Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1876-06-17
JONES vs.. BROWN.
How Jones saved his Credit at Homo by
MNkiag Good Uso Of Somebody Elsc's
Fighting Ability.

| M"Atuk e0OO Usc Of SOMEBODY Elnc'
Fighting Ability.
Tho vicksburg (Aiiss.) Herald is re
sponsible for the following story: Mrs
Jones was standing in her back yart
feeding the chickens, when Stonewal
Jackson came running in, crying ai
though his heart would break, and tolG
her that Bill Brown had slapped hin
for nothing. Mrs. Jones never said q
word, but she grit her teeth hard, and
went into the house to cut cabbage, and
chopped it so fine, thinking it was Bill
Browns head, that you might have
sifted it through cobweb. While
Jones sat eating his dinner that even.
ing, Mrs. Jones told him Of the out.
rage thathad been committed, and asked
him what he was going to do about it
Jones pondered. Bill Brown was fully
twonty-one years old, shining light in
the fire department, pitcher IN base
ball club, and had the general reputa-
tion among experts of being ga good
man." After considering these things
carefully, Jones came to the conclusion
that the best course to pursue was "to
treat Brown with silent contempt, and
SO he told his wife, adding, by way of
parenthesis, "my dear, such cattle are
beneath orr notice."
can right, Mr.. JONES'" said Mrs. j.,
"ifyou're not man enough to protect
your family, thank God |. I've got o
brother" and she swept from the room
with look that Jones knew only too
well. He had seen that samo look on
his wife's face once before, when he
brought friend home to dinner on wash
ing day, and he knew it meant war.
There was no help for it; it flashesupon
Jones with the swiftness of lightning !;
there would be no peace in the Jones
family until the insult of the morning
had been wiped out.
That night the boys were all sitting
in neighboring beer saloon, and its
genial proprietor was telling them what
he would do if he got the nomination
for alderman. This gentleman, whom
we will call Mike, because that was not
his name, was an ex-prize fighter, could
barely write his name, and was in many
other respects especially qualified for an
alderman. He kept good beer and
offered it with that lavish iberality and
recklessness OF expenditure for which
Vicksburg candidates are famous. Jones
came in, took his pro rata of beer, and
sat himself down to mediate upon the
Brown affair. At last happy idea
seemed to strike him; he called for an-
other "shoo-fy," and rubbed his hands
and slapped his knees in gleeful antici-
patton.
At last he said to Mike, with care
less air: "Mike, is Bill Brown one OF
your supporters
"You can just bet your munkey-
muck on that" says Mike, "there's a
boy I do stand solid with"
"That's STRANGE" said Jones.
what's stranger" said Mike, with
that uneasy, suspicious air SO common
among candidates.
"Oh, nothing" said Jones, mysteri-
ously; 81 don't think I ought to tell"
"Jones." said Mike, solemnly, "if
you're friend of mine you'll tell"
"Well, will, - said Jones, "but you
must keep it confidential.
"All right; 60 ahead" said Mike,
lnxiously.
"Well," said Jones, "I just came
rom the Centennial barroom, and heard
Brown say that you didn't know your
head from shotgun; that he caught
you, one day, reading newspaper up
'ide down; that he'd SOONER vote for the
owest down plantation boy in the ward
han vote for you, and that if you were
elected, city scrip would go down to five
,ents ON the dollar, and taxes go up so
high you couldn't reach them with
)alloor."
Mike put on his hatand coat and made
bee line for the Centennial barroom.
Jones went home and sat down on the
ront gallery, smoking his cigar with
hat peace of mind which only one can
now whose bosom is disbended with
he proud consciousness of having done
good action.
About half an hour afterward he said
o his wife, who was sitting inside:
"Mrs. j., don't think Bill Brown
7ill hit our boy any MORE"
"Why9"
"Come and see."
Mrs. Jones stepped to the window
nd looked out. They were bringing
Brown home on shutter, with both of
is eyes bunged up, and his nose drip
ing blood at every pore.
Mrs. Jones turned to her husband
nd said:
Darling, can you forgive me ?"
Jones drew himself up haughtily and
eplied with withering sarcasm: "Mrs.
ones, don't think I'm able to protect
his family; you had better send for
our brother"
Mrs. j. was crushed.