The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-01-09

we're here, Dan. | don't mind her
much, and it s the best way to stand
our ground SO fairs we can. She
needs us to be with her. There's
lots of good things about your
mother. l was thinkin' this morning
about something grandsir used to
say: she's like COW thatll give a
good pail O. milk, and then kick it
over. 1t makes me feel bad when I
see how she must have worked be-
| fore we was married. l never saw a
house SO spick an span from garnet
to cellar"
Dan had a sad consciousness that
this was partly done out of his moth
er's pride in her reputation as house
keeper, but he had wisdom enough
to keep things of that sort to himself.
He was joyfully happy and delighted
in Hannah's affection for him, after
having been disapproved SO long by
his mother. "She'd go through fire
and water any time, but she trips up
on nothin', and then blames other
folks for the fall" he said to himself.
"Come, Hannah, let's go down the
orchard lane," he added; and away
they went and fingered about the old
place until after moonrise, making
plans for their work and their life to-
gether. 1t was pitiful to think how
much pleasanter it was to be out-of-
doors than in, but they could be hap
ply anywhere. The Sunday before
had been rainy, and that morning
they had, in the country parlance,
appeared out" Hannah had worn
her simple wedding finery, and they
had walked up the aisle to their pew
arm in arm. The heads of the con-
gregation had turned as if a wind
had tossed them like heads of clover,
and after the service there was great
handshaking and congratulation. 1t
took socially the place of the formal
wedding with invited guests, but if
it had been the Sunday after their
funeral Dams mother could not have
cried harder through the hymns and
prayers, or held her handkerchief to
her face more constantly during the
long sermon.
"S'pose she has seen trouble" said
one indignant neighbor, as they
walked home together along the
country road. 'Sove all the rest of
us that's come to her age. She's got
habit o pityin' herself, and wants
everybody else to jine in. She pressed
my hand comm out o meetin, as if
she was too full for words; but says,
There, Ann Parish; whatever the
years has brought ye, ye've got the
smartest girl in town, an the best
hearted, for a darter in-law.' She
made out to wag her head an say
yes. But, there,'t is one of her down
times, an nobody can rise her out on
'em till the 'pinted time, not if ye
blow her up with powder"
Dams always jest SO pleasant"
said another woman. I've seed the
boy look at erkind O. sidewise when
he come in to supper, and he'd know
right off, when he was little Teller,
whether 'twould do to say word or
not She's denied herself everything
just because she was pleased to,
when Dan would ha' been only too
satisfied to have her spend what she
wanted. One time she even pinched
herself O eatin butter, SOS they'd
have mite more to SELL"
"She never pinches herself O. strong
tea, I've Observed" responded the
other. "Tea's as bad cuss to that
make O. woman, as drink is to
drinkin' man. She keeps that old
black teapot on the back O. the stove
day in an day out, an says there's
nothing but tea sustains her.
Il told her one day twas the cause
O. her poor feelin's an she'd better
sign the pledge, an she never hardly
spoke to me the rest O. the day, though
I'd gone over neighboring to help
her quilt. She never asked me to
stay to supper, nor said good after
noon as | come away"
The listener chuckled with salts
faction. 81 al'ays thought I'd find
out what twas come atween you two
that time. So, twas on account O. the
tea, was it," And they parted, one
to go up her own shady farm lane,
and the other to follow the main road
a short distance. Just then Dan and
Hannah and old Mrs. Parish drove by
in their new two-seated wagon. They
had received hearty greeting from
their friends. The women sat together
on the back seat, and Hannah had
put her new summer shawl over