Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1897-03-04

| at 10, with Mary Mason a-Sittln tnefe!
Land O. the livin'n she'd say, seem me
a-patchin', I'm glad | amt got emmy
children to keep a-slavin' fer-they do
| take such a slew of work. But when
| got through the mendin', an Tom had
read every word in the paper, even the
I dvertsements-there she was! Tom
he'd yawn an yawn. I'd tell as how
| was dead beat not havin' got much
sleep the night before with the baby
/ that was crOupy. She never pretended
to hear. By'm by, Tom, he'd 90 into
our bedroom that's off the settin'-rOom,
an he'd haul off his shoes. an sling 'em
on the floor real hard. That didn't stir
her. 1t was awful provOkin'."
"It must have been!' her visitor ac-
quiesced.
"Then they was the borryin'. Not
that Mary Mason called it borryin. She
said she hadn't bit of use for folks
that borryed. She said when she want
ed anything from person she neigh
/ bored with that she Just went in an
took it, reel friendly like. That's how
our groceries kept a-meltin'. ''Tain't
worth while me buyin' a package of
yeast that costs ) cents she'd say,
when half cake will make bakin'
for me and Samyel. I'll take bit of
your'n.' The next time she come
'twoud be flavorin NO use Of me get
tin a whole bottle of vaniller,' she'd
say, when l only make a cake once
a week. A teaspoon ill do me-. Then
there was tea. Samyel drank only cof-
fee, an 'twOuld be extravaganza for
me- she says. TO buy half pound of
tea for myself I'll take a pinch of
yours SO she took pinch-most ev-
cry day Pinches make pounds
enough of 'em. Pickles. she often OBJ
served, I'm most especially fond of,
but Samyel says they rust out the linen
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 | wish"
feebly concluded Mrs. Robinson, "that
on top of the kitchen press"'
A depressing and significant silence
followed.
ME an Tom" said the protesting
voice. wanted to talk it over but
twas only between II at night an 6
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. 4 don't
know how were goin' to do it unless
we move back on the farm"
But you couldn't well do that!'
mot real easy. SO | begun to give
her hints | give her all kind of hints
| said as how I'd never been used to
SaSsiety, an that much of it made my
head ache. | said as how Tom lust
loved soitood-that there wasn't any
thing he liked better than spending his
evenings alone with me an the chill
dren. | said late hours was fearful
wearin' on our constitutions. an that
after this we was going to bed not
later'u o o'clock. | said | couldn't re-
turn her visits because Tom hadn't no
Use for women that was alluS gaddin'
an besides it wouldn't be no use for
me to so over Scein' she was never
home. Them, an lots other gentle hints
| gave her. She only says, %. stutfin'!
| amt one to make a fuss because a
body can't keep up with the rules of
cttirquette l don't mind if you never
come over. | won't get mad. | amt
that proud sort. Guess I'll take bit
of that roly-poly over for Samyel's din
ner-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 SamyerS cup. That'n save
me maxim some Well, when told
Tom that them mild sayins of mine
I'D no more mix into her mind than
YOU could make sulphur blend with wa.
ter, 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
II, a week ago yesterday-she come
a-walkin' into the kitchen Cshe never
knockedD, a big plate in her hand. Like
usual she had whole big welcome
for herself. L knowed,' she SAYS, won
was aimin' TO have a billed dinner 70.
day, an | thought Id Jest run over
and get enough for Samyel an me outr
the pot while it was hot So up she
marches to the stove, and takes the lid
on'n the kettle, an begins a-spearin'
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