The Worthington advance., 1876-06-29
How Jones Secured the Respect of Mre.
Jones.
From the Vicksburg Herald.

rEOIn Tie FlCkSDufB Hefol0
(Mrs. Jones was standing in her back
yard, feeding the chickens, when
StO1eWall Jackson came running in,
crying as though his heart would break,
and told her that Billy Brown had slap.
ped him for nothing. Mrs. Jones nev.
er said a word, but she grit her teeth
hard, and went into the house to cut
cabbage and chopped it so fine, think.
ing it was Bill Browns head, that you
might have sifted it through cob.
web. While Jones sat eating his din.
ner that evening, Mrs. Jones told him
of the outrage that had been commit.
ted, and asked him what he was going
to do about it. Jones pondered. Bill
Brown was fully twenty-one years old,
a shining light in the fire department,
pitcher in a base ball club, and had
the general reputation among experts
of being ''a good man. After con.
|sidering 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,
Sc my dear, such cattle are beneath our
notice.
"All right, Mr.. JONES' said Mrs.
Jones, eff you're not man enough to
protect your family, thank God I've
got brother," and she swept from
the room with a look that Jones knew
only too well. He had seen that same
look on his wife's face once before,
when he brought a friend home to
dinner on washing day, and he knew it
ment war. There was no help for it;
it flashes upon Jones with the swift.
ness of lightning; there would be nc
peace in the Jones family until the in
suit of the morning had been wiped
out with blood.
That night the boys were all sitting
in Il neighboring beer-saloon, and
it's genial proprietor was telling
them what he would do if lie got
the nomination for Alderman.
This gentleman, whom we will call
Mike, because that was not his name:
was an ex.prize-fghter, could barely
write his name, and was in many 9th.
er respects especially qualified for an
Alderman. He kept good beer, and
offered it with that lavish 1iberality
and recklessness of expenditure fol-
which Vicksburg candidates are fam
|Ous. Jones came in, took his pro rata
of beer, and sal himself down to med
itate upon the Brown affairs. At last
a happy idea seemed to strike him he
called for another ''shoo fly" and rub
bed his hands and slapped his knees in
gleeful anticipation.
At last he said to Mike, with a 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 do stand solid with.''
''That's strange said Jones.
"What's strange?'' said Mike, with
that uneasy, suspicious air SO common
among candidates.
''Oh nothing" said Jones, mysteri.
ously; 81 don't think ought to tell
''Jones," said Mike, solemnly, I'll
you're friend of mine you'll tell"
"Well, I will,'' said Jones, ''but you
must keep it confidential
"Allright; 60 ahead,'' said Nike
anxiously.
from the Centennial bar-room, and
heard Brown say that you didn't know
your head from shotgun; that hi
caught you one day reading a newspa
per upside down that he d sooner vote
for the lowest down nigger in the
ward than vote for you: and that il
you were elected city scrip would &C
down to cents on the dollar, and tax
es go up so high you couldn't react
them with a balloon
Mike put on his hat and coat ant
made bee-line for the Centennial bar
room.
Jones went home and sat down OF
the front gallery, smoking his cigal
with that peace Of mind which only
one can know whose bosom is distend
ed with the proud consciousness o1
having done a good action.
About a half an hour afterwards h,
said to his wife, who was sitting in
side:
''Mrs. Jones, l don't think Bill
Brown will hit our boy any more"
"Why 60
"COme and see.''
| Mrs. Jones stepped to the window
and looked out. They were bringing
Brown home on shutter, with botl
of his eyes bunged up and his nos,
dropping blood at every pore.
Mrs. Jones turned to her HUSBAND
and said:
''Darling, can you forgive me!''
Jones drew himself up haughtil,
and replied, with whitening sarcasm
s'Mrs. Jones, / don't think am able t.
protect this family; you'd better sem
for your brother"
Mrs. Jones was crushed.