The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1908-03-17
An
Old Fashioned
Wooins.
NJ AMEs BENJAMIN SAUNDERS
By ELLSWORTH KELLEY.
Copyright. 1901, by s. s. Mcclure Co.


he was called Jim Ben ON the
~ farm where he had been "hired
W hand for the past ten years
came up on the back porch, wiped his
face on the roller towel that hung by
the door. stepped to the window pane
that possessed the quality Of dimly re-
flecting countenance before II. care
fully comhed his hair and then stepped
into the spacious room that served the
double purpose of kitchen and dining
room. Before he reached his accus-
toned chair in the corner he paused In
open mouthed establishment. There
was a new hired girl In the kitchen.
Now. during the past ten years Jim
Ben had seen hired girls come and 90
from the Weaver kitchen by the score.
There had been long procession of
tall girls and short girls. fat girls and
lean girls. maids and widows. girls
with compilations like peaches and
cream and girls with no complexion
whatever. The new girl had frecliIes
and red hair,
"Je.rusalem" exclaimed Jim Ben.
Don't you dare come swearin' 'roun'
my kitchen" admOnished the red head.
ed girl. "'cause won't stand it-not a
bit OF it, Her tone was severe, but n
comlcal smile played around her
mouth. Not being society man. Jim
Zen was at loss for reply. He com.
| promised by shutting on toward his
chair.
Fer the land sakes. | don't know
what yer name u.s." Here Jim Ben
volunteered the desired information.
Well. then. jim Zen. you go straight
out ana clean them boots. I.oOk-ee at
sc. a-trackin' up my clean floor In that
STYLE"
That was the beginning Of II.
After dinner Jim Ben did an unex.
pe:tcd and wholly unprecedented
thing or his own motion he took the
empty pail from the bench by the
kitchen door. went to the well. manip.
nlated the heavy old sweep" re.
rrred with the pail trimming full Of
water and set Il carefully on the
heEch.
"I.ook-ee at We now! If you haven't
spilled some water on my clean floor.
you great. big. awkward hulk. i've
a notion to- And she grabbed dip.
PEE. and only the hasty exit Of Jim
Zen In the direction of the barn saved
him liberal sprInkling.
Jim Ben smiled TO himself occasion.
ally as he plodded along behind the
pillow that afternoon. When he and
Mr. Weaver stopped TO rest AZ the
turning row, Jim Ben sat on his plow
beam and industriousiy whitfield
clod of moist earth In a preoccupied
way. When he had fashioned Il into
a cube he turned to SIR. Weaver aud
asked:
Say: Who is sheT'
"Who's who?'
IVY hc--the new hired gai-'
"oh. that's Randy Higgins. Her
folks live down on Scatter creek. You
know Old man Hlggins-him ats got
the sawmili?"
jim Ben nodded assent Then he
said Gosh! Amt she frcckled:
Sort a red headed too. bet she's
got temper! The red headed kind
always has"
Randy utterly ignored Jim Zen at
the supper table. although he went 80
far as % ask. What's thslnT' when
che passed him the plate u biscuit
that gave outward evidence 81 the in.
ward presence 81 superahundance 81
SODA After supper he further VIC.
lated all precedent 10y getting the lin.
dlingi for the morning fire and filling
the hox with wood.
When be had performed this work
Of sGpcrervsation be sat down just In.
size the Kitchen door and watched
While she washed and wiped thu
HislcS. She handled them deity aud
81 my aud moved al,out with light
.p1t. Her sleeves were rolled to he:
houldcrs. Jim Zen would have been
less than human n he had not bcsiUw.
I'd Sly. admlring glauces an her white
9ni shapeIy arms. Size turned on him
"@NEtC1A&s AAI tNNAUt &AA8@9 tHH ~
What ygu gawkim ut inc forT"
Il wasn't gawkin'! was just won,
ier!a' II they hurt
what? Ny nFmsT'
'%U. mn'am: them frccklesv'
For answer she clottcd him about the
ears with the vet dlsIrloth. but when
b. hal iIaiorlOusly led from her prov.
lrcp she gave utterance 90 a series Of
deli,:hted gig,lcs.
Jim Len kcpt clear OF the hired girl'f
kingdoia for three days. nenltImc a.
ways excepted. of course. Randy con.
Cdcd 60 her mistress that Of all big.
awkward. clumsy stand.up.nnd.fnll. |
downs he was the very worst she ever
dill see. II nadc her laugh 20 look nj |
him. Perhaps that Il why she would |
i0l% nc him with u twiHkie IN the tall |
Q? boz eye while he was stOlldly eating
hts ttCal aud answering her question:
IL cCrt inoaosyllableE. Then. woman
Ike. she began 20 make advances.
Jim Ben had lifted barrel ~ salt
Gnalded from the wagon TO the ground.
iian,ly. who was on her way from the
uooh yard with an apronful Of chips.
topped 10 watch this athletic feat.
when no Ind cot fins hafsrpI un fhn