The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1856-03-12
N UNI B E R a.
HOW MR.. PODKINS GOT HIS COAT
MENDED,


"pshaw womap keep seczet -
Who ever knew q woman to keep any
thing tweniy-lour hours :"
That's libel upon the sex, Mr.. Pod
kins, invented, I'll be bounI, by some,
thrice rejected old bachelor, who could
not think of any other mode of revenge.
Let any body put secret in my posses.
sion, and If can't keep it until the day
of judgment, then wasn't christened
Laura, that's ALL"
"Gucss l will try YOU some time" said
Podkins, as he applied match to his CT.
gar and walked out.
Proceeding to confectioner's, lie pur-.
chased a mammoth sugar heart and two
smaller ones. These he took to his shop,
and cut piece Of shinge tho exact size.
Of the large heart, aud placed the wooden,
counterfeit in the 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 busiIy plying their needless
Seating himself near by, he drew from his
coat pocket two small bundles, and pre-.
sentinS one to each Of the gihs, remarked.
that he, had long contemplated making
them some present, but hoped as an cspo-
clal favor to himself they would not tell
each other what the paper contained.-
Laura and Mary promised Obedience
'he same time casting uneasy glances at
the mysterious gifts.
Remember, the first who breaks her
promise will forfeit her claim to the title
OF secret keeper, and mend nv coat in tho
way OF penalty" added podkins, rising to
exhibit more fully a most sorrowful look
ing garment, SO tattercd and torn" that
II tailor would have been puzzled to decide
what was its original shape.
The girls considered themselves safe
concerning the coat, and chidcd the wear
er for being SO skeptical in regard to, their
ability 70 keep secret. Curiosity was
only half satisttGtl, however, after asccr-
taiping that Podkins' generosity bcstow-
cd heart. 1t Was not long ere the donor
OVERHEARD NJ 'ry and Laura in the kitch-
en-, teasing one another to reveal by some
| sign. at least, the forbidden fruit. But
each stood their ground wonderfully, and
Iodkins feared his coat would remain tat
tered.
The girls sleeping apartment was con-
tiguous TO the one occupied by Podkins
and his friend Barlow. AS only thin
partition separated the two rooms, it was
easy to hear ordinary conversation from
one TO the other without the folly of lis
tenlng. The two men were snugly en-.
sconccd in bed, when Mary and Laura
entered the adjoining bed room. The
door had scarce beep. closed, when the
former exclaimed.
"Now, Laura, do tell mo what was in
your paper. 1t looked just like mine,
and verify believe it is the same thing.
l shall not sleep wink TO nighsif YOU
don't. Come, do tell, that's a good girl.
and then / will tell you what was in
nine"
"Well," replied Laura, "there were
two SGgsM hearts in mine"
And there was only ono in minc,"
said Mary, in disappointed tone.
At this point respectable portion Of
the bolster went into Barlow's mouth
while Podkins took refuge bepesth tho
bed clothes, to smother lis laughter ~
best he might.
AT breakfast the next morning, while
Laura was pouring out tho coffee, Pod
kins turning towards Barlow, said very
gravely:.
Well, there were two sugar hearts in
mine"
And there was only one in mine," re-
sponded Barlow, SO exactly Initiating Ma
rvs tone that she almost fan lied herself
speaking,
The coffee pot dropped, to the great
confusion Of sundry cups and sauccrs, and
then came burst OF la :gi,cr from tho
four that fairly made the dishes dance.
~ will take that coat after breakfast,
If you please, Mr. Podkins," said Laura
quietly, after tho mirlh had somewhat
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