The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1916-09-20
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Speckled Hen
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'' By NJ. QUAD -
Copyright. 1916. by the Mcclure
Newspaper Syndicate.S IEa'}

The Thompsons and the Browns,
farmers, had been neighbors for ten
years, when in the same year Abel
Thompson was left widower and
Aunt Martha Brown a widow. Plenty
of people said It would be only natural
for the two to marry after year Or
SO, but what the principals In the case
Thought Of 1t did not come out for over
two years. The farmer and the widow
saw each other every day during this
time. She continued to run her farm
BY the help Of . hired man. but he was
more or less Interested. They sat to-
gether Of evenings and talked of every
thing but what other people were talk
ing about.
It was one evening in winter after
the farmer had imbibed a quart of
cider and eaten three or four apples
and realized the loneliness Of his own
home that he hitched around on his
chair for. awhile and then said:
Wilder. there was windmill man
along today. He wants to put up a
mill for me in thespring."
Eyes, windmill men come along about
once in so often" she replied.
He pears to have a purity good
mill"
"Yes?"
And the price is purity reasonable"
"Yes?"
I'VE wasn't talkin' about windmills
all the time," continued Abel, as he
motioned for another glass Of cider.
I'VE was talkin' about other things"
'They are great folks to CAB. I've
known 'em to hang around all day and
do nothin' but talk"
THAT windmill man said folks was
wonderin' why didn't sit married
ag'in." u 80
"Well, why don't you go and sit mar
ried them" w.. wy @@
Gosh hang it, l will. That's what
come over here this evenin' for. Aunt
Martha, We have known each other
long time. l know you are a mighty
good woman, and you know I'm a
purity good man. Our farms jine, and
can run two farms as well as one.
You must be lonesome too. II We jine
forces then neither Of US need have
any more lonesomeness.' y
label, stop right there" said the
widow kindly but emphatically.' II
know you to be good man, but
hain't in love with you. You haven't
teched my heart yet. Until you do
don't want to talk about marriage"
WELL" said the sutton as he rose up
to co. II hain't one to drive woman
into marriage as one drives hogs. I'll
keep right on and take your word for
1t, and II you find you can't love me
I'll stay single all the rest Of my days.
I'm kinder sot on you. you see. and I
don't want anybody else"
During the next month things went
along as usual and there was no fur
Their reference to matrimony. Then
Abel was sent for. and as he reached
the widows house she said:
label. my sister over at Tompkins-
willie is sick and has sent for me. I'm
goin' over and may be gone three or
four days" M 90. 5s III
"Well, Ill run things the best I can
while you're gone" he replied.
What I want you to look out for in
particular is that old speckled hen.
You know I've had her for the last ten
years, and I've learned to think q good
deal Of her. She hain't well tail jest
now, and hate to 60 away and leave
her. She's got signs Of the pip, and II
I should come back and find her dead
it would almost break my heart. Abel,
1 want you to be kind to her. want
you to sympathize with her. want
you to doctor and nurse herr
I'm do 1t. Aunt Martha. I'll jest put
in all my time nursin' her up. Ill be
jest as kind to her as would be to
baby"
"That's good Of you. She's only
critter, but when one gifts use to a crit
ter he can even love an old speckled
hen. She amt laid an egg for these
five years past. but she's got hold on
my affections for the eggs she used to,
lay. Why, she's laid over a hundred
with double yolks, and one time she
TT and licked a chicken hawk"