The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1914-12-04

"l'Ve sometimes thought that IN B
family where there are several OF 'em
one might be spared. I'd be willing to
pay good wages"
do you mean elderly women or
young Ones?"
II was referring to families where
there was a mother and several daugh-
ters. They wouldn't need all the girls"
1T wouldn't be right for a girl to
come In and do the housework for a
young Ia People would talk"
Il suppose they would. Reckon there's
no way for me except to get married,
and l don't know any girl who would
have me-"
Shall I pour you another cup Of cof-
fee. Mr.. Hatield?"
Half a cupful. please. One lump.
That's right. Thank you"
Mother always said" he continued.
after a pause. that If she died be-
fore me I'd have to get a wife to
come in and do the cooking and house.
work. And SO | would If I knew any
Girl who would fill the bill Of wife and
,,~"lSrkcrper. But | don't. Besides,
the girls are all going to college now
NdlyS. and when they come back they
don't aspire to the Kitchen. They'd
rather address a meeting or some
thing like that. | don't blame 'em.
Farm works pretty hard.
Most work is hard. | reckon. / no.
tice country people are crazy to get
to the cities. but maybe city life is
pretty hard too. | know several girls
who have left home for city Iif" and
they're all having Il mighty hard time
of it. Seems to me that though we
country people have to get up early
mornings we have lots of advantages.
We breathe the fresh air Of the 'uull-
try and are not tied up to u!iires and
stores and factories. with Il master
Over us. like children in school. We
work longer hours in some cases. out
we're not cog,vheeIs in Il machine.
AS for me. give me the free life Of the
country"
When Josh finished his breakfast he
thanked Amelia for what she had done
for him.
IF you're going to take the milk
this morning you'd better go right
Off" she said. "I'll remove the break
fast Dishes"
"You needn't do that. But you're
right about my getting off. Much
obliged. So long"
When Josh returned from his morn
ing work at noon he was astOnished
to see everything spick and span.
The breakfast dishes were washed.
kitchen utensils had been polished and
the house had been swept. Josh set
about getting his dinner.
with all this done for me-" he said
to himself. II should feel inspired to
go at this job Of getting dinner with
a light heart. But l don't. l don't
feel any more competent to get my
dinner than l did to get my breakfast"
He stumbled about the kitchen as
usual, at last putting on the table some
| poorly cooked meat and vegetables. the
only successful dish in the lot being
boiled potatoes. But it was not only
the meal that troubled him: he missed
the CHEEKY girl who had sat opposite
him at breakfast, she who had no
aspirations to work in a store, an Of
fee or a schoolroom. but was content
with the duties Of a country girl. Why
did the coffee he poured himself taste
so inferior to that poured by Amelia
Clark? What was the difference in
| the room at dinner from that Of break.
fast time? Josh knew very we'll what
it was-the absence of that which had
| filed the natural desire Of the heart
companionship.
That night Josh sat down to a cold
supper and made q resolution that II
should be the last meal he would take
alone. After supper-it occupied sever
minutes by the clock-he threw the
dishes. unwashed. into the pantry anC
soon after set out for Farmer Clark's
He found Clark in the barn and asked
him how his horses were getting on
mentioning that he would carry the
milk till they got WELL, Then he asked
if he would find the family at the house
and. being assured that he would. re
paired thither.
Whether Mrs. Clark suspected some
thing or not she soon withdrew. tax
ing with her the children. Then Josh
without any beating about the bush
began a proposal to Amelia. 1t was
very practical. being entirely devoid u
thai sentiment which is expected ir
all engagements.
Amelia" he said, u came here tt
say that siGce you got that breakfas'
for me this morning no meal that YOU
don't cook will ever taste good to mt
again."
why. Mr.. Hatfield. how fatter
ing
And I've resolved that I'll eat NJ
more meals It home unless you cool
'em."
Are you going to ~starve!"
mo: I'm going to eat somewhere elst
till / can got You TO do my housewOrt
for me-"
~ couldn't do that; it wouldn't bt
prOppr."