The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1901-09-21

her husband, they mean to be kind, |
reckon, an mebbe it is my own fault, but
| knew more real comfoIt 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
experience if you gave up an went to
maxim your home with your children.
Don you do it. If | was back in my
own little house that | was fool enough to
sell an go an live with my children l tell
You I'd stay there if | had to do my cookin'
an washing, an sew carpet rags an braid
rugs for livin, | would, Huldah .
"But what can | do? You know how
immovable the girls are, an l don't feel
that [ 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 go
"Don't you do it. You'll sip sorrow
if you do. You II be dictated to every day
o your life, an if you so much as offer
suggestion to them or to their children,
you Il be 'interferin an they'll tell you
so mighty quick. There ain 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 ways and young folks ways ain t
alike, an they d better live apart. 1t is
because | have proved it in my own ex-
perience that [ want to keep you from
maxim the same mistake An I'll tell
you in solemn confidence, Huldah, that |
have made up my mind to go back to hav
ing home o my own, yes, / have. -
Why, Jared r
Eyes, / have.
''What will your children say
81 can't help what they say An
neither the Lord nor the law has said that
man in full health an in possession of
all o his faculties shall be obedient to his
children. have made up my mind about
the matter, an [ don't feel under any
obligation to say anything to my children
about it. I've got my pension an thous-
and dollars in the bank that my children
would like to get hold Of but they can
have it yet awhile. If can get the per-
son | want for my housekeeper, plan to
have a home o my own mighty soon.
II declare [ would if 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 have it.
What you say makes me feel like trying
to stand out more and more az in my
daughters. But who do you reckon you
can get to keep house for your
Jared looked at her for moment with
his kindly face all aglow and his blue eyes
twinkling merrily Then he said, "There' $
just one person want, an I'll throw up
the whole scheme if can't get hes. +"
ooh, I do hope that you'll get her,
then, Jared; for | can understand just how
you must want home of your own.
''If you had any influence with her
would you be willing to use it in my favor
and say good word for me to her?''
Indeed | would, Jared
''Would, eh? Much bliged, Tn
sure. I-I-I-the the fact 0 the mat
ter is, Huldah, it. $ you that | want that
that-why, bless your soul, Huldah, |
want you not only for my housekeeper,
hut for my wife Don't look so scared
an shocked, Huldah. | reckon it does
kind o daze you if you ain never thought
O. such thing. 1t dazed me some at
first; but the more I've thought of it the
more sci 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 to-
gether yet. | can see that you re too
dazed to give any answer now, an I'll go
away an come over and see you this even
ing, when you Il make me one o the hap
piest old boys in the world by saying yes,
an we Il have home of our own in spite
of our bossy children, eh, Huldah 2
Huldah answer must have made Jared
.happy old boy, for three days later,
Hannah and Martha were on their way to
see their mother when they met her re-
turning from town in buggy with Jared
by her side. Jared had on his Sunday
best and he wore bic white aster in his
buttonhole, while Mrs. Raynor, to the sur
prise and disapproval of her daughters,
had put aside her mourning and wore her
gray silk and new gray bonnet with white
flowers in it. Jared drew rein when they
met the sisters and Hannah said sharply
"Well, mother, | must say this looks a
little strange You know very well what
neighborhood this is for gossip, and some
people might make very unpleasant remarks
if they saw you aud Mr.. Hawkins riding
out in this way Martha and | want that
you should pack up right away and go
home with US, aud We will come over next
week and pack up the furniture. We
think that there is no use in your waiting
until the first Of the year to give up and
live with us.
1t was Jared who made triumphant re-
ply. He threw one arm around the half
frightened old lady by his side and said
boldly: "You' re little too late, Han
nah. Your mother can't give up an go
an live with you for the reason that she
has already given up an is going to live
with me, or rather | m going to live with
her, since she prefers to stay in her own
house. Lemme introduce to you Mrs.
Jared Hawkins !!
Martha lifted up both her hands in
speeches. amazement, but Hannah said
gaspingly: Mother is this true
The bride of an hour held up her head
bravely and made unfaltering reply, eyes,
Hannah; il is true.
Hannah broke forth in violent outburst
of wrath, but Jared gathered up the reins
and drove on, calling back through cloud
of dust, "You nor no one else can sass my
wife T.
He was right when he said soothingly
to his wife, "Don't you worry, my dear;
they Il come round all right, an so will
my children. An if they don t. he
drew her to him and kissed her smiling and
happy face, "why, we have each other
dearest.
rLo ,..a.o of tho GREAT ploye houses of