The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1873-04-03
A Job Of Wood d-sawiing,,. 6,
BT AMY RANDOLPH.

! - ~ JOHiuf5 th0ttCA, 3sAi.
said .Jemima Pendexter. -
f:Of course it isn't, Jemims," said
Mr.. Allsire, rather more soberly than
he had spoken before. aBut if you
come to that. isn't it deal jofIier, and
just as cheap to laugh as to cry z" ~
Miss Jemima Pendexter was tall
blooming brunette, with dark brown
eyes, hair satin black, and : a good
healthy bloom on either cheek, and
her green gingham dress fitted her as
perfectly as if a broadway. modesto
had cut and made, it. Ferdinand ALI
arie was . handsome, young fellow OF
some five, or six and twenty, whose
dark sparkling eyes sent out rongisil
gleams from beneath a pair of archetl
ibrows, and whose teeth were as white
as a fresh slice of fcoacos-nut. IA
"But mother wants the money
persisted Miss ,Pendexter. ;,a
mot half SO badly as [ do, Jemi-
ma" te.., ..,.,.s.5i ss..aif s.fts
-4-sIt's too bad" pouted Jemima.
$50 it is. But really, Jemima, don't
you suppose, l would pay her in q
minute, If had the money? If. For
I'm not ,mugician whose wand can
turn a basket of scrap paper to bank
notes, or. make coined gold out the
cinders under this CRATE, 8, asls.' :
THAT'S nonsense!1 said Miss Pen
dexter.
i"Of course it is. Sense is at dis
count Just at present. Look at that
pile of manuscript if you don't believe
me, that no editor will buy; see those
elegant oil paintings that De Beaudip
declines respectfully to hang up for
salel Whaf'sia fellow TO doP"
"At least, said Jemima. tossing
her handsome head. "you ought to
pay your honest debts !" tf
81 know that, my dear" said Mr..
Allaire gravely. 'sAnd Pves written
at least seven earnestly entreating let
ters to my hard-hearted old uncle,
and OF the seven answers that ought
to have come back, the first one hasn't
made its appearance. Jemima, Pve
an ideal, .aPshawi" said Miss PEN
derixter, trying in vain to maintain
the severe gravity of aspect that was
rapidly thawing before the merry
sparkle OF the coal black eyes.
"But have, really. Suppose you
take me in part payment of my bill to
Mrs. Pendexter.. l believe / have the
elements of a first class husband about
me"
Miss Jemima turned resolutely
away. "Mr. Allaire, believe you'd
joke if You were on your dying bed p
And she went down stairs.
ga man might do worse than marry
Jemirna Pendexter," said Mr.. Allaire,
meditatiEely, "She's pretty and she's
spirited, and as for her mother keep
ing a boarding house, that's no partic-
ular objection in my eyes. Halo
what's the commotion outside ?v a
He threw up the window-sash and
stretched himself halfway out. Mrs.
Pendexter, a stout, thrifty matron, in a
frilled cap and lilac ribbons, was bar
gaining with a ragged intinerant OF
the Gypsy order to have load OF
wood, which had just been deposited
at her door sawed, split and slowed
into the cellar. l
"Couldn't do it for less than four
dollars, men," said the Bohemian OF
the streets.
1T isn't worth three" said Mrs
Pendexter.
"Worst kind % knotty wood, mem,
"I won't give a cent more than three,
persisted Mrs RendeXter..
"Werry well, it'll be somebody be.
sides me."' said the man. shouldering
his ak and passing indifferently on.
He supposed Mrs. Pendexter would
call him back and accede to his terms
but he was mistaken in the buxom
widows mental calibre. She was
turning, when to her surprise, ,shefound
herself confronting Mr.. Ferdinand
Allaire in his shirt sleeves.
"I'm your man, ma'am J" said hi
rubbing his white palms briskly to
gether.
"My goodness gratiousl" calculated
the widow, "what do you mean, Mr.
Allaire ?"
81 mean that little job OF wook saw
ing" said our hero. 'Bring on You
axe and saw. I'll do it Tor three dol
lars and turn it in toward our smal
account. Now then, ma'am, widt
awake, if you please.
..But-I beg your pardon. Mr.. AL
lair, if you please-you're gentle
mani"
..Very well, what of that? Is ther,
ANYTHING to prevent a gentleman from
| splitting up cord of wood? A grea
deal more strengthening to the mus
| cles of the arm than dumbbells ant
| Indian clubs, / am sure"
care you really in earnest 2"
ayes, am"
And then Mrs. Pendexter seeing II,
reason why she should not realize
portion at least of her back board TO
the third story hall bedroom in thi
practical manner, sent Jack, the Ell
rand boy. down after the axe and saw
and Mr.. Ferdinand Allaire set briskl
to work, whistling, Banks and Braes,
most eneregetically as he toiled.
Miss Jemima came and looked ou
of the window, her eyes shining mel
ry encouragement, and her mischiev
icus mouth framing itself in dimple,
Miss Layina Jones, the elderly maid
en- who occupied the back parlol
pursed up her lips and wonderin
"what ridiculous freak that inadcap.C
Mr.. Allaire would be up to next
Young Jessamy of the Occidents
Club nearly got run over, starin
back in amazement at Sc eing Ferdir
and at work, and Miss Adele Mat
rice, with whom he had led the Gel
man three nights before-for our b,
ro was what is-called a society man
stared with all her eyes, and lik
the priest and Levite in the parabl
passed by Oh the other side. al,
her CO." said Mr.. Allaire 10 himsel
"whRt do / care ~ ..
But as an open barouche rolled