The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-09-12
Heart Of Farmer Covert Stee|ed
TO Unexpected Widow.
WOULD RUN THINGS HIMSELF
Everything 10 Pleasant Order Even on His
Birthday, but He Concluded to Let
Her Go.

New York. Sept. l2.-Farmer william
Covert drove his bay mare up the mar
row road into Wayside, eight miles from
Long Branch. Thursday night, and saw
a glmmer OF lamplight from his kitchen
window.
Guess Howard. my nephy, must have
come down TO make me a 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
mused, as he started TO unhitch.
HoUsEKEEPER ON HAND.
The door opened and out came neatly
dressed, middle-aged woman.
Guess this Is Farmer Covert" she
said, as SALVATION.
Guess II is," said Mr.. Covert.
"Hearin' you wontyd housekeeper, I
am here" she said.
Farmer Covert was too surprised to
answer. but kept on unhitching. When
he got one side unhitched. he found that
she had unhitched the other, and then
she backed the buggy away and led the
horse into the barn.
Jim, let down some hay" she said.
and a 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,~
she said
well. swami sair Farmer Covert.
He went into the house. Everything
was bright and warm. He found his
bootjack and his slippers where they
should be.
IN APPLE-PIE ORDER
"Supper's ready" said the woman. and
FarE.sr Covert sat down to table he
was forced to admit did look uncom-
monty nice. There were meat and veg
etables, and spices and preserves, and
apple pie for desert which tasted almost
as good as they had at Mrs. Elijah
Worries. his daughters, where he took
dinner.
He looked out into the kitchen. ana
the kitchen floor looked 80 clean and
white and smooth that he thought he
would be afraid to trust his old limbs on
IL 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?" asked the woman.
Reckon / have, ma" said the boy.
WAS HIS BIRTHDAY.
Mr. Covert. this is your 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 and y
white pocket handkerchief, announcing
that they were her gifts.
Reckon we will get along all rdyht,"
she said. But Farmer Covert wae trou-
bled. and went to bed TO think. He waS
up with the birds this morning. He hooked
at the polished floor the pile OF wood, the
shiny spoon and a steamang breakfass.
"She certainly is wonder" he said.
Then he called the wonderful woman to
him.
CRUEL TO LET HER 60.
Sorry to say, widow he began, II
like to run things to suit myself. Much
obliged for all your cleaning and wood
chopping and such things, but when :
start out to look for a housekeeper
like TO find her myself. and not have her
find me. So you had better take pour
new shirt and white pocket handssrch1ef
and your boy Jim and go. / don't like 70
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
wonderful housekeeping.
But Farmer Covert was obdurate. and
she passed out OF his gate weeping but
leaving behind the shirt and pocket hand-
kerchif.