The Cairo bulletin., 1907-12-17
John Henry'S
Wife
ny LILLIAN GREY
0 oeoseoeasossssessssssssst
(Copyright, BY Joseph 3, Bowles)

you have heard my stories time an
agin; but | do wonder IL ! ever told
YOU about my visit 70 John Henry's?
i've had EN- on my mind ali day,
ever sence that letter come from John
this mornin. He an his brother Danl
don't live more'n ten mile apart, an
thes married sisters; bur law, them
women wasn't no more alike than sum,
mer and winter, an John got the poor.
est bargain.
''Minetyy--that's his wife-shes a
good woman in fact. she's too good
an nice to take q mlnnit's peace Of
her life, or let anybody else take any;
she's a reg lar fusser.
Well, three year ago your gran pa
an me went there. We felt the need
Of d little Nip, an so when haydn an
harvest was done, he took notion TO
SO an visit his nephews.
We drove right across country. an
it amt much over 30 mile. We cot to
John Henry's place about four o'clock,
Al we found John mendin 4 fence
right by the road, so he walked along
beside us right up to the house. He'd
grown dreadful old sence ia seen him,
that is, old for such young man He
seemed glad to see lis, an yet he was
kindly fustered, | thought, but he said
his wife was home an they was all
well rs usual, I'd never seen Minervy
In her own house vet. an quite reck-
oned on 1t.
1T was quite nice house, painted
white with green blinds, but it was
the longest strung-out buildin | ever
see. There had been addition after
addition put on until 1t reached pret-
ty near to the barn; but the doors an
winders was all shut no tight, an if
we hadn't met John | shouldn't have
thought there was soul to home,
but John helped me out, and
showed me the way into the house
"'We'll have to 60 around. he said;
I s'pose Minervy's way in the back
room
The flag stones was as clean as a
fresh washed plate, an not a stick, OF
twig, or scrap OF litter was anywhere
In sight Near the side door where
we finally stopped set two children
on bench with books in their hands,
II bent down All kissed EN-, an
said how surprised | was to see EN-
SO large, but come to think they was
SIX AN eight years old. / didn't know
what to make OF them children
whether they was lackin', or what
allied 'em to be so still an solemn an
queer; but jest that minnit their
mother opened the door a leetle crack.
an hearing voices. called out:
"'John an Jane. be quiet and study
your lessonst'
'Mineryy, here's company said
John Henry. it's Aunt Mary Basset;
You remember herr.
She opened the door about half
way and said: Dear me- yes! How
do You do, Aunt Mary? You've
catched me all unexpected, but do
come in Who's with you, Uncle
Nathan
"'Yes; we kindly took notion to
come to-day
John went back to care for the
horse, an when his wife shut the door
after me 1t seemed as dark as a dun
geon in the room.
You better come in the next room
fore ever you set down, she said
Tor it's so dirty in here. | see some
fresh finger.marks on the paint jest
as you come in | try to keep de-
cent but John an the children is so
careless, | get clear discouraged with
en-
Il followed her voice into the ad-
joining room, but it was so dark /
couldn't see the dirt if there had been
cart loads of IL; nor | couldn't tell II
we was in kitchen, or dining-room. or
where Minervy rolled up the shade
a little bit, and took my things. an
DRAWN out a chair said:
DO set down an rest., I'm sur
prised you could endure sech a long
ride: couldn't
"'Ain't you in good health, Miner
Wy? says |.
"'Oh. | amt rely sick, but I'm
just completely tagged out; there's
SO much to do from morning till
night. an day after day. | do think
a farm is the dirtiest place in the
world with its mud an flies
Il looked at her as she sot there in
the ray of light. an sech care-worn,
detected countenance / never seen;
she looked nigh as old as | did.
why. | think you've got lovely
place here. Minervy: | should think
you'd take a lot of comfort with it.
SAYS l. When ! was your age ! used
to enjoy piekin berries. an gatherin'
fruit an nuts. an all such things as
much as my children did. an | amt
rely got over a relish for sech doirfs
yet. old as be-
mercy sakes. Aunt Mary, | don't
have any time for such play. Why.
/ never got out Of the yard only TO
meetin', an the store. an perhaps a
few neighborhood visits in the win
ter-time.
4 vas shocked to hear her. but the
men come in just then. an there
| seemed a different atmosphere soon
as ever your gran'pa got in the house.
He had child by each hand s-pullin
EN- along an talkin' to EN-. till he
| actually raised a smile on their
/ weazen little faces.