The arrival of passenger trains at St. Joe, Arkansas was always a
great event. Usually several of the village residents, as well as
others from surrounding areas, were on hand to see the train in and
the passengers off. And when the long wail of the whistle announced
the rumbling of the train down Mill Creek or up the slope from
Gilbert, the crowd usually grew larger by the quick coming of busy
housewives or local merchants.

One day, among those waiting on the platform for the screeching stop
of the "down" (southbound) train, were two bachelor brothers from
Calf Creek. They had arrived early, riding in a new buggy, which had
been bought in Marshall only a few days before. Both were dressed in
new clothes, sported fresh shaves and haircuts and appeared to be
waiting in anxious expectation.

The two brothers lived on a fine farm near the village of Snowball.
They were hard workers, moderately prosperous, but loners, seldom
coming out in public. Some months before, the older of the two
confided in a neighbor man that he was extremely lonely and that the
farm home needed the touch of a woman's hand. But had gone on to say
that he was too bashful and actually too busy to go courtin'.

"Why that ain't no problem," the neighbor had exclaimed,
"Ah got a uncle over at Yellville what ordered him a worman frum a
marryin office in Kansas City. An'll git the address fer you ifen you
want hit."

Evidently the brother wanted the address for he did contact the
"marryin office" (lonely hearts club) and soon "ordered" a wife who
was coming to St. Joe that very day.

The train finally roared into the station and sure enough the woman
from Kansas City was the first off. She had a very big red bow in
her hair which had been agreed on as a means of identification.
But, alas,she was not as had been represented.She was older, fatter,
and uglier than her picture and description had indicated. She also
had a child with her which had never been mentioned.

Now the older brother was much upset by the situation. After much
discussion with her he decided to send her back to Kansas City on the
next northbound train. It was then that the younger brother broke
in:
"Now brother, she has cum a rat smart piece think she wuz gonna git
married off an' settle here in this country. She's shore gonna be
disppinted ifen she has to go plum back home. She's a lookin mighty
tired and I bet that youngin could use sum uv ole Becky's (their cow)
milk. Tell yah whut, ifen you don't want her, I'll take her."

Take her, he did, and they lived happily on Calf Creek for many years.

Evelyn Flood
Rkinfolks@yahoo.com

Write me:
Rkinfolks@yahoo.com