The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1870-05-13
NO. II.
Ten Dollars a Hug.


| from the Des Moines Uowsj State Register
A good story is always in order, and
is always an item. We have Just heard
one OH Northern Iowa basis. A few
weeks ago, so the story goes, promi-
nent farmer in Hardin County, who ap-
pears 10 have a good deal Of red blood
III his lusty carcass, called ut a neighbor's
house when the neighbor himself wasn't
at home. But Mrs. Neighbor was there,
and gave Mr.. Lusty generous welcome.
Now the lady was fat and fair 10 look
upon, and it SO happened that of all other
kind of females this was the very sort
the dcacOn-for deacon he was liked
the best. From childhood the desire to
hug fat females had been the thorn i'm
the deacon's flesh, and now here was the
temptation enticingly put before him.
The eye kindled as it looked, and the
brave right arm arched to crook itself
about the yOluptuOus form of the uncon-
Iscious and innocent temptress. And
crook it did-suddenly and lovingly. =
But early on its way it found grief. The
struggling captive was not hungry for
hugs outside of the family, was not that
kind of woman, and soon the deacon
discovered it. First, the argument of
sharp finger nails, and next, the frag-
mentS OF bread-tray broken over his
head, gave the old fellow suspicion
that the stolen sweets was not az sweet
as they ought to be, and finally a vigor-
Gus dig in the liver from stove-hook
convinced him that distance more than
lent enchantlnent to that particular en-
chantress. So he let her 90, and she
soon let him go, with all the blessings
and other loose articles she could bestow
upon his noble, but retreating form.
Soon came the husband home. and In
his Indignant ear was the woeftl story
told. 1t was more than q husbands hu-
man nature could bear. He loved his
|wife, and he knew his neighbor. He
had been introduced TO him. and SO he
felt free to 90 and settle with him. He
went. he saw, he cussed him. The Dea-
icon, knowing he was i'm for it. took the
shortest and most pious way out-own-
sled that nc had gone little way astray,
} that he had coveted his neighb0r's wife.
8 that he did think he would like to give
: her one good hug; that he had gently
( tried to obtain the one hug aforesaid,
I but when he found out she had none to
/ spare, he didn't try any more, and now,
E ike an honest man and good neighbor,
r he was ready to pay the damages and
q make 1t even. The neighbor, not liking
v to be hard on friend, smothered his
o wrath, put his pistol back in his pocket.
4 and said that was right-he liked to hear
4 Ia man talk business. The outrage was
v finally compromised bv the grace OF
a money, the deacon suggesting and the
D husband acquiescing, that there was no
G use spilling blood over so small mattcY
Il After the debate upon the proper price
s OF hugs. it was agreed that 40 was
r. rabout right, whereupon the deacon gave
the outraged husband his note for tha,
amount, when peace was again spoken
between them. But the note was mo-
: money. Mr.. husband thought he wonld
trade it off for corn, and so he went
anothcr neighbor, one of the best mer
living IA we personally know. and triel
. to strike such bargain. The man wifi
the corn had heard the story. and didn'
n want the note. So the holder had Il
: seek another market. He happened tt
= think he wanted shovel plow. Ht
q went to Eldora, found the plow, ths
: owner of it glad to exchange it for tn,
= note. knowing, as he did, that the dea
= con was good for ten dollars. But whci
he presented the note for payment, thu
: paper wasn't honored. The deacon flat
dIly refused to pay it, pleading as his rea
n son the want Of consideration. The hold
! er swears he will sue OH it. and have tn,
r. money yet. The plain question in sui
Il twill be. has hug commercial value
. Ills it worth anything, or isn't it? Ant
= If it is Of no value. will it be proved tina
lflpart of q hug is worth ten dollars? Tn,
70 lhug-loving part OF the world will breath
,f lcssly await the decision Of the Court.