New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1917-05-23
a Balky over
By ELlNoR MARSH

Mr.. and Mrs. Harkaway's daughter,
Maria, was the one being on earth who
absorbed their interest. All went well
till Maria's affections became conferred
on young man, and the young man
was so slow in proposing that Mrs
Harkaway feared some other girl
would steal him away from her daugh-
ter. The mother kept her fears to
herself as long as possible, then reveal
ed them to her husband
81 do Think said Mrs. Harkaway,
"that young fellow who is coming to
see Maria should either propose to her
or be told not to come to see her any
more" IL
/ 'HoW do you know that he hasn't
proposed to her?' asked her husband.
Because when I went into the
parlor last evening after he had gone
| asked her, and she said he hadn't
'Does she want him to propose?''
''Of course she Goes. Do you sup
pose she would let him come and sit
with her twice a Week-sometimes
three times-unless she expected that
be would ask her to marry him?''
:Elaria is good girl. Do you know
whether he is a good MANI"
Maria says he is as steady as a
clock and has money laid up IN Z
Z what do you suppose he's waiting
for?'' --. 49,. - 49,
maria says he's a natural putter off
of things" @-. '.- ~
b well, I reckon We'll have to find
some way to help her OUT
what do you mean?" ~.
"Why, don't you remember when we
were engaged how I was waiting to-
get certain sum laid up to be mar
ried on, and your little brother one
day fatty asked me why didn't mar
ry you Or take myself off? l know
very well that he had taken the words
from your, fathers mouth, and it
brought me to the cratch. We must
lay. some such plan for this young
lover ........
'That's easier said than DONE"
One evening when the usual spark
ing was going on in the parlor there
was a ring at the front door bell
Maria went to the door and reported
that an Italian was there with a par
rot lie said the gentleman had asked
him to bring to him. The man was
admitted to the living room, and Mr..
Harkaway said to him: ... ->~
''You think you have found a bird
that will talk eh?' r,.,.
''You BETA have" "
"What is he worth?" - Il
Fifty dolla'." RI. I-'--.
II swell, let's hear what he can4do..',. 4
! The Italian took the parrot from his
cage and by talking to him elected
many wonderful sayings. When he had
done so Mrs Harkaway said to him:
II wish you would let my daughter
hear him talk. Come this way
She led him out into the parlor,
beside her. =j 3d..
Maria" said the lady, II wish you
to hear this wonderful parrot. He
says such queer things" .
''Yes'm," said Maria, and her young
man rose and stood in presence of
the mother. The italian held the
parrot on his forefnger and said
number of things to him. which the
bird doubtless understood, for he be-
gan to chatter. Then, suddenly fixing
his attention on the lovers, he said:
maria, give me kiss Ee
Maria oO1oro1 or1 hor ro,,pr v,oor,
started.
Then followed some rambling talk,
during which the parrot seemed to
have forgotten the lovers. They were
recovering from his pertinent remark
when he broke forth anew:
maria, will you marry me?"
By this time Mr.. Harkaway had
come through the hall and stood in
the parlor door, evidently DESTROYS OF
satisfying himself that the parrot was
worth the price asked for him. He
was in time to hear the last words.
"Of course I'll marry you," We're the
parrots last words.
Harkaway, pretending that he sup
posed the proposition and acceptance
TO come from the lovers, marched up
to Maria and congratulated her. Then.
turning to her young man, he said:
''You've got mighty good girl, and
she'll make you mighty good wife,
The young man, instead of looking
disgruntled, seemed pleased. He was
not much of a talker, and smile was
his only response to the congratula-
tons. 1t is quite likely he felt CRATE
full to the bird for relieving him of
making a proposal. -
Mrs. Harkaway hung back for a
time, not pretending that she had mis-
taken the parrots voice for that of the
lovers; but, seeing that the young man
was disposed to avail himself of the
birds proposal, she went to Maria and
| offered her ccngratula tons.
| The Italian was sent away with his
| parrot and five dollar bill to pay for
his exhibition Of yentriloquism, for he
| had been hired and coached by Hank
away to bring about what had oc-
| o,,rro1