La Junta tribune., 1903-02-28

tnikin' I've seen more bad tuck than
any man livin' and it does seem some
times as IL the Lord or the Old Boy
I dunno which-had a pertickier spite
ag'in me. and took delight in piitn
ON the xhacks, Who would ever have
'sposed 4 big. noble lookin' woman
like Blindy would have dropped on
right in the dead Of winter when my
rheumatic and lumbago. and ashrny
and brownkeeters. always rage the
vust kind. o. dear, what shall
do." and Ebenezer Pert. a little
wizened man. with pale watery blue
eyes. and scattering wisps OF yellow
hair. buried his nose in the depths OF
. gingham handkerchief yard
square. and groaned dismally.
-Do." responded cousin Deb. Why,
spunk up and put the best foot for
ward. A widderer OF your age with
nine children on his hands has got to
hustle. You can't lay round and eat
ami sleep and smoke old cob pipes
sams ~ you always have done"
=. seysr disputed Jobs troubles"
smiled Ebenezar. and he nourished
the Bingham handkerchief spasmodic-
ally. ~never-he had en- like me-but
his comforters was angels compared
to mine. 'Twould melt q heart OF
stone to see the way I'm fixed. But
my suiferin's air about over-I shall
never climb winter HILL feel II in
my bones. I amt had decent thing
to eat sence poor B'lindy died. nothin'
but dough cakes and slops. and my
stummick Is all out OF kilter. Poor
B'lindy. what treasure I've lost! so
prudent. SO clever natered!"
Look here. Ebenezer. I've advised
and advised. but what has 1t amounted
to? II there is anything I despise II
IL a snivelin' man that has got no
gumption- You've got to face facts.
B1indy's gone, you've lost your ber-
den bearer, and all your howlin' won't
bring her back" and Deb. flashed a
glance at her elderly relative which
was far from sympathetic.
II know II, Deb" he whimpered.
"but my poor heart is buried in her
grave. Nobody knows my feelin's but
myself. l shall never find another to
take her place-not II l live to be as
old as Methuseller. She took all the
care of the critters and the milkin'.
and the barn and the house. and the
young uns. and If"
'If." broke In Deb sharply. you
don't stop your wailin's I'll leave this
house inside of twenty minutes. bag
and baggage. I've hearn 1t Jest rs
long as I'm q goin' to. I have been
hero two months and you've not made
the least effort to git . housekeeper. .
''I'd like to know who I'm goin' to
git?" Queried Ebenezer. and he eyed
her wariiy through his fingers.
well. there II plenty Of widdera
heard Elder Trigger say there was
twenty-seven drawin' pinshins out Of
the government, right in this neigh
borhood."
WELL" said Ebenezsr in . resigned
tone, Its pooty cold weather for .
man Of my years to start out lookin'
up widders. but 'spose its got to be
done. Do you think Of any pertickler
one you can rickermend?'
'Well-let-me-think- 10 Mis-
Holden, she's as smart ~ steel trap"
Eyes, but won't have her. she Is
homlier than hedge fence.
Mis- Davis is . pretty good cook.
but she is SLOW"
81 won't have her nuther. she is
crosssr lookin' than buttermilk. and
would Jar on my feelin's."
How about Mis- Brown. she is very
capable"
81 don't want her. couldn't Relish
her grub. Shes got false teeth. caus
watched her handlin' 'em down to
the donation, when she thought mo-
body was seein'."
How would Nancy Green dos"
Nancy Green!" and he opened his
little eyes in horror. Cousin Deb
Potter. air you crazy? A woman that's
been slsvorsted from three livin' hus-