The Palatka news and advertiser., 1916-12-29
The Old
Speckled Hen
By M. QUAD
Copyright, 1876 by the Mcclure
Newspaper Syndicate.

farmers, had been neighbors for ten
years, when in the same year Abel
Thompson was left a widOwer and
of people said it would be only natural
for the two to marry after a year or
so but what the principals in the case
thought of it 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 a hired man, but he was
more or less interested. They sat to-
gether of evenings and talked of every
thing but what other people We're talk
ing about.
1t 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:
"Widdcr, there was windmill man
along today, He wants to put up
mill for me in the spring"
"Yes, 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"
"YPs?"
1--WE wasn't talkin' about windmhs
all the time continued Abel, as he
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
wondcrin' why I didn't git married
ag'in'
well, why don't you go and git mar
ried them
Gosh hang it, | will That's what |
come over here this evenin' for. Aunt
We have known each other a
ong time. | know you are a mighty
good woman. and you know I'm
purity good man. Our farms jine, and
can run two farms as well as one
You must be lonesome too. If We jine
forces then neither Of us need have
my more loneSomeneSS."
abel, stop right there" said the
widow kindly but emphatically. 81
Know you to be a good man. but l
lain't in love with you. You haven't
eched my heart yet. Until you do |
lon't want to talk about marriage"
o go. 81 hain't one to drive a woman
nto marriage as one drives hogs. I'll
Keep right on and take your word for
t, and if you find you can't love me
II stay single all the rest of my days.
IN kinder sot on you, you see and !
lon't want anybody else"
During the next month things went
long as usual and there was no fur.
her reference to matrimony. Then
Abel was sent for, and as he reached |
he widows house she said
abel, my sister over at Tompkins-
file is sick and has sent for me. I'm |
DIN over and may be gone three or
our days"
We'll, I'll run things the best l can
Thile you're gone" he replied
What | want you to look out for in
is that old speckled hen.
'Ou know I've had her for the last ten
ears, and I've learned to think a good
cal Of her. She hain't well tall jest
ow, and ! hate to 90 away and leave
er. She's got signs Of the pip, and if
should come back and find her dead
would almost break my heart. Abel,
want you to be kind to her. ! want
on to sympathize with her. l want
on to doctor and nurse her"
"l'll do it, Aunt Martha III jest put
l all my time nursin' her up. I'll be
est as kind to her as l would be to a
ably"
That's good Of you. She's only
ritter, but when one gifts use to crit
ar he can even love an old speckled
en-. She amt laid an egg for these
We years past. but she's got a hold on
~ affections for the eggs she used to
~. Why. she's laid over a hundred
18th double yolks, and one time she
t and licked a chicken hawk"
You go right on, widder, and leave
all TO me-" said the farmer. "I'll do