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About Valentine Democrat. (Valentine, Neb.) 1900-1930 | View Entire Issue (March 13, 1902)
ft iS & < > dTJ t UNT IIULDA sat under the siiade of the apple tree paring the 'fruit that had fallen from the imaried. overladen branches. She was dressed in n fa od bine calico gown nd a checked apron , and wore a home- xnade sunbonuet upon her gray head. At her right was the roadway leading from the barn to the turnpike in fron of the house. A few feet tb the lef jras her back doorstep. It was a warm afternoon , and the shade of the tre fead tempted her from the hot kitchen as it often did. Aunt Hulda's meditations were no .worthy of record. She was a simple Id body , living a simple , circumscribed life and thinking simple , uuimportan things. For instance , she was about to ake applesauce , and she knew hei aaoce was highly praised by the farm raf wives who now and then dropped to for a visit and some tea. These were memorable occasions with her the reflected upon the evident enjoy ment Mrs. Worrell had displayed only last week , when she ate two full sau era of Aunt Hulua's applesauce. From ihe same tree , too. It was a gooc tree ; she had used its fruit In sauce for many years ; thirty maybe forty It was hard to remember the exact time. Probably It would keep on bear- fag these rosy-cheeked apples as long as her days lasted , and then Then she looked up and saw the thor. He had Just ridden up the turn pike on his bicycle , and glancing over jibe fence perceived Aunt Hulda seat- ad under her tree. 1 He could not have said what made him pause , dismount and regard the Iwmely picture thoughtfully as he lean ed upon his wheel. When he saw that ihe observed him he took off his cap and bowed to her , and she returned abe salutation composedly. Then , af- ier a hesitating glance up the road , he trundled his wheel through the open fates and came to where the woman Aras sitting. "Good afternoon , " he said , pleasant ly. 'Will you let me lie here and rest a bit ? " She nodded. She liked boys ; and this me was fresh and manly and good to look upon. He wore a modest gray suit nd cap. and stockings of brown worst ed. There was nothing "flashy" in his appearance , which could not be truth fully said of all the bicyclers Aunt Hulda had seen spinning along the mootb turnpike. , The boy leaned his wheel against the tree , reclined gracefully upon the grass , and resting his head upon his albow , watched the deft fingers that Iraslly continued to pare and quarter abe apples. "Tired ? " she asked , in a motherly lone. She had never been blessed with children , but had all a mother's tender- Bess for youth still fresh in her old heart "Not very , " he answered ; "but it looked cool and pleasant here , and and I thought I'd like to talk with jron. " She nodded again. "You see , I am not limited as to time , " he continued , lazily stroking the kitten that had crept to his side , "for 3 am taking a cross-country trip on my , wheel as part of my vacation. I never know where I shall stop'at night ; that it one of the delights of the trip. When dark overtakes me , or I grow tireJ , I atop at the nearest village. " "The Highest place to here Is Mill- Wnk , " remarked Aunt Hulda. "There's a circus there to-day. " "A circus ? Why , that's jolly ! There's Nothing I love better than to attend a 'country circus. Not for the sake of the bareback riders 'and clowns , you un- ierstand ; but to watch the people and enjoy their enjoyment" "Martin Is there now , " she said. "Martin ? " "My man. It's his year. We take ilnrns. you know ; he goes one year , and 2 go the next Martin went early this afternoon , so as to see the animals fed ; but he won't see the show till the even ing performance. It's always better a * venlngs. He took his supper In his a Docket" li "But why don't you go together ? " lit ( asked the boy , sitting up. A "It costs too much , " she replied At frankly. "We really can't afford It at 6 ! all , now times are so bard ; but we're jtwo old folks , living all by ourselves , and we thought as we'd divide up , and al Jake in the circus every year. When ale < I go , I tell Martin all about it ; and tl /when / he goes he tells me. It gives us tl something to talk about when we're tlai alone in the evenings , and it's almost 01 as goo3 as going yourself to hear Mar- 01ft iin describe It" ftst The boy lay back and looked at her curiously. He did not laugh. It seem in ed to him he was nearer tears than laughter , although he could see well ai anougb the comedy of it "How far is the tovrn ? " he asked. P < "Two miles. " se "Have you a horse ? " in "Yes , indeed. Old Piebald Is In the inai aarn now. Martin nerer take * him ai io the circus ; no more do L We walk. aih Piebald gets scart at the steam piano , b < bo tnd it costs a quarter to put him rap o\ In the hotel barn. " oth "Let's go , " said the boy , suddenly. fr "Where ? " demanded Annt Hulda , "t dropping her knife in amazement "tffi "To the circus. Be my guest Tre Pi Plenty of money more than I shall fa know bow to § pend on my trip , and ei like U take 700 to the circa * . Well cl see it all sideshows and eveything : and we'll have a real jolly time ! " ] She stared at him stupidly a while. The audacity of the proposition almost took her breath away. She saw hevaa j in earnest , however , and she glance I from her coarse blue gown to his neat gray suit with a puzzled air. Strangers had been polite to her before , but none had ever offered to take her to a circus ; nor , indeed , anywhere else. But this was a boj' ; a nice boy , too. He had risen to his feet and was standing be fore her , cap in baud. "Do let's go ! " he pleaded. "I I can't , " she answered ; "I've got to make the applesauce. " "Let it wait , " he said , with a wave of the hand ; "the circus only comes once a year. " "There's the supper. " "I'll help you get It and eat it , also. Antl I'll help do the dishes. " "There's the stock to be fed , " she continued. Her tone was growing more irresolute , and he noted it "Two of us can feed the stock in no time , ! ' he declared ; "so come , please ; let's get to work at once. " "I I don't know what Martln'll think , " she protested , as a last resort But she rose from her chair , neverthe less , and stood with the pan of apples under her arm , a look of pleased anti cipation spreading over her wrinkled face. He took the pan from her and carried It Into the kitchen. "We'll surprise Martin , " he said , eas ily ; "but It will be easy to explain the matter. I'm sure he won't object to your having a good time. " "Oh , no ! Martin's real good to me , " she answered. The next hour was a bright and hap py one to them both. Aunt Hulda's heart was not nearly so withered as her face , and there was a charm about this youngster , who had taken direction of her affairs in such a masterful way , that delighted her beyond measure. She was almost like a girl. Her laugh came freely and as sweetly as if she had been eighteen instead of fifty , and she answered his jokes with full appre ciation of their fun. The boy was enjoying himself , also. He filled the kettle , helped set the ta ble , cut the bread and talked contin ually. Then when the simple meal was ready , and the apples were simmering on the stove , they sat down opposite one another at the rude table and feasted merrily. He afterward tied a checkered apron around his waist and wiped the dishes while Aunt Hulda washed them. "We must hurry , " he said , "for I don't want to miss a bit of the fun. Now for the stock ? " He carried water , climbed the loft to throw the hay , fed the pigs and the chickens , and did It all so handily and quickly that Aunt Hulda was amazed. Next he led out old Piebald , harnessed him to the wagon , and had the equip- age waiting beside the apple tree bei fore the woman had finished putting on her "best dress" and smoothing her hair. "I guess everything's 'tended to , " she said , as she climbed to a seat be side him. "I put your wheel in the kitchen , and left the apples to slow- bile , and put the lamp handy for use when we come back , and fed the kiti tens. " "So there's nothing on your mind to keep you from having a good time. " he commented. They drove through the dusk to the village , where the boy promptly put up old Piebald at the hotel stable. Fhen he walked with Aunt Hulda lown to the tents , where they first vis- ted the sideshows and saw the fat ady and the snake charmer and the iving skeleton and all the other won- lers. There was a tremendous crowd. Ev- ry farmer and farmer's wife for miles irouud seemed to be there ; and now ind then Aunt Hulda would nod proud- y and happily to an acquaintance , and lelight in the curious looks that were lirected upon her escort They were ill country people all but the boy. His ippearance rendered him wholly un- Ike the others ; but he did not seem a o know it He chatted gayly with Lunt Hulda , and called her attention o everything he thought would Inter- ist her. Then they visited the animals , and ic told her many wonderful things bout them that were both strange and difying to the simple old woman. But he band was now playing fiercely In he big tent where the circus perrorm- nce was held. Indeed , nearly every ne had already entered , and they tl : tla onnd themselves alone with a few a tragglers. "I believe the grand procession's go- ag to start" she whispered , nervously. "All right ; let's go in. " he replied , nd led her to the entrance. The big tent was literally lined with eople , from the canvas roof to the : eats at the very ringside. It seemed 11 nposslble that it conld hold another ic erson. The boy looked anxiously icC round. On each side of the band stand it discovered that a * small box had een built with a flowing red canopy ver It and cushioned seats. One of if hese boxes had been taken by a party rom Squire Meldrum's house the big man" of the village and a merry roup of young and old people occn- ied it But the other box was vacant ; n' ' ar who beside the squire had money Dough to fay a dollar a Mai at the Ircua ? tl The boy stopped an usher , and ai'tei a whispcreJ conversation was escorted with Aunt Hulda , behind the tiers of seats and through a narrow passage into the box. Their appearance caus ed a murmur of surprise from the sur rounding benches. Many knew the old lady's pleasant hopiely face , and mar veled at seeing her thus occupying the position of honor opposite Squire Mel- drum himself. Martin was seated "away down near the ringside , but he looked up with the others , and his astonishment was intense when he saw Aunt Hulda fram ed by the crimson curtains anJ can opy , and a strange youth beside her who was pa3ring her devoted attention. All during the circus the poor man di vided his gaze between this remark able vision of his wife and the antics of the clowns and jugglers. He saw her drinking red lemonade with her companion , and that her lap was load ed down with peanuts and candy and popcorn ; for the boy would do nothing by halves , and bought everything that was offered for sale. Martin shook his head , and sighed , and looked again. It was certainly Aunt Hulda , but how she came there was a mystery he could not fathom. He waited outside the tent while they heard the concert , after the circus itself was over. Martin was not given to solving problems ; time would ex plain everything , he thought He knew when they were coming by her laugh , and such a laugh he could not remem ber hearing from Aunt Hulda since the happy days when they were first wed. He put out his hand and touched her , almost diffidently , as they followed the crowd from the entrance "Huldy ! " he said. "Good gracious ! " she cried ; "If it Isn't Martin ! We've been looking for you everywhere , for the boy wanted you to stay with us to the concert It's his fault , Martin , " she ad Jed , more soberly. "He would have me corne as his company , you know and I couldn't well say no. " "I'm glad you had the chance , " said Martin , simply. Then he plucked her sleeve. "Who Is he ? " he whispered. "I don't know , " she answered , be hind her hand ; "but , O "Martin , he's been so good to me ! " "Well , are we ready for home ? " broke In the boy. "I expect old Piebald is anxious to get back and munch bis hay. Shall we go ? " They drove home almost In silence , with Martin sitting in the back of the wagon box and the boy driving. Only once did Aunt Huida speak , and that was to say , with a contented sigh , "I dont' think we missed a single thing ! " While Martin put up the horse the boy got his wheel from the kitchen. "I shall sleep at Mlllbank to-night , " he said , brightly ; "for the hotel there seems like a comfortable place ; but be- ore I go I want to thank you for a very happy evening. " Aunt Hulda leaned down , and taking his round face between her hands , kiss ed him tenderly. "What made you do it ? " she whisper ed. "Why were you so good to an old woman like me ? " The boy stood looking into the night for a moment before he answered. "Mother and I , " he said at last , softly , "were always good comrades , and had many : jolly times together ; and when I saw i you sitting under the tree this afternoon , my heart grew hungry for some i one to go with me , as she used to i do , and have a happy time. She's dead < now , you know. " His voice broke with a sob , and the woman gathered him into her arms and held ] him close to her for a while. Then she i kissed him again , with a sweet motherly i caress. "Good night" he said. The next moment he had mounted his wheel and disappeared down the road ; but she stoo.l looking long after his figure had faded Into the darkness , and listened until the last muftled sound had died away upon the soft night air. Youth's Companion. Past His First Youth. The swan is said to be excellent eat- big when young ; but as it is one of the longest-lived of all creatures , it is well to learn If possible how old your bird is before you cook it A gentleman m Linfolnshire. Eng land , sent a dead swau to the Athenae um Club , addressed to the Secretary. A special dinner w.ns to occur that week , and the committee without ques tion turned the bird over to the cook. At the dinner the swan , resting on great silver dish , was a delight to the eye ; but when It came to carving and eating the bird , no knife seemed sharp enough to cut it , and of course eating it was out of the question. A few days later the donor met the Secretary and said , "I hope you got my swan all right" "That was a nice Joke you played on as , " returned the Secretary. "Joke ? What do you mean ? " "Why , we had the thing boiled for hirteen hours , and even then we might h is well have tried to cut through the Rock of Gibraltar. " "You don't mean to say you bad the rwan cooked ! " "Why , of course/ ' ird "Man alive ! I sent it to be stuffed d ind preserved as a curiosity in the lub. That swan has been in my fam- ly for 280 years. It was one of the tlV' dentical birds fed by the children of V' ' Uharles I. you've seen the picture of My ancestor held the post of 'mas- er of the swans and keeper of the ai xing's cygnets. ' Well , I have no donbt was a bit tough. " Q ] First Maps of Detroit. It is claimed that Joseph Gaspard jhaussgros De Dery , a French engi- leer. made the first maps of Detroit in 11 ! 749 and 1754.- ' .V Ever bny anything from re kat yon really tl SUPPOSE WE SMILE. HUMOROUS PARAGRAPHS FROM THE COMIC PAPERS. Plensant Incidents Occurrinjr the World Over Sayings that Arc Cheer ful to Old or Yoiinu Funny Selec tions that Everybody Will Enjoy. "Say , " queried Fanner Elnyrix , "what dew they raise in them tliar roof gardens di-own tew th' city ? " "Peaches , uncle , " replied tiio city- bred young man. " Chicago News. Mutual Compassion. "Oh ! my poor woman ! My heart bleeds for one in your condition ! " "Thanks , sor ; Oi was thinkin' the same of the likes of you ! " Putting Him Right. Tommy Mamma said you only come here on account of the lunch. Rev. Fiddle , D. D. Hereafter , my dear child , I shall come for dinner , too. "Wnnted to Turn He- . "Lot's wife wuz turned Inter a piller er salt , " said the old colored citizen. "en ef de ( lays of miracles wuzn't pas' en gone I'd lose my temper some day en ax de L wd ter turn mini * inter a week's groceries ! " Atlanta Constitu tion. / Cnusc of JTis Sa Mr. Goodman Your little playmate seems sad. Willie-yes , sir. He had ter stay home from school yestid'y - "The idea ! And he's sad on that account ? " "No. sir ; it's because he had ter come back ter school ter-day. " Philadelphia Record. Villains 1 Vipers ! Mrs. Ruthven It's a shame that re porters are permitted to put the names of society people in the papers. Mrs. Siiiythe indeed , it is. my dear. They always spell mine wrong. The Smart Set Expected to Exchange It. Customer I want to buy an um brella. Dealer Yes , sir ; something for about $5 ? Customer No ; something aboutfl. . I'm going to a party. A Good Catch. Tom When I went fishing down at the beach this summer I lauded a twen ty pounder. Dick Oh , I landed a 130-pounder there. Tom What a fish ? Dick No , a girl. Chicago Newa , In the Book Store. Josh Wsyback Gimme a lot ot French novels I hear so much about Mrs. Wayback What do you want them for , Josh ? Josh Wayback Well , Mandy , we got a lot o' space to fill in the flew bookcase and tliey-teH me them French novels is ] very broad. IN THESE DEPARTMENT STORES. Customer ( at book department ) I want to get "The Last of the Mohl- cans. " ) New Clerk Well , I guess you'll find that at the remnant counter. E Ignorant , but Not Blissful. Miss Citybred ( in country ) What kind of a tree is that ? Uncle Ilayrix That's an apple tree. Miss Citybred Why doesn't It blos som ? Uncle Ilayrix It's a little too late. Miss Citybred Oh , then I'll get up real early in the morning and see it hlossorn. Chicago News. Most Assuredly. "Do you know that Tom kissed me ist night ? " "Well , I declare ! I hope you sat on im for it" "Oh , I did ! Most assuredly ! " The Truth of the Matter. Mr. Faintly I wouldn't think of read- ig Christmas ghost stories to my chil- ren. Mr. Biggs Why not ? Mr. Faintly Well , It might scare lern , and er er they make me ner- ous. too. Innocent Woman. He They are making a lot of fuss bout these "sweat shops. " She Indeed ! I wonder If they'll take them close the Turkish baths ? Its Origin. P.odrick 1 wonder who first origl- * ted "rummage sales ? " Van Albert Probably some man who cut to hunt for something in his bu- ; au drawer after his wife bad been trough it Chicago Newa > Heavy Returns. lih lih "What business brings the heaviest h returns ? " asked the man who wanted to know. "The literary business , " sighed the t ( struggling author , as he opened a two- q pound rejected book manuscript Phil- qit adelphia Record. tc Equalizing Matters. laai Ivnox Don't you believe In telllnj ai your wife everything that happens ? aial Proxy Well er I can't say that but alal I do believe in telling her some things al that don't happen. Philadelphia cim Record. ciP' P' The European Plan. cr Landlord ( after fair guest has faint ; fo ed at sight of her bill ) Jean , I have sent the boy for a glass of water for the lady , and I wanr you to see that 10 cents is added to her bill. Understand ? . pc Fliegende Blaetter. fie Consoling. st She I believe you are marrying mo lo for my money alone. fu He Oh , no ; that'll be gone soon. loi thmi The Aftermath. mi Husband Come , sit on my lap , my dear , as you did in our old courting Ot days.Wife th Wife Well , I declare ! I haven't re ceived such an invitation for an age. ou Husband And er bring a needle be and thread with you , my love. New in ; York Weekly. fn Didn't Give 'Em Away , of Mrs. Justwed Do you sell turkeys ? Jii Poultry Dealer Well , I don't look like a philanthropist do I ? ao Answered the Purpose. Her Niece And this , auntie dear , ii a real old master. Aunt Tabitha Don't you fret child- erg it's just as good as some of the new me ones. coi A Snsrseation. * The Angry Father What do you er pect me to do send you all the money you ask for , or calmly allow you to gel into debt ? 'J Life.'J The Son You might do both. Life. bet one Some Worth Cultivating , He What do you think about the mi it crobes In kisses theory ? . it.n ? She ( cheerfully ) I've heard that w couldn't get along without certain kind * E of microbes. Puck. art Bta All in That Clam. ba\ SlllicuB Have you noticed that moat heroes are married men ? Cynicos Sir. every married man li a hero , Philadelphia Record. i ' \ * * * * r * _ _ ffii&///P & / J/J I England has American 'phones. Elwood. Ind. . has a doctors * union. ! Cincinnati schcol teachers will form i union. i Toronto carpenters demand an eight- liour < ay. Worcester labor unions Jmay adopt the union label. \ Denver's plumbers * strike Is OTCT. The wage scale is $4.2,1 a day. ; The Baltimore Federation of Labo * \viil organise a ladies' auxiliary. Los Angeles lumber handlers gained a uiue-hotir day without asking for it Thirteen hundred employes of Lip- ton , the cup chaser , struck for an In- i-rcase of wages. Pittsburg's United Mine Workers ar jousideriug Carnegie's offer to con struct a workers' hospital there. Worcester's building trades , with tht exception of the s loam fitters and help ers , have won the eight-hour day. Typographical Union , Winnipeg. \vants the number of hours of labor per week reduced from fifty-four to forty-eight The United States and England the only two countries in the worlfl that now have exclusively private rail road systems. Troy has twenty-seven factorie * where collars , cuffs an.l shirts art made. They employ 15,000 persona , four-fifths being women. The Trades and Labor Council of Quebec is urging on the provincial gov ernment the establishment of a bureaa of labor stitistics similar to the On tario bureau of labor. New York has 1.8S1 labor organiza tions , with a total membership of 201- b"23 men and 14,018 women. Of thhi total of 27G.141 trades unionists 174- 022 are in the city of New York. Pittsburg's $1,000,000.000 steel com bine is to introduce automatic macbim- ery in its tinplate mills , similar to thai In operation in the steel plants. It if expected that hundreds of skilled work men will be gradually displaced. San Francisco labor people having carried the city , are planning to spread out and carry the State. In Connecti cut a State party is to be formed , and the Colorado unions are preparing to take the field along Independent polit ical lines. AS TO DESERTED WIVES. Apt to Be Forjjivinjf , Even if The ; Make Complaint to the Courts. An odd statement emanating from the Chicago Bureau of Associated Charities casts an interesting sidelight upon the divorce question. According to this statement the burden upon tb bureau of women who have been de serted by their husbands Is out of all proportion to a civilized society. In ne way and another it has been esti mated that there are in Chicago 8.500 roinen who have been thus left alon n the world. Some of the recreants lave disappeared , but many are stin langers-on in the household , leaving ? ' heir wives to earn the bread. Whaff hen. the Chicago courts are asking , hi o be done with these offenders ? Tbt juestion would be s'mple enough wert not that the deswtr-d wife is loata o set in motion the machinery of thl aw , or If she has done so , is generally inxious to stop It. A Philadelphia lawyer , when asked ibout this , was of the impression that .ffairs were not much better in this ity. says the Philadelphia Press. "Yon nust , " lie said , "devise an effective punishment before you can stop a rime. When a husband Is to be tried or Ill-treating his wife the latter must encrally be the prosecutor , and If she ets as far as taking the oath he * pirit generally leaves her at about thai oint She leaves the magistrate's ot- ce , and by night she is back at th tation house begging to see the fel- w. I believe that in Philadelphia Lilly 75 per cent of these arrests are ist through the default of the wife as ic complaining witness. Besides , iaiy a woman who would be only too lad to be rid of a husband in any ther way will refuse to take a step lat would land him In jail. " The Chicago society is now looking nt for about fifty women who have Jen deserted. These women are clean- ig , cooking , sewing , and scrubbing at om $1 to $1.50 a day , but an office * the society expresses the opinion lat fully 40 per cent of them are shar- ig their earnings with their good-for- thing husbands. Millions in the Milk Trade. Outside the business of supplying ew York City with milk , the farm- of New York State have an invest- ent of $43,450,000 in cows , and a responding amount in dairy fannt id fixtures , the total being not lew an $150,000,000. A .Royal Painter. rhe Empress Frederick has aJwayi n an admirable artist At WindBOF room is entirely hung with ex- lisite water colors done by her , and a great charity bazaar two paint- gs done by her sold for 1,000 apiec * . EIow many really know what all tL tides in a manicure box are forl and up and be counted. You really ve grounds to organize an exslusiv * rfery. iVbat has become of the old-fashion- ones wb went to bed 2a the dark ?