The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1913-06-19
WINNING OF SARAH
Jonas Swift, the Hired Man,
Finally Won the Farmers
Pretty Daughter.
BY JUNE GAHAN.

minutes, said farmer Jackson to hia
hired man one fall day as they dug
potatoes in the field.
Jonas Swift, the hired man, had
been working for farmer Jackson for
four years and more, and this was the
first time he had ever heard his boss
stood leaning on his hoe and his
mouth open, when the farmer con-
tinued:
Il have got that little bill made
out"
Bill? Bill~
Yes Sit down. think you Will
find it all right. l don't spose you
can pay 1t all today, but I'm willin' to
give you time. You can pay it on the
things in the city"
But I don't owe you anything"
said Jones as he sat down.
"Oh, yes, you. do, as l shall soon
show you. You came here to work
about four years ago, didn't you?"
About that"
And three years ago you took .
shine to my gal Sarah Jane?"
Yves, l fell in love with her"
But you haven't married her yet. ="
"Noap! When my grandmother dies
I'm to have $500. and that's what I'm
waitin' for"
But I've nothin' to do with that
Folks that are not ready tc marry
shouldn't go and fall in love-"
But Sarah Jane is so darned nice, =
pleaded Jonas.
And that makes your debt all the
bigger. Jonas, up to and includin' last
night, you have set up and spanked
Sarah 984 nights. Is there any dis
put about that"
II guess not"
81 think it is worth So per night to
spark a good-looking girl, don't your"
Yes"
well, I have figured it that way;
9S4 night at SO per night is $685."
"And I'm to pay it," almost shout
ed Jonas.
That's only the first item. Courtin'
comes high, Jonas. You have had
fire, light. cider, doughnuts and mince
pie. l shall put the value Of these
things at $500"
Lord save me-"
Before you began sparkin' you al
ways woke yourself up at o'clock in
the morning. Not once did I have to
call you. After you got to sparkin' l
had to turn out Of bed to call you, and
most every morning I had to threaten
RI RI OF ont hU &
I figure you have lost a thousand
hours and I've put 1T down at $780,"
why, you never said anything be-
fore" walled Jonas.
ooh, was just waitin'. For the 9S4
times have got out of bed to call you
shall charge you 500, and that's dog
cheap"
Another hundred!"
But for you Sarah would have been
married two years ago. The callers
would have come around fast enough
If you had been out of the way. We
must value on what she's lost-about
$4,000"
MY soul, but l can't pay you in
thousand years." exclaimed the hired
man as his teeth began to chatter
1T will take quite that-quite that.
How much can you pay week."
"a dollar, mebbe."
We'll, I'll take that and 1 won't ask
you to pay anything after you have
reached the age of ninety. No one
shall ever have cause to say that
don't use my hired men right"
But about men Sarah getting mar
ried?" asked Jonas.
why. how in thunder can you get
married with a debt of several thou
sand dollars hanging over you!"
That's so-that's so. Can I go to
the house and tell Saah?"
why, yes, and you need not come
back. You can turn in and cut wood
till supper time"
Jonas went to the house and called
Sarah out to the woodpile and told
her what her father said.
why, he's meaner than pizen!" ex-
claimed the girl.
But we can't do nothin'."
Yes, we can. We can elope!s
Gosh, but he'd foller u.s."
"Then we can walk over to 'Squar'
JOhnsons this evening"
But what we goin' to do about that
awful debit"
at hain't no debt. Father couldn't
collect a cent If he sued you hun
dred times over"
He's hard man, Sarah. You orter
seen him sot his jaw when we was
talkin'"
But can't you sot yours? Jonas
Swift, you don't seem to have no
more grit than grasshopper. I
guess l don't want to marry any such
man."
With that Sarah Jane turned and
1ounced into the house to be asked by
her mother:
What you and Jonas all excited
over?"
''Nothin'"
Don't answer me that way! Some
thin has happened. What is it,"
Fathers fool" snapped the girl.
what"
"And Jonas's fool"
What! What"
"And I'm IA"
"And you'll call me a fool next