The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1868-05-22
Miss Briggs Hens.
BY CLARA AUGUSTA.

BY CLARA AUGUSTA.
whats that you say, Sam? A neigh.
Dor ON the Leeds place? My gracious l
hope he don't keep hens
''It's not g. he; it's her ~
What woman! A woman for my
nearest neighbour Samuel, there's an end
to our peace She'll be putting her nose
into everything l shan dare to step out
side the door / must have some fasten-
ings put on the east room windows.
''0h, don't take on so, C pen, said Sam,
in voice meant to be consoliDg. ''She
amt very big woman, no how, nor very
ierce-looking one l guess she'll let US
alone if we do her.
IF ice do her Samuel Jones, do you
mean to insult me? You may take to rum
ming after her-there's no knowing what
fellers with noses like yours may do, but as
for me Captain John Penhallon! to run
after widow the idea is preposterous! -
Just as you say, capen.
eHow old person is this widow p
"She amt widow she S an old maid. "
"Ah, well, that's better. Old maids are
not generally as bold as widows. How old
did you say?"
Il didn't say; but I should judge she
was about fve-and thirty. She wears her
own teeth, and stunning waterfall i,
"Humph! what do you know about a
waterfall, may | ask ?"
about as much as you do, capen."
''True. Well, Samuel, it ism t best for
you and l to quarrel certainly not on ac-
count of widow mean of an old maid.
What is her name, | wonder?''
''Sally Briggs
"Sally? ali, Sally is it? A good old
fashioned name. A highly respectable
name My grandmother name was Sally
L hope she don't keep hens
what, your grandmother ?"
"No, no-this Miss Briggs If she does,
there'll be difficulty right off l shall be
in hot water all the time. For tell you,
Sam Jones, | won't have my garden
scratched up to please all the old maids in
the world You don't know if she keeps
hens, Samuel?"
Il don know about the hens, but she
keeps rooster. l heard him Growing just
now.
swell, there's no doubt in the matter.
I'm TO be pestered to death with hens
just as I'd got my garden all in ORDER too.
l declare it, a shame | wish there was
a law against keeping hens. If could get
into Congress, I'd make one-I VOW |
would Sam, you keep sharp look out,
and if you see hen inside my fence, you
just speak to me. I'll settle her business
for her double quick ~
Captain Penhallon put on his hat and
went out into his garden, the especial pride
OF his life. Few ever worship their wives
as the captain worshipped his garden. He
spent large portion of his time there, dig
glng around his peonies and Japan lilies,
and poking under his rose bushes, In the
hope of discovering a stray grub, that he
might WTeak his vengeance OF him.
The garden was unquestlonably model
sort Of garden
Everything was in apple-pie order The
walks were dry, and clear of weeds and
dead leaves the oorderings all fresh and
green, the beds smooth -raked, and just
planted with the choicest seeds which could
be procured.
One bed the captain treated with the
most scrupulous care. 1t was set out with
a rare combination of summer bulbs, some
OF them procured at a great expense, and
all OF them very scarce and difficult to get
Some OF them were just beginning TO
show fresh sprouts through the warm
earth, and the captain got down over
them, and viewed them from every point
of observation, and congratulated himself
that they were coming on finely.
After a thorough survey Of the whole
premises, he shook his fists at troops of
imaginary hens, and informing them that
they'd Tue the day he caught them in his
garden, the captain returned to the hou se,
took his tortolse-shell cat on his knee, and
lnduleed III quiet smoke.
Captain Penhailon was bachelor of
about iOrty-wlth. two especial horrors.
One was hens, and the other women. A
hen in his garden would have given him
the cold shivers, aad he had rather meet
bear any time than woman
1t was on record in his native town, as
matter OF history. that Penhallon had once
Jumped over the fence and made a detour
of three miles through fields and pastures
to avoid meeting the Widow Grubbins, who
had set her heart on becoming Mrs. Pen
hallon.
Once, in his younger days, certain de-
termlned member of the female sex, named
Miller, had sued the captEin for breach of
promise, and the poor man, though he had
never exchanged half dozen words with
her IN his life, dared not to oppose her. and
offered to settle the matter literally. But
Miss Miller refused. The fact was she
wanted to get married, and had taken this
method to bring it about. The captain
though he was not captain them feeling
sure that the woman would bring about the
contamination she desired, ran away from
home and went to sea to avoid the terrible
catastrophe. 1t never occurred to the poor
fellow that be need not marry her unless
he chose. From that time forward he lad
q horror of women, and though many a
pretty girl cast favorable eyes at his portly
form and handsome face, he avoided the
whole sex.
He had made great deal of money in
the India trade, and having got enough OF
the sea, he bought fine farm at Craten-
vile, and settled down for life, with Sam
Jones for housekeeper, and Sam, it must
be confessed, vas good housekeeper for
q man. Quite as good as could be expect
ed. True, the captains coffee was often
muddy; he frequently fond it difficult to
decide by the looks or the taste which was
bis beetsteak and which was his dry toast
but then he had the satisfaction Of know
ing that bis household vas managed With