Smyrna times., 1901-08-21
With q View
to MatrimOny.

mud and muck" off the mats against
the outhouse wall.
''Why, whatever ha' come to ye?"
said his sister. "D'ye want anything?"
For years Sally had taken upon her
self the unenviable task of looking aft
er her old father and of "mOthering"
her three younger brothers. Her eff
forts to keep them going in food and
clothes were wont to meet with more
unmerited abuse and foul language
than any return in the shape of atten-
ton, gratitude or help. This she felt |
the more as she was a woman with |
ideas of refinement that were unusual |
in the neighbOrhood of Frogsthorpe |
and took to heart the complaints of her |
great lOutish brothers that they |
hadn't got moo mother" Bobs desire |
TO assist her in any way surprised her.
"Narthen to sgerfy," said Bob sheep
ishly. Cant dew narthen mOarY'
Sally hustled about and deftly tidied
up the kitchen. Out of the corner of
her eyes she watched Bob hanging
around uncomfortably with an evident
wish t. ask something and a reluctance
to make start.
"Shall l sluch the bricks down for
ye?' inquired Bob.
"Come an do" said Sally. "Tell us
what 'tis. Surely to goodness ye amt
afeard."
"Will ye prarmuS not to put the grin
on tew me?' Bob asked.
''Why, what should want to do that
fOr?' said Sally, who was getting in
quisitive and knew the only way to eX-
tract information from her brother was
to evince no curiosity. "But just as ye
like. l can't keep muddlin about here
all the mornin.'
81 want We to tell me what to say"
Bob gasped out.
"Say? Say what? Whatever are ye
talllin about? l don't know the meanin
ont"
"Well! There's a gal"' Bob began
nervOusly.
"Ah! There's plenty O. them," said
Sally, unconcernedly.
81 want ye to tell me what to saay in
a letter." burst out Bob. 'Lor, Sally.
she's a gre't wench; She's bigger'n yew.
Har hairs that black! 'Tain't like
yarn" sally was fair) "She's big as
me. An har eyes! Lor, har eyes fare tC
goo right trew ye they be Sc shiny an
Sc black"
"a love letter?' said Sally. 'No, Bob
1 don't know nothin about love.
amt goin to mix up along o no love-"
moo, nOoY' expostulated Bob
"'Tain't come to that yit. But l see hal
brother t'other daay, an he aXed me t.
goo oover an see har, an l axed him /
should write an tell har l wuz aeon
in, an he said as he'd find out"
Dye want to walk out with heI
then?' said Sally.
81 doan't knoO azackly as yit," Bo
answered. Dye think she'd make
good wifef"
How can l tellY' asked Sally, wit
some show of reason. do | knoN
herP
MOO" said Bob. "But she baint lik
yew. She's a strappin wench, an M
= missus 'ull hev to wark to help to 'ar
] the grub"
: "DO she wear a fall an gloves?" asl
ed Sally slyly, reminiscent of fratern;
remonstrances at her own occasion;
lapses into gentility.
"That she doan'?' said Bob. Isl
shan't wear moo fall nor moo gloves"
"Ye1l have to treat her different
what you do me-" said Sally, "or 81
won't put up wit"
''I'll trate her prarper," Bob proI
ised "She shall hev all the grub 81
can get down har, but she shan't ht
moo bare nor stout. They doan't de
We might o good"
Bob was an adolescent valetudin
rian in his way and was just thu
strong on total abstinence.
81 wouldn't write no letter." sa
Sally. That's dangerous. She mig
hev ye up for breach O. promise"
"D'ye think sooT said Bob, who
all ceremonial matters was guided
his sister.
"That 'ould be best-to see her," sa
Sally. "How often hev ye seed her?
II doan't knoo much on har, an tina
fack," admitted Bob. "She's IN sal
ice out at Chetbridge, an har brott
Il axed me IL I'd like to goo oover."
Al "Well, that appears funny to M
mused Sally, keeping her countenan
but chuckling inwardly. What d
want to write forT'
"a "Pm a-gooin to dew the thing pra
err" Bob explained. "Not saam's
yew an var chap what never came
narthen. I want to hev prarper
nerstandin afoor 1 gifts engaged, al
hain't got moo mother, wuss luck,
thote as yew'd help me-"
aye get your onnerstandin talki
advised Sally. "That fare strange
me she should set her brother on
ye like that"
Dye think soo?" said Bob nervous
'Hev ye ever kissed herp asked
ly slyly.
"Blaame it, noow Bob roared. "BV
II,