The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-03-24
The Eue.,i,,g Story
Her LAttle Plot.
INV Donald Alien.

II it was the end of all things with
him. There were those who criticised
him. but 1t was old Mrs. Goodhue who
abashed them by saying:
Il dunno about that. A sAsDer OF
tea win slop over a heap quicker'n
] a washtub full of water"
The deacon's daughter and her nus
| band had come on to the funeral
Between their getting home from the
services and the evening meal very
little was said, but at the table the
daughter observed:
We'll, pa, you are going to feel aw-
full lonesome"
II shall, Hammer"
Been married q long time"
lover thirty years."
And she was a good WIFE,.
The best in. the world"
But you'll have to marry again"
put in the son-in-law.
mo, Sir-neverl"
But you'll want a home.''
Yes. and TIL hire q housekeeper.
Cephas. you and Hammer just listen
while I say that I hope I may never
60 to heaven II take another wife,"
The deacon meant that from the
bottom Of his soul. His voice broke,
his eyes filled and ne used corner
of the tablecloth to wipe away his
tears.
It was mean of Cephas to wink at
his wife, but all sons-in-law are off
the same piece Of goods.
In that same village of Dawson
dwelt the Widow Hastings. She was
past forty, we'll thought Of and the
would marry again II she got the
| chance. She had known the deacon
| and his wife for many years. She
was sorry for his loss.
Mrs. Hastings had lost good hus-
band. as husbands go. but after his
n Ukn IsoA vast AHnk
took another she hoped never to go
| to heaven. A wise woman does not
tie herself up in that uncalled-for
manner. The most she will say il that
it is sad loss to her.
The deacon decided not to board.
He engaged an old woman as house
keeper, and though her cooking was
bad. he had to put up with it. The
old woman was hanging to her Job
with her toenails, as 1t were, for she
knew that she was no cook, when
she made solemn promise one day
to have some light biscuit for sup
per. On that day the Widow Has
tings dropped in and was told of the
promise. The biscuit turned out to
be as heavy as lead. and when the
deacon sat down to the table he
picked up one and shouted:
by the great horn spoon. but If
one OF these hit dog it would kill
him dead!'
Just then. as If she had timed her
self by stop-watch, in tripped the
widow with six hot biscuits on a
plate and covered with a snowy nap
kin, and to the deacon's look of in
|terrogation she said:
=! was afraid grandma's biscuits
might not be light, and so I brought
over some of my own
When she had been thanked by the
grateful man and had departed. he
h}Vrna0yf
If ANYTHING could reconcile me to
q second marriage it would be hot
biscuit like these"
And then he took the last of the
six and sighed and added:
But I said 1 hoped I'd never 20
to heaven!"
The old woman had to go and an
other came. One day when the widow
ran over she was told that the dea.
con drank a whole quart OF milk
every night with his supper. That
evening, when the good eman poured
out his milk and took a swig Of #. he
shouted at the cook:
SON met
What's the natter"
This milk has been soured With
alumni
And in tripped the Widow HASTINGS
with pitcher In her hand to say:
I think heard thunder this after
noon and maybe it soured the milk |
Here is some fresh from the cow"
She didn't wait for thanks. and the
deacon gulped down q glass OF the rich
fluid and growled:
Dog my cats, why did say that to |
Cephas and HAnner!"
That hOusekeeper had to 70 and nm
other ono came. For a time the deac-
on thought he had q prize, and then
there came q fau-down. The woman /
was boiling potAtoes for supper when |
the CHEEKY little widow came In to
bring her paper pattern. There came |
an opportunity to pour most OF the /
water out OF the kettle and bring /
about an odor Of burning potatoes. Did |
the widow grasp it?
There wasn't time to cook q fresh i
supply, and the deacon wae sniffine |
and jawing when the widow came in
to say:
It thought Mrs. Brice might forget
her potatoes in her interest in the pat
French-fried ones
Never in his life had the deacon met |
up with French-fried potatoes, and
never had he thought the tubers could |
by gosh what cook! wonder e |
Cephas and Hammer have remelnberedi
what said?s
BY the time the customary year Of |
eight ho1sskeepers and wss d o1n his his
own cooking. He also had Indigestion. |
Also he had backache from = lumpy
feather bed
He also was learning to swear. and
some of his fellow church members |
were taking notice Of Il.
He had something ON his mind. the /
deacon had. and every time the Widow l
Haattngs brought him over . pie, Z /
fresh lot OF douGhnuts or Z custsrd he /
thought an the harder and shook HI /
head and unused:
Hammer may have forsotten II, but