Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1915-01-07


one might be spared. I'd be willing to
pay good wages"
do you mean elderly women or
young ones?"
IL was referring 10 families where
there was Il mother and several daugh-
tiers. 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 man. People would talk"
II suppose they would Reckon there's
no way for me except to get married.
and don't know any girl who would
have me-"
Shall | pour you another cup of cof
fee. Mr. Hatfeld?"
Half cupful. please. One lump.
That's right. Thank you"
Mother always said" he continued.
after pause. that If she died be-
fore me Id have to get q wife to
come in and do the cooking and house
work. And so 1 would If knew any
girl who would fil the bill Of wife and
housekeeper. But I don't. Besides.
the girls are all going to college now
adays. and when they come back they
don't aspire TO the kitchen. They'd
rather address a meeting or some
thing like that. l don't blame 'em.
Farm works pretty hard.
Most work is hard. l 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 life and
they're all having a 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 coun-
try and are not tied up to offices and
stores and factories, with a master
over us, like children in school. We
work longer hours in some cases. but
we're not cogwheels in n 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. 'T'll remove the break
fast Dishes"
"You needn't do that. But you're
right about my getting of. 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
light heart. But | 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 II 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 store. an Of
fee or schoolroom. but was content
with the duties of country girl. Why
did the coffee he poured himself taste
so inferior TO that poured by Amelia
Clark? What was the difference I'm
the room at dinner from that of break
fast time? Josh knew very well what
~ xuoc-fhn ohoannA % fhof xxvh;ot, had
filled the natural desire OF the heart.
companionship.
That night Josh sat down to q cold
supper and made resolution that II
should be the last meal he would take
alone. After supper-it occupied seven
minutes by the clock-he threw the
dishes. unwashed. into the pantry and
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
tnlng 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 of
that sentiment which is expected i'm
all engagements.
Amelia" he said. II came here to
say that since you got that breakfast
for me this morning no meal that you
don't cook will ever taste good to me
again."
why. MFR Hatfield. how fatter-
ing|
"And I've resolved that I'll eat no
more meals at home unless you cook
'em."
Are you going TO starveT
mo; I'm going to eat somewhere else
till l can get you to do my homework
for me-
II couldn't do that 1t wouldn't be
proper"
Not If we were married?"
Ac In, h.