American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1856-08-30
Can a Woman Keep a Secret ?

Shd" u woman keep secret -
Who ever knew one to keep anything
twenty-tour hours
"Thars a libel upon the sex, Mr..
Podkins-invented, Pll DO bound, bv
some thricer rejected bachelor, who could
think of no other mode of revenge
Let anybody put secret in my posses.
sion, and if can't keep it till tho day
of judgement, then | wasn't chris,ened
Laura that's ALL"
Guess | will try you some time"
and Podkins applied match to his se-
gar and walked out.
Proceeding to a oonfectioner's he
purchased mammoth sugar heart and
two smaller ones. This he took to his
shop and cot piece of shingle the ex-
act sieze of the smaller ones, that the
packages might look as near alike as
possible. = .....
Nearly tea time Podkins entered the
sitting room where Laura and her
friend Mary We're busy 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
contemplated making them some pres.
ents, but hoped as an especial favor to
himsef 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 mysterious gifts.
Remember, the first who breaks
her promise will forfeit her claim to
the title of secret-keeper, and mend my
coat by way of a penalty" added Pod
kins rising to exhibit more fully most
sorrowiul looking garment so "tattered
and torn" that tailor would have been
puzzled to decide what was It's original
shape.
The glhs considered tn emselves safe
concerning the coat, and chided the
wea1er for %! being skep'ical in regard to
ehe'r aolllty to keep secret. Curios.
lty was only half satisfied, however,
after ascertaining that Podkin's gener-
os'ty has bestowed heart. 1t was not
iopg ere the doner overheard Mary and
Laura In The kitchen, teasing one an
other to reveal by some sign, at least
the forbidden fruit, But each stood her
ground wonderfully, and Podkins fear
eu MS coat would remain tattered. The
8irls> sleeping apartment was contig.
uous to the one occupied by Podkins
and his friend Barlow. AS only thin
Pertition separated the rooms, it was
easy to hear ordinary conversation from
one to the other without the folly of lis.
tening. The two men were snugly en-.
sconed in bed, when Mary and Laura en-.
tered tho adjoining bedroom, The
door had scarcely been closed, when the
former exclaimed.
"Now Laura, do tell mo what was in
your paper. It looked Just like mine,
and l verify believe il is the samo thing.
l shall not sleep wink tonight if you
don't. Come, do tell, that's good girl
and then III tell you what was in mine"
"Well," replied Laura, there wcro
two sugar hearts in mine."
"And there was only only one in mine"
responded Mary in tone Of disappoint.
mont.
AT this poiut a respectable portion Of
the bolster went into Batlow's mouth.
while PodkiDs took refuge benerh the
bedclo'hs, to smother his laughter as
best no might.
At breakfast The next morning, while
Laura was pouring out the coffee. Pod |
kins, turning toward Barlow, said very
gravely;
well, there were two sugar hearts
in mine"
"Aud there was only one in mipe,r
responded Barlow, 80 exactly initiating
Mary's tone that sho fancied herself
speaking.
The coffee pot dropped to the confu.
sion of sundry cups and saucers, and
then came burst of laughter from the
four which made the dishes fairlydance.
'1 will take that coat after breakfast
if you please MIR. Podkins," said Laura
quietly, after tho mirth bad some wha,
subsided.