St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1877-04-20
Only a Joke.
TO BE READ BY HUSBANDS ONLY.


had assembled to commemorate the
golden wedding of his good wife, Aunt
Patty, and himself. "But jokes have
their proper times and places, and that
reminds me of little story that will
relate to you, yOung people, while
mother is in the other room taking
down the old china.
''SOme of you are married now, and
some of you are likely to be at no dis
tant day-if there is any truth i'll signs
or in hearsay-and none of you will Oh
ject to receiving mild lesson from an
old man.
81 was always fond of Joke as l
was saying, but | never jOked' my
wife but once. That was after we had
been married about week, and had
got nicely to housekeeping. The old
minister who married us, and who had
known us both all our lives, and his
wife, came to make US call, and Pat
ty urged them to stay to tea. They
accepted the invitation so cordially
given with evident pleasure.
"As they were our first visitors, Pat
ty wanted to put her best foot forward,
of course; so she made hot biscuit for
supper. | remember as if it were only
yesterday, how pretty she looked in
her blue home made gown, and clean,
freshly starched check apron, as she
was stepping around in her shy, quiet,
womanly way, making the biscuit, look
ing at and turning them in the tin bak-
ell before the open fire place, setting
the table, and pleasantly talking with
her guests at the same time for we
had no parlOr then.
81 felt quite proud of her, | assure
YOU, when we drew our chairs around
the neatly spread and bountifully
loaded table, and just at that moment |
thought more, | fear, of ParsOn and
Mrs. Bancrnft's opinion of Patty's cook
ing and housekeeping than l did of the
grace he was saying. Both of our
guests praised the light, short, properly
Drowned biscuit, and Patty's girlish
face flushed with genuine pleasure as
she shyly glanced up at my face for her
husbands approval. But | did not
speak, and presently she asked timidly :
Il hope you like them, Moses, for they
are the first biscuit | have made since
since Since you became Mrs. Full
ler,' said the parsons wife, consider
ately helping out her speech.
"'Oh, yes,'" | replied tiippantly,
thinking it would not do to praise my
wife before company, and not relishing
the possibility of losing an Opportum-
ty to get off one of my jokes Il like
them, to be sure; but | should hate to
have anybody throw one of them at my
head, for the consequences might be
serious Patty's countenance changed
as if she had received blow and wife
like she tried to throw off her i'll con-
cealed modification of my thoughtleSs
speech. Although | could find no fault
with the way she performed her duties
as hostess, | noticed she ate very little
of the supper.
"Mr. and Mrs. Bancroft started fOl
their home just before dark, and us
was tucking them up in their comfort
able old chaise thought what Il happy
contented old couple they were. WheI
handed the parson the reins, attel
everything was ready, and they haC
hidden Patty good night and she haC
gone back through the gate into the
yard, he leaned down towards me, anC
putting his trembling hand on my
shoulder. said: My son, bear in mine
that pure, FURNISHED geld even may bt
scratched and detaced by rough usage.
Il felt like a brute all the time | wa
getting the cows and milking and doins
the chores When | carried into tho
Patty was washing and polishing anC
putting away that very china she il
, now taking down, and | could see il
} the gathering twilight that she hat
, been crying. kissed her impulsivel,
with my heart in my throat, and catch
! ing the empty WATERFALL, started 70
the well. | didn't make any promise
to anybody but to myself.
"The moon was shining high in til,
heavens, and as ran down the bucket
! | saw it reflected in the clear water a
, the bottom of the round, deep well.
felt us if it might he Patty's love gOins
: down, down, far beyond my reach
: slipping away from me forever. AS
drew up the trimming, mossy bucket
Z the brilliant harvest moon was reflect
| ed upon that, too, in broken flashes o
4 light, shining up curiOusly from th
dark depths of the well. | hurried
: drew up the smooth pole, feeling tina
2 | was regaining what | had come nea
e losing.
81 set the overfOwing bucket dow
upon the soft, green grass, and let it L
3, until the perturbed water became sti
+ and smooth like a mirror. Then look
: ing into it | saw the moon peaceful an
calm once more. | emptied the buckle
l into my pail, and as | did so, sal
j, aloud: Il will never joke Patty agair
e She is gentle and sweet, and sensitive
0 far too good for rough fellow like mt
1 L will never grieve her tender, lovin
=. heart by my peculiar kind of jokin
V again
!, "And l have kept my word. w
d were married fifty years ago to-day
|. and although l have had my joke
with Other people-jokes that they sa
4 are rather cutting, though Uncle Nc
h ses don't mean anything have neve
' joked my wife. She has proved to b
= unalloyed gold, and, thanks to the goo
: old parsons advice, it has not been de
q faced or had its luster dimmed b
n rough usage. l have never happene
a to see the moon reflected i'll the old we
without the memory of those unhapp
r moments coming back to me. Life
3 short at the best, young people, an
q you cannot be too careful about wOunC
+ ing the sensibilities of those who al
4 nearest and dearest to you"
# A Sensible Mother.