The Palatka news. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1905-1908, 1905-09-29
Farmer Bunker and
the Widow
IOrtginal.l

"Zeke." said Farmer Bunker "why
don't v make up to Mandy SniHen!
She's purifier II a new moWin' ma
chine an as good gal as ever lived
Him." replied the wary son, 'wlm-
mems what v say-jist like a mowin'
machine. They're purity enough Till y
git 'em harnessed up; then they cut
down everything in their way
Farmer Bunker since the death of
Zekes mother, a year before, had been
casting longing eyes at the widow
Snffen. Mandy's mother. Knowing
that his son had an objection to haV-
ing any one put in his own mothers
place, he felt if he could get Zeke to
make match with the daughter he
might overcome the boys scruples.
But Zeke saw the trap and did not
relish the advantage his falling into 1t
would give his father The Old man,
having failed with his bait, concluded
to do little counting and then pro-
pose. Xeke watched the maneuVers
with anxiety.
One morning after one of the farm
Cr's visits to the widow he awoke to
see the widows COW rummaging In
his corn. some of which she had tram
pied underfoot The old man fired up
Mt once, but, remembering the situation
between him and the widow, quietly
drove the COW over low place In the
fence by which she had made her en-
trance to the shed where she belonged.
He asked Zeke If he had carelessly left
the fence lowered, and Zeke said that
| he had not Then the farmer sur
missed that the COW had done it with
her horns.
In Il few days the COW was in the
corn again This time, after the farm
| er had driven her out, he went to the
widow and suggested that she put
poke around the cows neck. The wild
Ow declared that the COW didn't need
poke. that she was as good COW
| as ever gave milk and that some one
on the Bunker farm must have been
careless about the fence. Bunker as
| sured her that there was no one on
his farm except himself and his son
and neither of them mad touched the
| fence. There Was flash Of temper
| between the two, and the farmer went
away insisting on a poke for the COW.
Zeke heard him grumbling and said:
Father, don't y believe me when
| say l hain't touched the fence"
"Of course l do, Zeke."
J,,'t ID NJ ~ N
do it. the COW must "a done it. The
widder should get her a poke"
That's what l tole her, an she
lows the COW don't need a poke. She
kind O fired up when l mentioned it,"
"What'd l tell y about mowin'
machines, father"
| The old man went off snorting.
Again the COW was found in the
corn. and this time there was no
| change to be noticed in the fence. The
balance of the farmers corn was de-
stroyed. and lie went to the widow in
frame Of mind by no means lovely.
Mis- Sniffen," he began in an unac-
ceptabie tCne, 'y'r cow has ruined $50
woth of corn for me, an suppose
Mr.. Bunker, l want y to under
stand that l hain't responsible for my
COW gittin' into no farm that's not
properly protected"
MY farm is properly protected" the
| farmer retorted.
At this moment Mandy appeared on
the scene and took hand in the pro-
ceedingS, but not as might be expect
ed Mr. Bunker" she said, Il think
y are right. Our cows bad un."
MANDY" said her mother hotly, ~
go straight into the house"
Mandy obeyed, pouting, and, her in
reference having only added fuel to
her mothers anger, the widow gave the
farmer such dressing as he had never
had before The cid man went home,
muttering, and as he passed his son,
who had been leaning on the fence
listening, he said, "Wimmin is now
In machines, true 'nough, Zeke, all
except the gal, an she's an angel"
wouldn't trust any of 'em, fatherf'
"Y' kin trust her sartin. She haint
like her mother bit. She tole the ole
bag list what she was"
About a week after this, when the
feelings Of the two old persons had
had time to COOL Zeke, who was sleep
ing comfortably in bed, awoke and
heard a sound without. He got up
and, going to the window, saw by the
light of the moon, which was full.
Mandy let down the fence and drive
her mothers COW into the inclosure.
Zeie jumped into his clothes, ran
downstairs and caught the girl before
she reached her home
MANDY" he said, TYR keched.
sor v drivin' the cow into our farm
What'd v do it for?"
Mandy hung her head. Most girls
look pretty in moonlight, and Mandy
was a pretty girl at any time. She
made confession. Fearing that hel
mother would give her a stepfather
she had been putting the COW in among
his corn for the purpose Of making
trouble She had served double pur
pose for herself and Zeke
"What'd v take sides with dad forT
: he asked.
ooh, know mother. If I'd "a sided
t with her she'd "a turned in his favol
l an made it up"
Mandy" said Zeke, tyr a remark
:, able smart gal. I'VE broke it off be
: tween the two old uns, an dat
4 wants He hesitated.
whats he want?
D "He wants me to marry y"
= Mandy turned half around, loOket
down and waited. Zeke went to he
I and put his arm around her waist. ant