The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1907-11-09
John Henry's
Wife
By LILLIAN GREY
copyright. by Joseph B. BoWles.)

you want me TO tell you StOry,
do you? Well, thought likely that
would be the cry soon as ever I got
set down with my knitting; an rely,
girls, I don't know what to tell, for
you have heard my stories time an
ag'in; but I do wonder if I ever told
you about my visit to John Henry's?
I've had 'em on my mind all day,
ever sence that letter come from John
this mornin'. He an his brother Danl
don't live more'n ten mile apart, an
they married sisters; but law, them
women wasn't no more alike than sum-
mer and winter an John got the poor
est bargain.
"Minervy-that's his wife-she's a
good woman; in fact, she's too good
an nice to take minnit's peace of
her life, Or let anybody else take any; ;
she's reglar fusser!
We'll, three year ago your gran pa
an me went there. We felt the need
of little trip, an so when haydn an
harvest was done, he took a notion to
go an visit his nephews.
I'VE drove right across country, an
it amt much over 80 mile We got to
John Henry's place about four o'clock,
an we found John mendin' a fence
right by the road, so he walked along
beside us right up to the house. He'd
grown dreadful old sence I'd seen him,
that is, old for such young man. He
seemed glad to see us, an yet he was
kindly f1ustered, I thought, but he said
his wife was home, an they was all
well as usual. I'd never seen Minervy
IN her own house yet, an quite reck-
oned on it,
1T was quite nice house, painted
white, with green blinds, but it was
the longest strung-out buildin' I ever
see. There had been addition after
addition put on until it reached pref
ty near to the barn; but the doors an
"lnders was all shut up tight, an if
we hadn't met John I shouldn't have
thought there was a soul to home
But John helped me out, and
showed me the way into the house.
We'll have to go 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 stick, or
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.
Il bent down an kissed 'em, an
said how surprised I was to see 'em
SO large, but come to think they was
six an eight years old. l didn't know
what to make Of them children
whether they was lackin', or what
allied EN- to be SO still an solemn an
queer; but jest that minnit their
mother opened the door leetle crack,
an hearing voices, called out:
John an Jane! be quiet and study
your lessons!'
Minervy, here's company said
John Henry; it's Aunt Mary Basset;
you remember her!
''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 a notion to
come to-day
John went back to care for the
horse, an when his wife shut the door
after me it seemed as dark as a dun
geon in the room.
You better come in the next room
fore ever you set down. she said,
for it's so dirty in here. 1 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 adj
joining room, but it was so dark I
couldn't see the dirt if there had been
cart loads of it; nor I couldn't tell if
we was in kitchen, or dining-room, or
where. Minervy rolled up the shade
little bit, and took my things, an
DRAWN out chair said:
DO set down an rest! I'm sur
prised you could endure sech long
ride; couldn't
"'Ain't you in good health, Miner.
wy says I.
"'Oh, I amt rely sick, but I'm
just completely tagged out; there's
SO much to do from morning till
night, an day after day. I do think
farm is the dirtiest place in the
world with it's mud an flies.'
Il looked at her as she sot there in
the ray of light, an sech care-worn,
detected countenance l never seen:
she looked nigh as old as / did.
"'Why, I think you've got lovely
place here, Minervy; should think
you'd take "a lot of comfort with it,
says I. When I was your age I used
to enjoy pickin' berries, an gatherin'
fruit an nuts, an all such things as
much as my children did, an I amt
rely got over a relish for sech doin's
yet, old as I be-
Mercy sakes, Aunt Mary! I don't
have any time for such play. Why