Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1897-03-04
4 was in little house on a little

- the Town Of Bubble.
The little woman was crouched up
on the carpet sofa in a limp heap. She
looked Ill, but sangune-exhausted,
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 begrimed. In
spite Of these facts the mistress of the
modest home smiled sweetly.
"Well," exclaimed her visitor, one
comprehensive glance embracing the
unwonted neglect Of the place. 81 heard
you were not feeling well, but | did
not know you required assistance with
your housework. supposed, of course
your friend Mrs. Mason was with you"
The little woman looked up with a
sparkle in her eye.
30, I'm well enough. | was sick
enough up to last Tuesday. I've been
gettin' better ever since. I'll have the
table red off an things Strengthened be-
fore Tom gets home If feel like it
now | can let things be. There amt
no one to notice. Mrs. Mason, she don't
come over. Truth is. 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, "have
lived on farms all our lives. So when
we rented the farm and moved into
town, | thought the change was fine.
My! | says to Tom, 'aln't it nice to
live in large place. | never before
suspiciOned how comfortable it was to
live reel near to folks, an have them
folks neighborly. Out'n the half sec
tion 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 a day-nOt to mention the
freights-an houses all round us. It's
awful nice says to Tom but what's
incest is Mrs. Mason. Why. she comes
in that often | ain't got Il bit of time
to be lonesome for the stock. There's
only herself an her husband, so her
work don't count. She can't read or
write only Bohemy. an she amt got
no use for that language since she mar
rled outn her folks. Take it altogeth-
er, she's willin' to neighbor lots, an
that | says to Tom, will be mighty
perkin' for me! "
Yes asSented her visitor with
rising infection on the monosyllable.
Tom, he didn't say much. He's kind
of slow-llke. lie jest said What suits
YOU Eliza, suits me" Well Mrs. Ma
son she come. She kept comm. Some
times, If she got Samycl off early, she
come in before our breakfast. She nj
luS come in before got the dishes done
up. An she stayed She STAYED nil
mornin'-cven wash mornin's. Some
times she talked. Right along she kent
nlbblin. Sometimes twas a Bit of
cheese, or Il couple of crackers, or
hunk Of spice gingerbread. or the ton
of jar of iell. 4 can't hear YOU when
I'm a-rubbn' I'd say. That never
mattercd a bit to her. She'd wait fin
! got through ruhbm' an was o-biln'
But whether she talked or whether she
didn't she alluS come, sure as the dov.
light did' she alluS kept a-nibbln'. an
she alluS stayed"
Inc narrator treated herself TO n tea.
spoonful of medicine out of a bottln or
the window-Sill before she prorenaed
"Our girls get home from school ~
L. went on the Frustrated chatelaine.
AN | allus have lunch for EN- then.
sometimes its reel good. Sometimes
It's only scraps. Anyhow, it's the hest
me an Tom can afford. Don't Won
think she stayed for every one of them
luhcheSE My, yes. She don't have to
get dinner for Samyel till l. an she
lowed that she most generally got neck.
ish about noon. So she'd set down with
the children reg'lar an then go across
nome 10 get dinner. Lots of times
they'd be just Snag Of pork. or n
sumption Of fried potatoes, or as much
Jam leavin' as you'd sneeze at. There
amt nothin' here. Mrs. Mason. to ask
you to have Il bite Of | saws to her
often. u laws, she answers, what's
good enough for You is good enough
FOR me! An she sets down."
Her visitor sighed softly.
"Then she would stay all afternoon.
She was allus here when Tom come
nome to supper. Her husband took his
supper at the hotel. so she used to line
us Samyel never got back from the
store before II, so she'd stay at our
mousse to pass the time. Tom. he'd go
Tor the mail, an come back, an there
she was. Read the noosr she'd saw.
Tom, who is natchilly petite, 'ud read
It. He'd read, an read, an readl
Lands sakesv Mary Mason 'ud nut
In, go on! l could jest set here all night
an llsten.' An she dih-nrnttr nnn rs,