The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1855-11-22
GBe 9aiIg gonrnaL
CAN WOMAN RFFP A gEoRFT

/ OR, HOW MR.. PoDKINS GOT HIS COAT MENDED g
"Pshaw! woman keep a secret! Who ever
knew one to keep anything twenty-fo
hours?
"That's libel upon the sex, Mr. Podkins;
invented, Pll be bound, by some thrice rejected
bachelor, who could think of no other mode of
revenge. Let anybody put a secret in my pos
session, and if | can't keep it till the day Of
Judgment, then wasn't christened Laura
that's all.'' ~ a H
'Guess viii try you sometime" said
Podkins, as he applied match to his segar and
walked out:
Proceeding to cOnfctidhers, he purchased
q mammoth sugar heart and two smaller ones.
iThess he took to his shop, and cut piece OF
|shingle the exact size of the larger heart, and
placed the wooden counterfeit in the paper
with the small ones, that the packages might
look as near like as possible.
Nearly tea time Podkins entered the sitting
room where Laura and her friend Mary were
busily plying their needles. Seating himself
near by, he drew from his coat pocket two
small bundles, and presenting one to each of
the girls, remarked that he 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, the same
time casting uneasy glances at the mysterious
gifts.
Remember, the first who breaks her pro-
mise will forfeit her claim to the title of secret
keeper, and mend my coat in the way ofpenal-
ty," added Podkins rising to exhibit more full
ly most sorrowful looking garment, so latter
ed and torn that tailor would have been
puzzled to decide what was its original shape.
The girls considered themselves safe concern
ing the coat, and chided the wearer for being
SO skeptical in regard to their ability to keep
o secret. Curiousity was only half satisfied,
however, after ascertaining that Podkins'
generosity bestowed a heart. 1t was not long
ere the donor overheard Mary and Laura in
the kitchen, teasing one another to reveal, by
some sign, at least, the forbidden fruit. But
each stood their ground wonderfully, and Pod
kins feared his coat would remain tattered.
The girls sleeping apartment was contiguous
to the one occupied by Podkins and his friend
Barlow. As only . thin partition separated
the rooms. it was easy to hear ordinary conver-
sation from one to the other without the folly
of listening. The two men were snugly en-
sconsced in bed, when Mary and Laura enter
cd the adjoining bedroom. The door had
scarcely been closed, when the former exclaim-
ed: %;tf = sf+
"Now Laura, do tell me what was in your
paper. 1t looked just like mine, and verify
believe is the same thing. / shall not sleep
wink tonight ifyou don't. Come do tell, that's
a good girl, and then will tell you what is
in mine"
"Well, replied Laura, there were two sugar
hearts in mine." ~ 81
"And there was only one in mine, said
Mary in q disappointed tone.
At this point a respectable portion of the
bolster went into Barlow's mouth, while Pod
kins took refuge beneath the bed clothes, to-
smother his laughter as best he might.
At breakfast the next morning, while Laura
was pouring out the coffee, Podkins, turning
towards Barlow said very grayely:
''Well there were two sugar hearts in mine
"And there was only one in mine,s' respon-
ded Barlow, so exactly initiating Mary's tone
that she almost fancied herself speaking.
The coffee-pot dropped, to tn great con-
fusion Of sundry cups and saucers, and then
came burst of laughter from the four that
airly made the dishes dance.
81 will take that coat after breakfast, ifyou
please Mr.. Podkins,' said Laura, quietly, after
the mirth had somewhat subsided.