Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1901-06-03

range matters that | should be. Be-
sides you know there's no doctor in
these parts to be had under $50, so
you must practice doing without them
by not needing them.'
While you practice on the kids"
l put in.
of course l know what you're driv-
ing st. Amateurs can't know every
thing"
But you knew you had put the
iaIseed poultice on the kid. and that
wasn't the place for the thermo-
| meter"
How could I follow the shifting Of
a slippery eel?"
"Never mind. little woman, you are
not the only one scared by thermo-
meter reading when the patient was
well enough to frisk into his clothes"
Whatever you say, you know Tom
mie had a close scratch of pneumonia,
and you ought to be thankful. sir. to
the poultice he didn't quit. l wish
| could prove it by doctor"
and the proof would be well worth
! the $50" l answered in banter.
"Who nearly put blisterng liquid
into my eye?" giving her weather-eye
(as she called iD a sly twinkle.
"And who shook the kid, instead of
the bottle?" l shot back.
Nobody, since Methusaleh's wife!"
but seriously, Archie. isn't it just
! perfect being your own butcher and
| baker and churner and cheese-mon-
| par ond oboruop,on apd school
marin? Other things one doesn't need
Don't say you need a doctor. Archie
dear, or my nose will be tointed fiat
and that would break my heart"
AS l made no response, she went
| on:
Its heavenly to be independent of
all the mongers in creation. It gives
you q kind of Alexander Selkirk SEN
| sation-kind of monarch of all we
survey feeling, that does one good
Just say for once you agree with me,
Arch, or | shall be let down to agree
ing with myself. as usual"
To tell the truth. which | never con-
! fided to Lucia. l had been hiring a
man not to work so much. but to
teach me to do things-me. who
scarcely knew a spade from a hoe
And Coonie always said Eve had to
have plenty of garden stuff to fight
off the DOCTOR"
Neither could l make a fence, or
milk a COW. or keep the hogs out of
the garden, let alone turning them
into bacon.
Why things came so natural to
Coonie never could make out She
got through all her housework. and
taught and clothed the kids, getting
herself up spick and span every even
ing to sit with me in the little par
lor. Summer had come round again
at the ranch and ! had a notion there
was something brewing in her little
head when she said suddenly.
"Arch, dear. now that you know
stock and steers are the same,
think you may be trusted to leave
them awhile"
"Coonie!" exclaimed. adding moth.
ing.
well, you know a year ago you
| didn't she went on with a brazen
front. And l knew better than to con-
tradict he: in her humor. Anyhow,
don't you think it's time we went out
to see the world?"
Expecting next moment a proposal
to return to city life. waited to see
which world she had reference to;
for she had repeatedly assured me
that she desDised the "worldliness of
! great cities;' so it must be some lit
tie world straight from the hand of
its Maker. you see Arch" she con-
tinued. we've not come across the
plains"
ut seems to me that we nave done
So" dared interDose.
"The old-fashioned WY. OF course.
The trains were there and we had to
take them. But l want to go in a
prairie schooner"
Heavens and earth! Does she want
to go back cast that way?
Seeing my CONSERVATION she gave
my hand . little pat. sLying:
"Arch, you stupid a2ump. we must
take tho children oGt camping some
where; they'll wiz" so much better"
Good heavens! they're not bees
| Cconie! ! suppose YOU are afraid OF
having to apply poultices and thermo-
meter sCaip-the mixture that does
not agree with your nerves. Eh?" l
bantored.
"ChanEe of air is good. that's why
the cows go wandering off so far be.
fore they calve" she said. "and a
prairie schooner will be the very mic
est of Gll."
Only without the prairie, seeing
we're mostly mountains over here!"
I interpolated.
To please her. the man and fixed
up rig. and we all embarked for the
nearest bit of coast. where we expect.
cd to see more people than we had
the year through, although Lucia pro-
fcssed 20 hate people.
After living all her life near the
great lakes, she hankered after a
sight &C water.