Norwich bulletin., 1913-10-07

There were few harder headed men In Ingham County than Darius Par ker, farmer: He was reserved clese- listed and without a particle of re- nance CT sentiment in his cempesi- tieH. The neteS of the meadow lark were the sano aS the grunts of his hogs to him, and when he locked out eveF the magnificent sweep of the meadow he simply figured on how many toms of hay to the acre it would cut. Persons Whe had knewn him for 20 years had never known him to betray a soft spot, and even when his wife died. after weary years of cut- ting carpet lags and making soft soap, no one looked for any emotion on the deaeoD's part. He buried her the same as he went about blowing corn, and instead of taking a house. keeper he decided to cook his own meals.
 No one looked for any change in I)ea. on Par 1er, but one came within six months. The first sign of it was when he had his hair colored black and shaved of the whiskers that had hidden most O. his face since he was a young man. When that n1ne-day wonder had passed he had another surprise ready He bought a new suit of clothes, including a long tailed coat, and began to wear paper collars on week days as well as Sundays. He was heard to speak of sunrises and sunset and otter sentimental things, and the hired man on the next farm overheard him one day humming a love song.
 Inside of 60 days the Deacon had half the county guessing what would happen next.
 Aunt Sally Merriman was responsi- ble for all the changes. The Deacon went over to her house one day to borrow a farm implement, and hap pened to mention that he was lonely. Aunt Sally had been waiting for such an opening for several weeks past
 Now, Deacon" she began, "sit down on the doorstep and let's have talk. Betsy was good wife to you Her soft soap had no equal in the county, anG we all had to go to her to find out how to make slap jacks. She vas always sewing and darning and ccloring, and she never sassed back hen you ordered her around. You didn't cry at her fu neral but l kl4ow you appreciated her just the same"
 Yes, Betsy was a good wife to me" sighed the Deacon.
 But she was took away
 "Yes, she wa. cut down."
 And you are living all stark alone"
 Yes"
 'Deacon,' continued Aunt Sally, after bit. "wLat would you do if you
 
 'I-d-Fd have to try to cure 1t, wouldn't I?"
 You would; but you might die twice over and none of us would know anything about it. Then there is the earache, the toothache dizziness of the head. 20 ] feet and a dozen other things. I fairly shiver when I think of what may happen to you any night
 But how can I help it. Aunt Sally ?'
 That's what I'm coming to. You orter get married again.
 Good lanGs!' exclaimed the Dea- con, as he flushed up.
 Yes, sir, you orter, and I'm not the only one tC say so. You are only a middle-ased man, and the idea of your sloshina around alone all the rest of your life Is preposterous. I am know that yoL had someone to care for you. How you manage to sleep I dunno, for no man on earth can make a bed fit to sleep in. Yes. Darius. you must harry agin."
 But who'll I marry"
 I've got tl.at all fixed. have a sister in Indiana who is widder woman. SnAs coming out here to visit us purty soon. Sarah is a work CT, just like Petsy used 10 be- and just as economical. I've known her to make one pound of brown sugar last for two weckS Her disposition is cheerful; she hasn't got a mite of get along like two doves"
 Wouldn't folks talk?' cautiously queried the Deacon.
 What could they talk about? Hain't you got a right to get married again 2"
 "Of course, but, you see, I hain't got headstone for Betsy's grave yet,