Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1855-11-29
1uOie's Deportment
Can Women Keep secret9
Oh, How NR, PODKISs COZ BIS COAT NsNDEO.

II
tPshaw! woman keep secret? Who e.
ven knew one 10 keep anything lWeny>iour
bours3'
That's a libel upon the sex, Mr.. POdkina :
invented, III be bound, by some thrice reject
ed bachelor, who could think ofno other mode
Iofrevenge. Le:anybody put a secret in my
possession; and i'll can't keep il till the day Of
Judgment, then l wasn't christened Laura,
that's all
Guess I'll try you sometime and Podkins
applied a match to his segai and walkedon..
/ Proceeding to confectioner's be purchased
mammoth sugar heart and two smaller ones.
This he took to his shop. aud cut piece Of
shingle the exact size Of the larger heart, and
placed the wooden counterfeit in a paper with
The small ones, that the packages might look
as near alike as possible. ... .....
| Nearly tea time Podkins entered the sitting
room where Laura aud her friend Mary were
busy plying their needles. Seating himself
near BY, he drew from his coat pocket two
small bundles, and presenting one 10 each Of
the girls, remarked that be had long contem :
plated making them some presents, but hoped
as an especial favor TO himself that they would
not tell each other what the paper contained.
Laura and Mary promised obedience, at the
same time casting uneasy glances at the mys-
terious gifts. gaf
Remember the first who breaks her prom,
Use will forfeit her claim to the title Of secret
keeper, and mend my coat by way of alpen-
atty added Podkins. rising to exhibit more
fully most sorrowful looking garment so tat
tered and torn that tailor would have beer
puzzled to decide what was Its original shape
The girls considered themselves safe con
corning the coat, and ehided the wearer for be
ing so sceptieal in regard to their ability t
keep a secret Curiosity was only half salts
fed, however, after ascertaining that Podkin
generosity had bestowed heart. II was nc
long ere the donor overheard Mary and Laur
in the kitchen, teasing one another to revei
= by some sign. at least the forbidden fruit. Bt
each stood her ground wonderfully, and Pod
. kins feared his coat would remain tattered.-
. The girls sleeping apartment was contiguou
o to the one occupied by Podkins and his frien
Barlow. As only thin partition separate
the rooms, it was easy to hear ordinary col
d versation from one to the other without Ii
folly of listening. The two men were snugl
n ensconced in bed, when Many and Laura Ell
tered the adjoining bedroom. The door ha
i scarcely been closed when the former exc ain
q ed.
! Now. Laura, do tell me what was in yoI
paper. 1t looked just like mine, and veri
It believe it is the same thing. shall not se'
er wink tonight if you don't, Come do te
ad that's good girl. and then l will tell y,
what was in mine.'
st well, replied Laura, Phere were two 8
10 gar hearts in NINE
70 And there was only one in mine said N
ry, in disappointed tone.
sir AT this point respectable portion Of I
ID bolster went into Barlow's mouth, while Pc
be kins took refuge beneath the bedclothes,
10 smother his laughter as best he might.
49, At breakfast the next morning, while Lau
IT. was pouring out the coffee, Podkins, turni
" toward Barlow, said very gravely:
well, there were two sugar hearts in min
re Aud there was only one in mine, respond
Barlow, so exactly initiating Mary s tone Il
re- she fanCied herself speaking.
o. The coffee pot dropped, to the great conf
u sion ofsundry cups and saucers, ,and then cal
burst Of laughter from the four that fail
a made the dishes dance.
i will take that coat after breakfast, If y
OK please, Mr.. Podkns,' said Laura, quietly, aft
~ the mirth had somewhat subsided.