The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1897-03-11

often observed, Tn most especially
fond of, but Samyel says they rust out
the linin' of body's stomach. So I've
made up my mind I'll eat mine over
here, an then he won't know if the
linin' o my stomach is rusted out or
not L WISH" feebly concluded Mrs.
Robinson, that you'd look at that row
of empty jars on top of the kitchen
press!"
y depressing and significant silence
followed.
Me an Tom," said the protesting
voice, wanted to talk it over, but twas
only between 10 at night an six in the
mornin' we got chance. Tom / says
to him one night after she'd been in an
borryed our last half-dozen of eggs,
sayin' she'd return 'em when they got
cheaper, Tom, we got to get shet OF
Mary Mason!' Tom says, L don't know
how we're goin' to do it unless we move
back on the farm
But you couldn't well do that"
Not real easy. So l begun TO give
her hints. / give her all kinds of hints.
1 said as how I'd never been used to
sasSiety, an that much of it made my
head ache. 1 said as how Tom just
loved solitood-that there wasn't any
thing he liked better than spending his
evenings alone with me an the children.
[ said late hours was fearful wearin'
on our constructions, an that after
this we was going to bed not later'u
II I i 4 I.
visits because Tom hadn't no use for
women that was allus gaddin'-an'
besides it wouldn't be no use for me
to go over seem she was never home.
Them, an lots other gentle hints, gave
her. She only says: oh, stufin'.
amt one to make a fuss because a body
cant keep up with the rules of ettir-
quette! | don't mind if you never come
over. l won't get mad. l amt that
proud sort. Guess I'll take bit of that
roly-poly over for Samyers dinner
it'll save me maxim sass 1t was that
way right along. When she got through
eatin' she was sure to want somethin'
to take home for Samyel. You jest put
an eXtry tablespoon of coffee in the
pot she'd say, an I'll run over with
SamyePs cup. That'll save me maxim
some Well, when [ told Tom that
them mild sayin's of mine 'ud no more
mix into her mind than you could make
sulphur blend with water, Tom says:
Tell her we're goin' to move back on
the farm. Maybe then she'll begin to
neighbor with the folks that has just
got married across the alley.
That very day-'twas a quarter to
-, a week ago yesterday-she come
a-walllin' into the kitchen (she never
knocked), big plate in her hand. Like
usual, she had a whole big welcome for
herself. L knowed,' she says, you was
amin to have a billed dinner to-day,
an l thought I'd jest run over and get
enough for Samyel an me out'r the pot
while it was hot So up she marches
to the stove an takes the lid off'n the
kettle an begins a-spearin' out the salt
pork, the turnips an the cabbage.
'Sakes alive!' she says, proddin' round,
there amt no carrots. Why amt ye
got some carrots? Me an Samyel we're
reel fond of carrots
Maybe says I, kind of sarcastic
like, well have lots of 'em soon. That
is, if we move back on the farm, like
were talllin' of DOM
tom thought that'd be knockdown
blow. SO did I. But it 'twasn't We
didn't know Mary Mason. She smiled
all over. Gracious mel she says,
if that amt luck! l told Samyel this
Inornin' l was clean beat out house
keepin' and would like a chance to
rccooperate. Here it is! I'll go out to
the farm with you an stay for three
months!'
Then | knew that my last hint had
fall'n tlatter'n the breakfast puffs you
make from a newspaper prize recipe.
l had felt my family peace a-goin', l
had suffered my own health a-goin'-
an l seen my dinner a-goin', too. so.
l riz in my wrath.
"'No,' 1 says, you amt comin'-for
you amt goin' to be asked
''She bust out a-latfin'.
mercy mel she says, what a one
you are for jokin'! Inever sec the beat
oftyou, Mis- Robson. l amt so awful
pcrtickler that l wait for folks to ask
me-
Then my temper rises. 1t come up
like milk a-bilin'. You don't know it's
near the top till it runs over. L amt
jokin',' [ says. If we move back on the
farm twill be to get shet of you"
"'What's that? she says, an stands
there a-gawpin'.
18TH be to get shet of you!' I re-
peated reel deliberate. This is the last
hint I'll give We, Mary Mason!"
Ibid she take it?' the visitor queried.
A faint smile of triumph il,umined
the face reposing on the patchwork
pillow.
80. yes, she took it--along with the
billed dinner. She said, though, that
her faith in human natur' was shook.
She said she'd never again try to neigh
Dor with a woman who didn't appreci-
ate the friendliness of persons more
accustomed to sassiety. She lowed she
never had much use nohow for folks
who couldn't tell findoosickle from
saucrkraut."
80 your ordeal is at an end?'
eve believe So" the little woman
said, hopefully. IT'S a week since we