The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1900-08-25

uUG SLOW OI luulSudllOu. Wien
the time comes that Jared Hawkins
wants pay for gathering tree or a
dozen trees of apples for the widow OF
his best and truest friend, he will let
you know. If you want to see my
dander rise and hear me use language
unbecomin' to Methodist in good an
reg'lar standin', you go on offerin'
to pay me for pickin' them apples.
Can't a man who has known you
from the time you was knee-high to
duck an who used to drag you to
school on his sled when you was in
your A B C's, an who beaued You
home from singin' school later on, an
who stood up with you an Hiram
Raynor at your weddin', offer to-
why, Huldah, you been cryin' an
you look as if you were goin' at that
sort O. foolishness again.
eyes, I have been crying" admit
ted the old lady, frankly, feeling sure
of the sympathy of this friend of her
youth, who had also been the friend
of her husband. II bet I can guess
what you have been crying about"
said Jared. "I saw Hannah and
Martha driving down the road as
came along. 1t was the old story
Want it9 They want you to give
| up an come an live with them"
30, Jared, they not only want me
to do it, but they say that I've got to
do it by the first of the year. And,
oh, I can't, 1 can't l''
'Then DON'T" said Jared, prompt
ly. Then he added, more seriously,
Don't you give UP your home as l
given up mine to live with my chill
dren, don't you do it. My son and
his wife an my daughter an her
husband, they mean to be kind,
reckon, an mebbe it is my own fault,
but l knew more real comfort an
happiness in one day in my own
home than have known in all the
three years have lived with them,
an you would have the same expert
ence if you gave up an went to max
in your home with your children.
Don't you do it. If 1 was back in
my own little house that I was fool
enough to sell an go an live with
my children, I tell you, 1 d stay there
if had to do my cookin' an wash
ing, an sew carpet rags an braid
rugs for livin', 1 woald, Huldah."
But what can I do? You know
how immovable the girls are, an 1
don't feel that I have the strength to
hold out ag'in them any longer.
They've been at me SO persistently
ever since their father died, an now
they say I've got to CO."
Don't you do it. You'll sip sor-
row if you do. You'll be dictated to
every day O. your life, an if you so
much as offer suggestion to them or
tG thein "tileyAf1 ceTf- 'yybtf-sJ; ;ntgfny
quick. There amt the respect for
old folks nowadays that there used to
be, an society is so constituted that
it's never very safe for old folks an
young folks to mix up together in the
same house. Old folks way and
yound folks ways amt alike, an
they'd better live apart. 1t is because
have proved it in my own experience
that I want to keep you from maxim
the same mistake. An I'll tell you
in solemn confidence, Huldah, that l
have made up my mind to go back
to having a home O my own, yes, I
have"
"Why, Jared p
eyes, l have"
"What will your children say?"
II can't help what they say. An
neither the Lord nor the law has said
that man in full health an in pos
session of all o his faculties shall be
obedient to his children. have made
up my mind about the matter, an I
don't feel under any obligation to say
anything to my children about it.
I've got my pension an a thousand
dollars in the bank that my children
would like to get hold of, but they
can't have it yet awhile. If can
get the person l want for my house
keeper, I plan to have home O. my
own mighty soon"
"I declare 1 would if I were you,
Jared. When folks get old like you
and me there is nothing they 'preciate
more than home of their own, and
they ought to havei it. What you say
makes me feel like trying to stand
out more and more ag'in my daugh-
ters. But who do you reckon you
can get to keep house for you?'
Jared looked at her for moment
with his kindly face all aglow and
his blue eyes twinkling merrily.
Then he said, There's just one per-
son 1 want, an I'll throw up the
whole scheme if / can't get her."
ooh, 1 do hope that you'll get
her, then, Jared for can under
stand just how you must want a home
of your own"
eff you had any influence with her
would you be willing to use it in my
favor and say a good word for me to
herr"
Indeed I would, Jared"
Would, eh? Much 'bliged, I'm
sure. I-I-I-the the fact O. the
matter is, Huldah, it's you that l
want that-that- why. bless your
soul, Huldah, 1 want you not only for
my housekeeper, but for my wife
Don't look so scared an shocked,
Huldah. 1 reckon it does kind O.
daze you if you amt never thought
O. such thing 1t dazed me some
at first but the more I've thought of
it the more set I've been on bringing
it about, an what you been tellin' me
bout Hannah an Marthy wantin'
you to give up an live with them has
brought things to focus, an want
! you to give up an live with me as
my wife. We amt neither of us real
old folks yet, Huldah, an we might
have many happy an peaceful years
| tooothar vet CON coo fIof x,ott re