Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1897-03-13

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TT was In q little house on little
street Of q little Nebraska town
L the Town Of Bubble.
The little woman was crouched up
on the carpet sofa In limp heap. She
looked III, but sangulne--exhaustcd,
but relieved. The remains Of the mid
day meal were on the table. There
were traces Of ashes about the stove.
The baby's gown was bcgrimed. In
spite Of these facts the mistress Of the
modest home smiled sweetly.
"Well." exclaimed her visitor. one
comprehensive glance embracing the
unwontcd neglect Of the place. II heard
you were not feeling well. but did
not know you required assistance with
your housework. I supposed. Of course.
your friend Mrs. Mason was with you."
The little woman looked up with o
sparkle In her eye.
20. I'm well enough. was sick
enough up to last Tuesday. I've been
gettin' better ever since. Ill have the
table rcd OF an things Strengthened be-
fore Tom gets home. II ! feel like 1t
now I can let things be. There amt
no one to notice. Mrs. Mason. she don't
come over. Truth IL. we've got shet
Of Mary Mason. We just" in emphatic
repetition. had to get shet Of Mary
Mason"
The visitor was sympathetic. The lit.
tie woman was confidential.
ME an Tom." she explained, shave
lived on farms oil our lives. So when
we rented tho farm and moved into
town. ] thought the change was flne.
My! ! says to Tom, 'ain't It nice to
live In q large place. I never before
susp!cioncd how comfortable II was to
live reel near to folks. an have them
folks neighborly. Out'n the half sec.
ton We might be two weeks 'ithout see.
In body to speak to. An here we've
got 300 people In this town. an two
trains q day-not to mention the
frcights-an' houses all round us. It's
awful NICE I says to Tom, but what's
incest 10 Mrs. Mason. Why, she comes
In that often Amt got q bit Of time
to be lonesome for the stock. There's
only herself an her husband, 90 hcr
work don't count. She can't read or
write only Bohemy. an she amt got
no use for that language since she mar.
rIed out'n her folks. Takc II aitogcth.
Or. she's willin' to neighbor lots, an
that I says to Tom, will DO mighty
perkin' for met"
"Yes" asssnted her visitor. with q
rising infection on tho monosyllable.
TON, he didn't say much. Hos kind
Of slow.like. He Jest said. What suits
you. Eliza, suits mer Well. Mrs. Ma.
son she como. She kept comm. Some.
times, II she got Samycl Oh early, she
come In before our breakfast. She nj.
lus come in before got the dishes done
up. An she stayed. She stayed oil
mornin'-evcn wash mornin's. Some.
times she talked. Right along she kept
nibblin'. Sometimes twas q bit Of
cheese. or . couple OF crackers. or a
hunk Of spice gingerbread. or the top
Oh . jar OF jell. 4 can't hear you when
I'm a-rubbln',' I'd say. That never
mattcred Q bit to her. Shed walt till
got through rubbin' an was a.bilin'.
But whether she talked or whether che
didn't sho allus como, sure % tho day.
light did, she allus kept a-nibblin', an
she allus stayed"
The narrator treated herself to tea.
spoonful Of medicine out Of q bottle on
the window-sill before she proceeded
"Our girls get home from school q,
H." went on the Frustrated chatelains
"an' ] allus have lunch for 'em then
Sometimes it's reel good. Sometimes
lts only scraps. Anyhow. It's the best
mo an Tom can afford. Don't you
think she stayed for every one Of them
lunches? Ny. yes. She don't have "a
get dinner for Samyel till !, an che
lowed that she most generally got peck
ish about noon. 80 she'd set down with
the children regular. an then 10 acros,
home to get dinner. Lots OF times
they'd be just snag OF pork, or q
gumption Of fried potatoes, or a. much
Jam leavin' 40 you'd suecxe at There
amt nothin' here, Mn. Mason, to asl
you to have Q bite Of I says to heI
often. o laws she answers, whats
good enough for you u good enough
for me! An she sets down."
Her visitor sighed softly.
"Thcn she would stay all afternoon
She was allus here when Tom come
homo to supper. Her husband took hi
supper at the hotel, 20 she used to jins
~. Samyel never got back from tn.
store before II. 20 she'd stay at oul
house to pass the time. Tom, he'd q
for the mail. an come back. an ther,
she was. Read the noosv she'd say
Tom. who IL natchilly petite, 'ud reat
II. He'd read. an read. an read
Lands sakesv Mary Mason 'ud pu
"a, go on! ! could Jest set here all nigh
an listen An she did-pretty near!'
There was m0urnful silence.
ION the farm" continued Mrs. Rob
inson, me an Tom allus went to bet
at 8. How was We to 20 to bed evel
at 10. with Mary Mason a-sittin' there
Land o. the livin'v she'd say. seein' m,
a.patchin', I'm glad amt got enn!
children to keep a-slavin' fer-thcy d,
take such slew OF work. But whe,
I got through the mendin'. an Tom hal
read every word In the paper. even tn,
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES she wasl Ton
he'd yawn an yawn. I'd tell % how
was dead beat. not havin' got mucl
sleep the night before with the bah!
that was crOupy. She never pretended
to hear. By'm by, Tom. he'd 20 int
our bedroom that's OF the settin'-rO