The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1873-03-27
lH a18l .ELaI IIOuH~ y I9iHE1E4
THE JONESES
[From the Terre Haute Sunday Express
ny UNISON JOHNSON.

! = He wasa stumpy little gentleman
with a smooth. face and unassuming
legs, and a painful consciousness thai
he was but imperfectly acquainted
with his new clothes. AT the junct-
Iure of Sixth and Tonpkins streets be
stopped and took q long survey of ali
the houses by turns, and assured hinI-
self as to the points of the compass 0y
getting himself into position with the
setting sun, changed the black carpet
bag from his right hand to his lett,
walked across to the house on the
northeast corner, and rang the door
bell. ..f,.s5 80 -. X.
: ssDoes Mr.. Jones live here?" he in
quired of the pleasant looking lady
who opened the door.
ssHe does"
ssMr. Samuel Jones ?"
"Yes sir, this is where Mr.. Samuel
Jones lives" ~
And you are Mrs, Jones, I pre-
= 81 am"
"Well, my same is Wiggins-Simon
Virgins; am friend OF your hus-
bands and have come all the way
from Missouri TO see him. Is he al
home ?"
HE is not just at present, but l ex-
pect him before long; will you walk
in and wait until he returns or call
again ?" ...
"Oh!I1l go in and wait for him.
You see knew Sammy years ago
long before he was married. We
were always together, always up 10
some deviiment. and in more scrapes
-Uh Lord " and Mr.. Virgins chuck
led convulsively at the thought OF
them as he followed Mrs. Jones into
the parlor. I've been living out
there in Missouri at Saint 10 eleven
years," he continued, ''and have
thought a hundred times how delight
full il would be to make Sammy q
visit, but you see / never could make
it exactly convenient to get away
but the other dayI got to thinking
over the old times again, and just said
to myself, whats the use OF putting
it off? Pm going to go now, and sur
prise the old bcy,' and off came and
here am But bless my souli Mrs.
Jones you've got company. Now you
go on and attend to them, and don'i
mind me. I'll just take chair here
and look over these books on the Ia
BILE until Sammy comes in; don'i
mind me-" and seating himself, Mr..
Virgins was soon absorbed in the
study of some children's picture books
that had caught his eye. Occasionally
he raised his head with a comical ca
gerness as he thought he recognized
the footsteps OF his old friend out
side, but dropped it again when con-
-, <~Fh Hsrr,o "a
grew dark; lights were brought in
and still Mr.. Jones tarried. A slight
shake oflanxiety was creeping over
Mr.. Virgins face. 2 He was getting
impatient, and manifested it by the
increasing frequency with which he
ran his fingersithroug his scant hair,
He had finished "Mother Hubbard,
Jack the Giant Killer" and was hall
way through "Esop's Fables" when
gentleman entered the room, greet.
ed everybody cordially, picked up the
baby and proceeded to make himself
very much at home. Mr.. Wiggins
| looked up at him as he entered, but
perceiving that it was a stranger. paid
no turther attention to him. What
was his astonishment minute Later
to hear Mrs. Jones addressing tht
stranger as her husband, and telling
him that there sat his old friend Mr.
Virgins from Missouri, who had beer
waiting more than two hours to SEE
him. 7as .s-9
Mr.. Wiggins could hardly believe
his ears. but arose and explained tha
| it was Samuel Jones that he wanted
to see.
"That is my name," said the gentle
man advancing.
samuel Jones 2"
s"Samuel Jones'"
Mr.. Virgins was becoming embar
rassed. lie rubbed his hands togeth
er in helpless way aud ventured the
opinion that there was some mistake
.You don't know me ?" he added.
81 haven't that pleasure" answered
Mr.. Jones, good humoredly "bu
1 think l understand the situa
/ ton. A Samuel Jones lives in thu
house opposite this on the southeas
corner. He is ITO doubt the 1rient
YOU are looking for. But neve
mind," he continued, ''mistakes will
happen, and this is not very serion
one, come out and have some suppe
with US, and you eau call on him after
wards"
The invitation was kindly given
but Mr.. Virgins embarrassment wa
too great to permit OF his accepting it
With stammering apology he pos
sessed himself of his hat and carpe
bag, Quilted the house, and was sool
ringing the bell on the southeast cor
ner.
He had some difficulty in arousin'
anybody, but al lasts scrawny ser
vantSgirl came to the door, and open
ing it about quarter of an inch de
Inanded his business.
Il want to see Mr.. Jones-Mr. Sam
uel Jones'" he added, rememberinl
his late adventure. ~ '1@
"Mr. Jones amt at home they'r
all QOna IN Ornvar meatinu"