Evening star., 1902-09-11
BARKIS WASN'T WILLIN',
Farmer Covert Declines an Alliance
With New Housekeeper

FROM the New York World.
Farmer William Covert drove his bay
mare up the narrow road into wayside.
eight miles from Long Branch. Tuesday
night and saw a glimmer OF lamplight
from his kitchen window
Guess Howard. my nephy. must have
come down to make me visit" he said
and he hurried his tired horse into the
yard.
Light looks mighty cheerful anyway for
an old lonesome man like me-" he unused,
as he started to unhitch
The door opened and out came n neatly
dressed middle-aged woman.
Guess this is Farmer Covert" she said.
as a saiutation.
Guess it is" said Mr. Covert
"Hearin' you wanted housekeeper [
am here" she said.
Farmer Covert was too surprised to an
swer. but kept on unhitching When he
got one side unhitched, he found that she
had unhitched the other. and then she back-
ed the buggy away and led the horse into
the barn.
Jim. let down some hay" she said. and
small boy in blue jeans appeared and let
down the required hay. Then she locked
the barn door.
Guess the horse is fixed for the night, d"
she said.
We'll, swan said Farmer Covert
He went into the house. Everything was
bright and warm. He found his boot jack
and his slippers where they should be
Suppers ready said the woman and
Farmer Covert sat down to table he
was forced to admit did look uncummouly
nice. There were meat and Vegeta bles
and spices and preserves, and apple pie for
dessert which tasted almost as good as
they had at Mrs. Elijah Worries his
daughters, where he took dinner.
He looked out into the kitchen. and the
Kitchen floor looked so clean and white and
smooth that he thought he would be afraid
to trust his old limbs on 1t for fear Of
falling. The knives and forks and spoons
on the table had shine on them that
showed hard rubbing.
Jim the boy came in with an armful OF
wood.
Reckon you have chopped enough to last
till the price OF coal comes down. Jim 80
asked the woman
Reckon l have. ma" said the boy.
Mr.. Covert. this is ycur birthday an
nounced the wonderful woman when the
supper things Were cleared away.
I'D clean forgot" said the farmer
She brought him out a new shirt ard
white pocket handkerchief announcing thar
they were her gifts.
Reckon we will get along all right " she
said. But Farmer Covert was troubled.
and went to bed TO think He was up with
the birds yesterday morning. He looked at
the polished floor. the pile Of wood, the
shiny spoon and steaming breakfast.
She certainly is a wonder" he said
Then he called the wonderful woman to
him.
Sorry to say widow" he began. II like
to run things to suit myself Much obliged
for all your cleaning and woodchopping
and such things, but when | start out 10
look for housekeeper l like 10 find her
myself and not have her find me So you
had better take your new shirt nd whit.
pocket handkerchief and your boy Jim and
go. l don't like to have folks come to my
house when / am away and run things TO
suit themselves"
The wonderful woman wept and told him
she had hoped to charm him by her Won
derful housek Ike eping.
But Farmer Covert was obstinate. and
she passed out of his gate weeping but
leaving behind the shirt and pocket hand
kerchief.