Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1876-09-21
MisrrIlaneous.
Learning to Spell Kate.

Clearly Widow Arnold's hens were the
cause OF James ilenry's shiftlessness. One
day fearful clatter proceeded from the
hen house 'cacklc. cachle, cacklc. cut cut,
cut cutarser, cut cut t.cut, cutarker.' cried
the hens then the old rooster mounted up
ON Darrell at the door and tapped his
wings in a triumphant fashion and crowed
so Justify that Mrs. Arnold who was frying
doughnuts in the kitchen. exclaimed
Good land, what's the matter with them
hens? Must be they've laid lots Of eggs.
they eat 'em up
But James Henry, who was whltiilng
with an old case knife, aud did not start,
only asked iHterestedlv. How many do
you suppose they've laid, mother:
oh, don't know, perhaps two dozen.
1 got twelve and half cents for the
last carried TO the store. \ jackknifc
don't cost bat quarter
Well, what of il? Go and get them
eggs
But say, mother, IL there's two dozen,
mayu't buy jackknifel All the rest OF
the boys have got EN-, Jim Green's Is 4
beauty. and ii didn't cost but quarter
why. Mrs. Green takes in washing :.
said his mother.
James saw his advantage Yes. and
james can WIillllt no uOIt II
he wa. about TO say. but feariLs his moth
er might take offence at this important
time. substituted cow-'no mure'n COW.
l bet them hens have laid as many as three
dozen they're cackling yet. Say, mother,
mayn't buy iackkuifeT
Yes. guess SO, If you are good boy
and learn well at school,
James Henry walked of jauntily. his
hands in his pockets and slight swing In
his gait betokening his satisfaction, until
eagerness getting the better OF his dignity,
he gave two or three jumps which brought
him 10 the door of the hen house. Alas,
for human hopes! There were but twenty
eggs. Lack four eggs OF q jackEnifc,
he said mourniully TO his mother as he en-
tered.
His look of disappointment was too much
for her tender heart and she went into the
pantry and returned with basket in
which reposed twenty-four eggs.
There, sonny she said kindly, go and
buy jackknife, but be sure and get a
strong one
James Henry was the only soI of his
mother, and she was widow. Years ago
she was rosy-cheeked farmers girl. Il
belle and beauty. who for a while firted
and kept the beaux' hearts a ilutterins in
their chaprin. married the least among
,h.m Nstrbew Arnold. with a fine chat
,aued Es1agns, but none in this country,
and great fortune in hopes and plans as
yet NOT realized Mary's father bought
ibem a little house and garden when he
found her mind was made up to marry
Ns,hsw and they went 10 housekeeping In
thai hannv inconseoueut fashion people
ore ant 70 ni,v
Had Mathew been rich his friends would
have called him oepius. but. as it was.
,vo vesrs had not elapsed ere the neigh
hors s.id he was .shiftles,.' no calculator ::
which now I tbjnk of il are SYNONYMOUS
,',;,h ,an;us
Rn, whs,ever the meaning of the word.
,ha honsa mot the spanish Castle. began to
.na 80 d;,..nidated annearance. the fences
leaned over in a careless fashion, and the
80 swung idlv in the breeze. for Mathew
wSs slI the time Al work upon something
rho, wss sure to bring fortune-but
which never did Sometimes il was churns
of marvellous Workmanship which we're to
churn and work oct the buttermlk at the
sama ,ime. then IL was a clock with many
nor, features and was sure to become a
General favorite. again. a steam engine, a
s;,d of nernetusl motion IL WAS to use the
steam over and over again.
Bur uphappily, they all lacked some i'm.
nor,ant element. The churp wouldn't work
tha clock wouldn't 90. and the engine re-
N,ssd to nudge an inch.
Mrs. Arnold was the greatest possibl,
| contrast to her husband. But for her the,
| would have come 10 want. She IL was who
NOT only atte nded the household affairs