll pull my
boots right on and go over. There
amt no use in Jim Prindle and all the
rest of the neiChbors knowing all OF
cur family business. There, the last
light is out only at Enoch's."
''Where's little Edie?" came from
the bed. You see, I named the baby
after Aunt Editha I thought l
would. Poor auntie, how lonely she
must have been, although Uncle Eph
was always good company I'm so
glad you've made up"
"Oh. to hear thatr' sobbed Aunt
Editha. ITO hear that, and we har-
boring a spite! Hurry, Ephrum! 1t
pears ez if only an angel could talk
that way, and I'm afeared she'll die
fore the folks git over herer'
Hurry Ephriam did, along the white
country roads almost dusty even yet
from the heat of the Indian summer
sun, stepping carefully in front of
Uncle Jim Prindles for fear of rust
ling the thick carpet of dry leaves,
and muttering:-
Lazy critter! Leaves enough to
bed a hog fur the hull winter. Lets
EN- be on the ground so'st they'll
bother the neighbors blowing inter
their clean yards and so'st he can hear
the rustic of EN- to let him know folks
is goin' by"
In the midst Of this muttered TRADE
he reached his brothers house, where
he had not been for years, where he
never expected to go again.
Jake was just galloping into the
yard, and as the whole household
rushed out and began to eagerly ply
him with questions, Ephriam chuckled
to think what he was holding in re
serve, and his miseTly instincts
tempted him to turn back without
saying a word, but he seemed to hear
again that pIaintiye little voice
Uncle Eph was always good COM
pany," and be blew his nose like a
trumpet, partly to clear his eyes Of
tears, partly as the easiest manner Of
attracting attention.
: you needn't all stare and try to
think of somethin' perlite to say" he
began. Il hain't no apologies ter
! make as | know or for calm at my
own brothers house. Jane Eliza and
the children are over there, and your
Aunt Editha would like~to have We all
to Thanksgivin', an she'd like ter
have her sister come right over now
long er me, and Enoch might as we'll
come, too, and the rest on ye'd better
shut up shop an go ter bed
Mrs. Enoch waited to hear no more
hHt lifted the shawl that rested on
her shoulders to her head, and ran,
the men pl0dding along side by side in
silence until Ephriam said haltingly:-
|'She, Jane Lie, seems to think
we've made it all up, and I guess we'd
better"
with all my heart" said Enoch,
and that was all there was about it.
AS they went into the ell they
heard Matilda saying
"Oh she'll be all right in the morn
ing, and I'll bring my turkey right
over here"
mo you won't" said Ephriam, I've
got the 2O-pound gobbler dressed to
carry to the tavern up town-two
small ones will do them jest as we'll
and cranberries, we'll, we've got
bushels of EN- When Jane Ehzer
comes guess [ can have a family
party I'll go right over on tother
road and get Widow Butler up and
she'll come over to help, she won't
mind workin all night"
"Such tines, said the neighbors,
"anybody'd suppose it was general
training lastin from Thanksgiving
through the year, by the way those
two families traipse through the
neighborhood from one house to
tother."
ct amt two families" said
Ephriam. 1--WE are one family, We'll
have you to know, and Jane Eliza be-
longs to all on us and always has"
Specially since that night the
stage didn't stop" said Uncle Jim
"Ahem! Ahemr'-Annie Preston in
Springfield Republican.
The minister Of foreign affairs in the
new Rudini cabinet is of ancient lin