The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1875-07-28
"PETE'S LETTER.. "

week, We were told a good joke on a
rare good fellow, which has the merit |
of being literally true, and which is too |
good to keep-especiaily as we have
the permission of the party most inter-
ested to put it in print.
Several years ago a young couple
wee married in a pleasant Davies
county village. In due course of time
their union was blessed with a girl ba-
by. Like all other babies, their little
darling was not invulnerable to certain
diseases that seem specially to lie in
wait for unsuspecting and defenceless
infancy. Their child was stricken down
by one of these diseases, and a neigh
boring woman, a German, named
SHANKER, was very kind in her atten-
tons, and particularly so in the matter
of fixing up and bringing over good
les for the little invalid.
Now, it so happened that Mrs.
SHANKER had a son named PETER,
wild, worthless fellow, who bore the re-
verse of an enviable reputation; who
was Intimately acquainted with the in
terror of the Davies county Jail; and,
at the time we refer to, was in hiding
from the officers of the law. We will
not assert that PETE, Gas he was called
had ever been a sweetheart to the young
wife, because We have our doubts about
the truthfulness of such an assertion.
We only know that his mother could
beat the world making that most pal
atable comfit known as "'peach leather. "
One day Mrs. SHASKER came over
with some of the preserve just named,
which she handed to the young mother,
with the remark: "Here's peats ledder
for der sick papy."
The husband CHANGED to be within
earshot, but heard only the the first
words of the old woman. Instantly he
imagined that his wife was carrying on
a clandestine correspondence with the
disreputable PETE, and that the moth>
er of the latter was their gO-between.
And "the green-eyed monster" seized
him by the heart-strings.
After the old woman had departed.
he galloped into the room and pranced
up to his wife,
ellis every word a lanee-thrust, and
Each glance a flame of fire.
"Give me that lettero of PETE SHANK
ER's!" he demanded, in sharp, quick,
authoritative tones.
"What do you mean?" asked the as,
tonished wife.
81 want that letter; that's what ]
mean"
Il have no letter, and you ought to
be ashamed of yourself, so you ought
"No use in your trying to deceive me
knO,V you have a letter from PETI
SHANKER, and | want it, and | an
bound to have it, madam
"YOu must be crazy. siri"
"No, | am not crazy. And as t.
being ashamed, you are the one to b,
ashamed, yourself, to be getting letter.
from that id scoundrel and thief
fellow so mean and low down that tn,
dogs won't bark at him! Don't YOU
feel like you was i'll d-n fine business
madame, for a married woman?'
"Now l know you are crazy, sir"
"Pm crazy, am L? didn't hear tina
old hellcatsay, when she gave it to you
Here's Pete's letter? Oh, no! moth
ing of the sort! Now this fooling mus
be stopped! want and will have tina
letter."
Instantly the truth flashed upon tn
wife, and SO ludicrous was the error int
her husband had fallen, that her ange
1 gave place to mirth, and she burst int
; a fit of hearty laughter.
= "w hat! you shameless crea-"
; Enough, sir. will give you tn
l letter Mrs. SHANKER brought me, an
t going to the cupboard, still smiling
and taking out the ''peach leather,
turned and extended it towards he
= Jealous husband.
: He looked upon it, suddenly remen
> bered that Mrs. SHANKER was Dutcl
5 and realized what an egregious ninn
!, he nod made of himself. He MANU-
:. ly apologized to his wife, who as free
a forgave him; but to this day, whenev'
d he begins to shake his name preparat
o ry to squirt as a raging lion, she HI
r only to utter the words, "PETE's lie
;. ter when his bristles fall, and he b
d comes as meek and tractablc as Il sue
II ing dove.
~ Mr.. Howard Gray and wife, of Shell
VILE, are visiting her father, Dr. J.