Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1877-08-30
Our Selected Story.
NEWS FROM A KNOT.HOLE.

! Mrs. jenkins lived in the other part O
Rev. Mr.. Caper's house. and thought her
self fortunate in the enjoyment Of SO grca
a privilege. Most people like to be as neal
the minister as they can. Mrs. jenkins
did. Her part was merely an l. built OF
the main structure. Her little attic. there
fore. was near neighbor to the minister
study. just in the corner Of the minister.
study floor was.a kno,-hole, a trifling sOr
IF thing in itself but. when once found Il
open into Mrs. jenkins attic. of the widest
importance in ts;;consequenccs.
When Mrs. jenkins finally became aware
Of so close connection with the minister
family she sat down to hold her hands and
congratulate herself: Next she formed her
resolution not to let any good opportunity
slip unimproved to inform herself of mat
ters that otherwise might remain in the
dark to her. Day after day. therefore. her
ear and that knot-hole renewed their ac-
quaintance with one another. Sometimes
she picked up quite bunch of news; and
sometimes she went down stairs as hungry
as ever. There was as much variation
from day to day as there is in the price of
stocks ON Exchange.
Going up into her little attic one after
noon to hear if anything special was doing
in the adjoining apartment, she was de-
lighted beyond expression to catch the
sound Of voice. 1t was Mr.. Capers in
conversation with his wife. Upshe climb
cd, walked. tip-toe across the garret floor.
got down on her. knees, and put her es'r
as close to the knot-hole us she could get
it. She even shut:her.eyes lest some of the
good things should escape by that way.
For while she did not understand any
thing clearly. Now she heard Mrs. Ca
pers laugh; then Mr.. Capers stopped a
minute and laughed too. This served to
excite her more. and she pressed her head
SO hard against hard partition. that when
she came to Cd away she carried off splin-
tiers in plenty in her hair. ..,.
Finally she heard something with dis
tinctness. Mr.. Capers was telling his wife.
who appeared in the greatest glee, ola
man who had been saying hard things to
his wife. Said he: in the course of his re-
marks:
Mr.. Jones got to abusing his family at
last. He declared his wife should not go
out visiting, and, threatened to shut her up
if she dared to disobey him. As for going
to these evening meetings, he declared he
meant to put stop to it; he had had en-
Ough of it. 1t did not do her any sort of
good, and made great deal of trouble
and expense to him. He should put an
end to it at any and Every haaard.''
Mrs. Jenkins started up in blank surprise.
"Now. want to knOw,'' she said to her
self. IF our minister says that of Mr..
JOnes..r
Without waiting to hear any more. Mrs.
jenkins folded her arms tightly and def
antly about her, and started down stairs
The next thing she did was to throw on
her things" and start off at high speed
for her friends, Mrs. TantOg.
Now, want to know!'' said the latter.
as Mrs. Jenkins came in through the back
entrance. 'Do tell if that's you! Sit down.
do. What's the word this afternoon.
Heard anything very new lately:''
'.Oh, well. no. dO'no, either: p'rhaps
it may be new to you, though
why, what is it?'' said she. dare saw
It's. Tn not in the way of hearin' any
thing till everybody else has picked it
clean. What is it, nOw?''
''Oh. well, nothin' really worth mention
ing. But, then, you may as well know as
me. It's nothin', though, that care to
nave go from ME; you know don't wish
% be mixed up iii THE scrape::"
mo, your name shaii't be mentioned.
But what is it, Mrs. Jenkins? What is it!
Do, pray, tell ME suddin', for I'm dyin' to
,now." a1i@E
Its no great affair, after all, though.
till, it's something. But this is all there
) to it-Mr. Jones has got to abnsin' his
gife most dreadfully; and he declares that
she thinks O. goin' out a visitin', he will
urely shut her up where she can't get out
OOn." r.
''Of all things in the world"
"Yes, and more than that; he's even
one and forbid her going to evenin' meet
lgs. What do you think O. such man
, thaty' f
II think he's monster"
"And so 10 l. But that amt quite all.