The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1872-04-12
A JOB OF WOOD SAVING.
BY AMY RANDOLPH.

SofuS ~ SboS1 lch ~ ~ stSat IoitiCa, aass
just as cheap, to laugh as to cry?"
Miss Jemima Pendexter was tall,
blooming brunette, with dark brown
eyes, hair sauin black, and good
healthy bloom on either cheek, and
her green gingham dress fitted her as
perfectly as If a Broadway modistt
had cut and made it. Ferdinand AL.
lairc was a handsome young fellow oi
some five or six and twenty, whose
dark sparkling eyes sent out rogaisf
CLEANS from beneath pair of arched
brows, and whose teeth were as white
as fresh cut slice of cocoa-nut.
'But mother wants the money!
persisted Miss Pendexter.
Not half so badly as do, Jemima.'
Its too bad" pouted Jemima.
$50 it is. But really, Jemlma. don't
you suppose l would pay her in min
ute, if had the money! IT. For I'm
not a magician whose word can turn
basket of scrap paper to bank-notes,
or make coined gold out of the cinders
under the CRATE"
That's nonsenseI' said Miss Pen,
dexter.
"Of course it is. Sense is ut a dis.
count Just 1T present. Look at the
pile OF manuscript, if You don't be,
!ieve me, that no editor will buy; see
those elegant oil paintings that DE
Beaudin declines respectfully to hang
up for sale! What's fellow to do!
AT least" said Jemima, tossing her
handsome head, you ought to pay
your honest debts!'
II know that, my dear" said Mr.
Ai,,aire gravely. And I've written
at least seven earnestly entreating let
tiers to my hard-hearted old uncle, and
of the seven answers that ought TO
have come back, ,Se first one hasn't
made its appearance. Jemima, I've
an idea.'
aPshawm said Miss Pendexter, try,
ing in vain to maintain the severe
gravity of aspect that WAS rapidly
ihawing beneath the merry sparkle OF
the sloe-black eyes.
.'Bnt l have, really. Suppose you
take me in part payment OF my bill TO
Mrs. Pendexter.. | believe have the
elements of frst-rate husband about
me-"
Miss Jemima turned resolutely
away.
MIR. Allaire, I believe you'd joke il
you were upon your dying bed.'
And she went down stairs.
"A man might do worse than mar
r. Jemima Pendexter." said Mr.. AL
laire meditatively. shes pretty. and
she's spirited; and as for her mother
keeping a boarding g-house, that's no
particular objection in my eyes
Halloo, What's that commotion out
side,n
He threw up the window-sash and
stretched himself halfway out. Mrs
Pendexter, a stout, thrifty matron, in
frilled cap and lilac ribbons, was bar
gaining with ragged itinerant of the
gipsy order to have load of wood
which had just been deposited at her
sdoor, sawed and split and slowed into
the cellar.
Couldn't do it for less than foul
dollars, men," said the Bohemian o.
the streets.
at isn't worth three." cried Mrs
Pendexter.
Worst kind o knotty wood, mem.
Il won't give a cent more thar
three" persisted Mrs. Pendexter.
Very well, it'll be to somebod.
besides me-" said the man, shoulder
ing his axe and passing Indifferent,
+, on.
He supposed that Mrs. Pendexte
| would cali him back and accede to hi
terms, but he was mistaken in tht
buxom widows mental calibre. Sh'
was turning indoors again, when, tt
her surprise. she found herself con
fronting Mr.. Ferdinand Allaire in hi
shirt sleeves
I'm your man, ma'am!" said he
rubbing bis white palms briskly to
gether.
"My goodness gracious!" calculated
the widow, "what do you mean, MI
Allaire?"
Il mean that little job ofwood-saw
ing" said our hero. 'Bring on you
axe and saw. I'll do it for three dol
lars, and turn it in toward our smal
account. Now then, ma'am, wild
awake, if you pleaser
"But-I beg your pardon, Mr.. Al
laire, if you please-you're a gentle
man.
"Very well, what OF that? Is ther
anything to prevent a gentleman split
ting up a cord OF wood? A grea
deal more Strengthening to the mu.
cles of the arm than dumb-bells All
Indians clubs, l am sure"
"Are you really in earnest?"
"Yes, [ am"
And then Mrs. Pendexter, seein
no reason why she should not realiz
a portion at least of the back boar
for the third,story hall bedroom i
this practical manner, sent Jack, tn
errand boy. down after the axe an
saw, and Ferdinand Allaire set brisl
ly to work, whistling "Banks an
Braes" most energetically as he toi
: ed.
Miss Jemima came and looked OF
of the window, her eyes shining me
ry encouragement, and her mischie'
Gus mouth framing itself in dimple
Miss Lavinia Jones, the elderly maie
en- lady who occupied the back pa
lor, pursed up her lips, and wondere
"what ridiculous freak that madcap {
Mr.. Allaire would be up to next
Young Jessamy of the Occidont
Club nearly got run over, startin
4 back in amazement at seeing Ferdil