The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-10-09

thought it paid to raise hogs in town.
he would not have time to figure it out
before the widow Blossom would be
along to ask him what was the best
thine to kill worms on plum trees.
The nine widows congratulated them
selves on their . perseverance and
shrewdness.- Each one thought she had
the game in her, own hands, but each
one was destined 10. learn that she had
simply been fritteFing away her time.
There are widows and widows. There
are widows who have heads on them,
and widows. who sit and sigh and wait.
The teams transporting No. los house.
hold effects had only driven up to the
foor of the house she had rented when
ihe appeared before Deacon Thomas,
Who was working in his garden, to ask
him to come over and settle disputed
'1oint with one of the drivers. He set
led 1t in her favor, of course. Then
MS advice was sought as to a COW and
other matters, and the seven of the
inc widows that came skullxing about
cot no show at all.
The deacon vent home with a new
bought in his mind. Other new
thoughts were added to it next day. He
was hardly through breakfast when No.
10 came over and asked him to take
care of $500 in cash for her until she
had time to drive over to the bank
at Grafton. She sent him to the store
for carpet tacks, asked his assistance
10 put up window curtains, and before
noon he had a hammer in hand and
was repairing the front fence. Widows
from the list of nine came along and
spoke of doors being out of order and
pumps choked up, and what a nice
thing 1t was to have a handy man
around, but the deacon didn't take the
hints. Next day. with her own house
still unsettled, No. 10 walked over to
the deacon's and drove him out doors
TO whitewash the trunks of his apple
trees, and then put his rooms to rights.
She swept and busted and rearranged
and made his bed, and when she went
home she carried some of his garments
that needed mending or patching The
deacon sat down with his chin on his
hands and thought. He had to think
Some of the nine widows passed his
gate and halted to ask him this or that
but he was so wrapped up In his
thoughts that he failed to see them
Mrs. Graham sent her little boy over
with a dish of blackberries for him.
but on the way he encountered the boy
sent by No. 10 with an angels cake and
was crowded into the ditch and his
dish emptied.
The next day the new arrival confded
to the deacon that. she had washed
ironed. baked and put up four gallons
of peach pickles in day. Also, that
she always got cent a pound more
for her paper rags than any other
housekeeper.
On the next day she exhibited a rail-
road bond for a thousand dollars, and
said that its keeping so worried her
that she sometimes thought of getting
! married again.
| On the next day she had the deacon
| drive her over to the bank and he
saw her deposit actual money and get
a check book On the way home she
| observed that a man of his general in
| telligence, with a smart wife to back
visor the next fall as easy as rolling
| off a log.
| On the next day, while the nine wild
| ows were holding an indignation meet
| ing at the house of one of the number,
1.-THE past record of the new widow be
| hunted up and laid bare. No. 10 enter
| ed the deacon,s orchard. where he was
still applying the whitewash brush and
said:
Deacon, 1 had as good as bought the
house / moved into, but 1 got to think
| ing last night Suppose 1 should meet a
| man here that was willing to trust my
| future to-? He would probably have a
| house of his own. He would rather /
! turned money instead of another house
| over to him. wouldn't hep
| .'Nacherally'' replied the deacon, as
| he found his heart beating faster.
And, therefore. I have concluded not
! to buy for some time. II at all Don't
| you think my judgment sound?"
| The deacon did, but as he blushed
4 and, stammered and tried to say SO the
widow laid a hand on his arm and