The National tribune., 1904-01-07

Mothers letter; shorty's kinder got the
doIdrums reckon"
Maria picked up the letter in a half
hearted way, and began to hunt the place
where she had left off. She was startled
and worried. She had never thought about
the future at all, or If she had, it seemed
that the most natural thing would be to 60
home to her mother and father again. and,
of course. that included her husband. In
deed, the marriage had come so suddenly to
all that nobody had stopped 10. think of the
future, and itEwas only when Shorty saw
Maria surrounded by young women of her
own age, and sskimming the surface of
society which she was admirably fitted to
grace, in his; opinion, that he felt the
weight of the future pressing upon him.
He began to realize his own unftness for
her. He felt himself big and boorish and
awkward, and he knew that he was igno-
rant and illiterate. His natural aptness
assisted him to initiate others, and he
could counterfeit graees which he felt he
had never possessed, but in his soul there
was growing a desire to make something
of himself. Leaning forward with his Ell
bows on his knees and his head in his
hands, he listened TO Maria as she finished
her mothers letter. and at the same time
took mighty resolve to get into the run
ming somehow, and make of himself man
fitted for woman like Maria.
"sI have set 20 hens since got back,
wrote Mrs. Klegg. but l haint got very
good settin stock am afraid got some
fancy chickens TO the fair last Fall and
they don't make good settlers. There amt
no hen like the common dung hills for
settin and motherin their chickens.
The white wash amt done very good
somehow. Pa he tried to put it on the
kitchin and such a mess as he did make.
l told him I'd rather he had let the walls
go as they was. miss you when it comes
| to embarrassing. Mandy and me man.
aged to get some paint on the pantry floor
and painted the strip around the carpet
in the sittin' room, but we didn't get it
done as well as you do it. 1t seems as
though can't dosnothing as well as you
used to do things.
Deacon Haineses buried their little
girl last week: She fell into a we'll they
was diggin'. You remember the Briggses
that lived over to Skunk Holier, well they
was burned out last Thursday night, Just
pure carlessness know, they always was
so deadful shiaess. Emmy Joneses brother
was brung shoame from Baltimore yester-
day, and they buried him over on the pine
ridge. He was one that starved in An
dersonville SO long and he cuddent get
well. feel 50 sorry for the Joneses for
they built a good deal on Abijah. The
Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away.
blessed be the name of the Lord. The
poor boy wouldn't have had no health
was took We amt made no flower beds
vet this year. My back is that lame when
stoop over diggin that can't do it no
mere, and Mandy she is that Indifferent
that I can't make her get at it. May be
you and Annabel will be home by the time
! to plant flower seeds, and you can make
ST and Shorty do the spadin. You must
make them bows begin right. 81 has al
ways been kinder masterfui and done just
the things he wanted to do. bat maybe he
will be more behoiden to his wife. Anna
bel wants to lay down the law to him
like did to your Pa"
AT this sally -0f Mrs. Klegg's 81 sent mp
mighty shout and Maria and Annabel
laughed too. It was really very funny for
Mrs. Klegg was not the kind Of woman
| to lay down the law to anybody. "Ma lay
td0wn the INV TO Pap" said 81. the tears
| 0f merriments rolling dewn his cheeks.
/ ssAnnabel, Just you copy Ma and I'll never
haze no trouble with you. Pap Just
lnnehssally always did the things That Ma
Wanted him to. that's al there was to
that and I hope | will be gentleman
enough to my own wife to do the same. .
he wound mp so0erly.
II am sf1re of that, 81, returned AM
mabel a. she snngsiad her hand into Si's
.Now wherr was IT" said Maria as she
picked mp the letter again. ooh, yes, like
=
have any trouble. Si is a good boy. il
/ do say it az shuddent, but he needs
holdin' In.
"sI don't like to think about your be-
| ing there I'm Washington all alone, and
there are so many snares for the unwary
Your Pa and I think that you ought to
hunt up some good Baptist Church and
go reglar. Won are SO much less liable to
get into forbidden paths when the church
has Won in it's embrace and IL will make
you feel more to home. i am bleechin'
some eottpn to make sheets for the spare
room. Mandy took three of my best to
wrap up some half froze pigs in while I
was gone. and then she throwed them in.
the boiler where there was some damp
and they are NIL iron rnst. Il caddent
never think of enferfainins Elder Boswell
on snci sheets AZ them. and We nut ND.
some new curtains IN the company. bed
ROOM. They are real pretty I think bright
Ereen papef with big red roses onto them.
Y0ur PA bought pretty Wax wreath in
|a glass; nAxe at auction the either day for
Mandy. Cindx Mapd Gales made Il that
Winter Ghes &1e1 With eoneumu1Soa yunS