Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1862-08-12
Joe and the Thunder shower.

Joe and the Thunder shower.
IL always rains on picnics. LIT Jupiter
Piutius be never 90 chary of his drups-
let the earth be parched for weeks, and let
the farmers complain as loudly as thew
may. let the corn drop and the POTATOES
DRY up for want Of q shower, let the rivu-
let beds be streamless, and the runs run
nothing for whole month together, it is
sure to rain on picnic Prayers are OF
no avail, cut let picnic come of aud a
shower is sure to follow.
We remember when living in a Hoosier
State. long time ago." going on PIC
ME, when, il this fact was not demopstra
ted. il might have been.
The Wabash had been dryer than to-
per's throat before he has taken his eve
opener for weeks, the river was low as the
spirits OF the farmers, and rain w~s a thing
most anxiouslE Looked for. As Il did not
e.me, however, the young folks Of New
fiafmouy made mp their minds to take adj
zeniage Of the dry spel. snd have picnic.
=: prel'pinsrlee we're sose s<r.psed. and
starfed 10 ouggies and proceeded, fully
armed and equipped, with all the means
and appliances to boot, to seouestered
spot on the bed Of the river, some Eve miles
below the town. There was never a mer-
rier, happier set. and the happiest among
them all was Joe B one Of the best fellows
that ever lived. and the life of every gath
ering 10 those diggings. joe 90. up the
dsDces. called the figures, paraded himself
everywhere, and managed everything in
such a manner that the picnic promised 70
be the greatest of great successes.
At last the hour for dinner came. Joe
spread himself to the utmost, and with the
assistance of the girls with whom he was
universal favorite, he spread the cloth
under the shade Of an enormous twin
sycamore, and placed the chicken fxens
aud perfect abundance of good things
thereon in tempting array. After every.
thing had been arranged for his intense
satisfaction, and as he paused a moment &c
contemplate the general effect, he became
conscious of a gathering shade. and at the
same identical moments drop fell upon
the extremity OF bis rather prominent nose
Joe started and looked up. The sky, few
moments before without a cloud, was as
black as E' ebus, aud an occasional cror
was as good as an almanac when it saws
"A6out-Mis-tims -erpect- much-rain >
Thunder and ligbtenins," exclaimed
Jne. while his face became suddenly elon
gated-"thunder and lightning, f'li be dog
ont ii it amt agoing to rain. Well, darn
my picture If ever knew it to do anything
else. 1t always rains on picnic |"
BY this time sll the party had congrc.
gated under the sycamore. and genera
scamper was the result of the council OF
war, which was held on the spot The
eating fxins were quickly repacked in The
baskets. Horses were re-hitched TO the
buggies-the girls got on their thugs, and
everything betUkened speedy and genera
stampede for shelter.
JOe's horse was htched near the river
and as he stood unhitching him from th.
tree where he had fastened him, Joe cas-
| another Look upward. The sky was hk,
ink. A large, heavy, black bullying cloud
that looked as Iftbe slightest cause woulc
bring down en- nldsse. hung threateningly
overhead. As Joe looked at it, his indig
nation and warth eliminated.
Dog On the luck" he murmured "tain
raiDec tor more than mouth. Everybody
been wanting rain for six weeks. Praye,
tor rain IN the meeting yesterday-hu
mary drop-but now, just when folks d n
want 1t, Its going to ram like pizen. Every
body bound 10 be ducked. GILL darn m
| picture, if it amt too bad !"
by this time Joe had unbitched hi
horse and put him TO the buggy, aud other
being all ready, shouted him to come on
As he raised his foot to step into III
vehicle, the full force Of the disappoin
ment seemed to have struck him, and h
paused, cast another Look UPWARD at til
b ack cloud, AM again br.,ke out:
| bod rot your cursed black ugly threat
ening coun enance-guilg to duck us. b
YET Couldn't you cume Yesterday ! War
To spite the picnic? Guing to wet all I'll
gals, he ye? 'Spose We think yer goin
to dauped me, dun't ye ?-but If YOU d
III be totally ram squIzzled Y.u shar
have the satisfaction of ducking Jue %
And with running jump Joe landed o
the river aux. Casting another |, ok uE
ward, and with an expression OF defan.
on his face. Joe made spring, and p
went into the Wabash, at least ten fe,
from the shore. and disappearing undo
water. The girls screamed, the men rusI
ed to the side ii the water to see what CO
have prompted him to so sudden bait
and all stood anS iously awaiting his retur
to the surface. In a moment up he cam
and swimming ashore. climed up the ban
Shaking himself, and distributing an e,
temPore shower all around, he shouted:
"Now rain and be darned !" You can
wet me. g1ll darn ye. hain't got a dr
rag on, and If you come down in a shee
ye can't make me no moister than au
H,OpW
And ii didn rain!
The cloud cleared away. The picnic wei
on, and the Only one who cast a dan
shadow Cd the party was poor Joe, wi
wandered around looking like drown.
rat, convinced that it didn't always RAJ
on o ionic.
GooD.-The Toledo Commercial Civ
the following good retort: