The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1911-01-10

II Amt THE CAPN!" HE wHooPED. HERE
HE IS-HEREp
them into the house; then he drove
away, still grinning. Bailey looked
fearfully at Captain Cy.
"She is kind of hard of hearin', amt
she?' he said reluctantly. You re-
member I said she was"
The captain nodded.
Eyes" he answered; you're truth
tellin' chap, Bailey. I'll say that for
you. You don't exaggerate your state
ments."
Hard of hearin'r' snapped Mr.. It'd
dit. "If the last trump amt a steam
whistle she'll miss judgment day. I'll
stop into Simmons on my way along
and buy you bottle of throat balsam,
Cy. You're goin' to need it."
The captain needed more than throat
balsam during the fortnight which fol-
lowed The Widow Beasley's deafness
was not her only failing In fact, she
was altogether a failure so far as her
housekeeping was concerned She could
cook after a fashion, but the fashion
was SO limited that even the bill of
fare at the perfect boarding house
looked tempting in retrospect
Baked beans again, Cyr' exclaimed
Asaph, dropping in one evening after
supper. "'Tain't Saturday. night so
soon, is it?"
"No,' was the dismal reioinder.
Its Tuesday, if my almanac amt out
OF joint. But we had beans Saturday,
and they amt all gone yet, so l pre-
sumo We'll have 'em till the last ones
swallowed. Aunt Debbys got what
the piece in the Reader used to call a
frugal mind She don't intend to
waste anything. Last Thursday 1
spanked up courage enough to yell for
salt fish and potatoes-fXed up with
pork scraps, you know, same's we used
to have when / was a boy. We had
'em, all right, and if beans of Satur-
day hadn't been part of her religion
we'd be warmin' 'em up yet. l took
in a cat for company t'other day, but
the critters run away. To see it look
at the beans in it's saucer and then at
me was pitiful. l felt like handin'
myself over to the cruelty to animal
folks"
SIS she neat?" inquired Mr.. Tidditt.
Il don't know. l guess soon the
1nstallment plan. 1t takes her a week
to scrub up the kitchen, and then one
end Of it is so dirty she has to begin
again; consequently the dust is so
thick in the rest of the house that ]
can see my tracks. If 'twan't so late
in the season Id plant garden stuff in
the parlor-nice soil and lots of shade
with the curtains down"
From the rooms in the rear came |
the words of gospel hymn sung in |
a tremulous. soprano and at concert
pitch.
"Music with my meals, just like a
high toned restaurant" commented !
Captain Cy.
But what makes her sing so ever
lastin loud?''
Cant hear herself if she don't. l |
could stand her deefness, because |
that's an affection, and we NAV all
come to it, but
The housekeeper, still singing. en- /
tered the room and planted herself in
a chair.
Good evenin', Mr. Tidditt,'' she said,
smiling genially. Mice weather we've
been hayin'''
Asaph nodded.
"Sociable critter, amt she!' observed
the captain. Always willin' to help
entertain. Comes and sets up with me
till bedtime. Tells about her family
troubles. breaches about her niece
out west and how set the niece and
the rest of the western relations are
to have her make EN- a visit. | told
her she better go-I thought 'twouid
do her good. l know 'twould help me
considerable to see her start.
She's got so now she finds fault
with my neckties," he added. "Says 1
must be careful and not get my feet
wet. Picks out what ought to wear
SOS won't get cold. She'll adopt me
pretty soon. Oh, it's all right. She
can't hear what you say. Are your
dishes doney' he shrieked, turning to
the old lady.