Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1909-04-23
p vrr-continued

Yankee beans, such as my mother used
TO a k In a bean pot up 20 Connecticut
Course you never did; there never was
a bean baked right this side OF the
Susquehanny. Then take brown bread
and Injun puddin'-Lord. now what
does a Dutchman known about Injun
puddin'?-all kinder Drown and curdly,
with a skin like satin velvet plush,
and a rich juice that III make you
shout 'H~ally-ley-yer,' like a man on
the mourners' benches. spite of all you
can do. Then. take a billed dish-my
stars, Ii makes my mouth water so i
can't talk; honest, II does! Look here,
If you'd ever ct a mouthful OF AIRY one
of um there'd be a yarler streak this
minute up In the northeast, which
would be you maxim a line fer the state
o. Connecticut"
There, now, hear that wunst, viii!
vel" Ulle Strengthened up in we'll
feigned anger. He's runnin' down the
cookin' our WINNER does and, Chin
miny gracious, I won't stan for that
still! Nosph! l won't stan for havin'
the wfmmin run down, nosuh; that
allus makes me mad. Yessuhl" he
stole a side glance over at the widow
Krumrine. That's jest like a Yankee,
now amt II wunst? It's just like EN-.
II i was In the desert of Saharey stu
I'D know a Yankee wunst. I'd know
NH Nv his bAdS. CCSN -
Oh, my! Helgh, Miff?"
Unconsciously Ulie was voicing a
large area of his native state. The old
antipathies n resentments described
by washington Irving as existing
among the early Knickerbockers, and
%springing up again farther south
among the Germans during the era
when northern Pennsylvania was Il
part OF Connecticut. are still 10 be
fn1tnd ~, fha TptffnniR rnrtlDnG of fine
state, where they cling even yet k
persimmons.
Look here, Tile, what are you stand
ing UP for the wimmen SO for all 10
once?" Amos tipped a sly wink at the
other end of the table.
ooh, TILES gone soft on the whole
female sect" volunteered a youth.
Say, why don't you brace up, Ulie.
and get one OF EN- fore it's too late?'
broke in another. TITS comm on
springs work. and you need a woman
dretfully."
Don't you-uns worry about me-" he
snapped. II know what I'm about still.
Yessuh."
Now, Tile, look here" Amos leaned
far over and addressed him in a IA
therly tone, I'm your friend IL you've
got one in the world; you know
that. Now you be sensible. II
you wait to get a handsum young
then your weddin' won't come
off more'n a Dutchman's hat at a flu
neral. You let me tell you something.
He lowered his voice confdentially.
you jest edge UP TO the wilder Kuhn.
She'll take We with a jump quick's a
bat Ices a June bug. and she'll make
we q good wife. You en- get a lot or
work out of them children OF hern. You
go'n see her, Tile. She'll take right TO
We like a yeller dog, and 1 don't believe
you'd hev TO do the askin'. She's kind
o. hard up and discouraged; her first
man, old Ezra, was awful shifiess, and
she havin' hard times. You take my
advice. Tile. and shine up to the wilder
Kuhn"
"Humphl" grunted Ulie,
Jim Farthing heard very little Of the
running chatter. He sat facing the
stove and the summer kitchen, where
the women were at work. and where
Rose was fitting about from point to
point, the life n center OF all the
workers. Rose was a ~housekeeper of
skill and experience, and wherever she
was present at a dinner like this she
was soon at the head OF things. She
was cool and resourceful. and h for
got nothing. At critical moments when
generalship was needed: when a dish
came out wrong at the moment when
II must be served, or when Ii showed
signs OF giving out in the very midst
of the meal, or when the next course
was not ready and the men were wait
ing--at such tragic moments the wo-
men ignored the hostess n crowded
about Rose. 1t was worth while to see
her then, with her cool headed orders,
her deft. swift precision OF movement,
and her complete mastery of the situa-
ton.
Young Jim was not the only man at
the table who was furtively watching
her. She was everywhere. She circled
about them with the water pitcher and
filled the glasses. Then she gathered
up the empty dishes and poured an
other helping of coffee, Every one had
a merry word as she came near.
"Say, Rose, won't We smile into my
coffee wunst and save me gettin' the
Eyes. IL you'll smile into this glass
of water and save me drawing more
vinegar"
'Uiie been round to see We yet.
Rose?' =.
ooh. I'm too old for Ulie."
sYar-r-r-r! hear that, Ulie7"
Yes, I hev TO drew the Tine. / can't
take nobody over % still. Yar-r-r-r-r,
e~-e-e-e-e. oh. my!" Ulie's laugh was
shriIl and penetrating. and it dominat-
ed everything while it lasted.
''oh. shame on we. Ulie! Rose Is 1s
rs shes BY George. she don't look
It."
How old be We. Rose? Bet ye don't
dast ter tell wunst."
odds / look-a woman's as old as
she looks" and h disappeared into
the kitchen in a swirl OF laughter.
Thus the chaff and banter and home
iy country wit followed her in merry
stream wherever she went. The other
women seemed to be merely scullions
and menials; she was the presiding
goddess. the life and soul OF the whole
dinner.
Thus indeed IL seemed Il Jim Far
thing. So absorbed did he become In
watching her that he scarce realized
what he ate or whether he ate at all.
The conversation ratified about him like
the monotone OF summer crickets.
Once he heard a voice at his elbow adj
dressing him and he turned with a
start.
Say. don't you think Dams dom
wrong to have his fittn on a Saturday
wunsts It's q dretful bad sign. A Sat
urday hit makes q short Sit"
He made no answer. for he had seen
Rose disappear with the water bucket
In the direction OF h cistern. His In
dfgnation was instant That Rose,
with all that room full OF men. should
have to tug water in . bucket struck
him as monstrous. He Instantly
and followed her. &
There was q moments hush about
the tables. then q litter. The spectacle