Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-04-12
NO. sS.
Talss and Sketehes.
For the Journal.
JOBS STORY.
BY CONSTANCE STERLING.


never set eyes on prettier girl than
Lucy Clark was at seventeen. / alters
mad soft kind of a feelin' toward Lucy,
and | calculated to tell her of it sometime.
but wanted first to lay up bit of money
IN the bank, and get the pretty cottage
old Slimkins had to sell. | calculated to
furnish that cottage up right genteel, and
then ask Lucy to go with me to look at
it, and once in there / knew I'd have the
courage to ask her to be the mistress of
it. You see had it all planned out, and
there never was a feller took more pleas
ure in thinking over his plans than I did.
was a good hand in the shoe store then.
and knew my employers liked to have
me around. Dear me, how all them nice
plans | made fell through. But, ii you
care to listen. | will just tell you how it
all happened.
used to go TO Clarks considerable. |
guess | went there as often as three times
week, for it was kinder refreshin' lust
to see Lucy's sweet face. Not that saw
it every time | went there. But / was
alters sure to see Sarah James face, which
l didn't think either sweet or refreshin'.
She was Lucy's sister. and a sourer old
maid it was never my lot-but there! I'd
better keep still. Sarah Jane was alters
sweet enough in her talk to me. She
would meet me at the house door, and it
was "Walk right in Mr.. Snaflles, so glad
to see you. I'm all alone so fortunate
for us both. Let me take your hat and
stick All said with loving smile, an
OF course | would sit down in the parlor,
an wait till | was tired for Lucy to come
in.
where's Lucy l asked Sarah Jane
once.
THAT child has gone to bed" saws she
in tone snappin' turtle might use.
Then calculate I'd better be leavin'"
| says, and up got and went off without
so much as hearin' word from Sarah
Jane in answer but my how her ewes
snapped She looked ready to eat me
without salt or pepper.
The very next day | was sent down to
the railroad station TO see after package
of shoes, and who should | see standing
on the platform but Lucy! | rushed up
to her and held out my hand, but she
grew as white as chalk, and turned away
Don't speak to me, Job," says she, an
then the train came whizzIng up, and she
got on. | saw her face just for minute
at the car window, and her eyes were full
OF tears.
That evening l put on my best store
clothes and went up to Clark's. Sarah
Jane was as bright and smiling as bask-
ct OF chips, an so rugged up you'd never
have believed her to be over thirty years
old. After talkin' on common things for
long spell, an still no mention of Lucy,
couldn't stand the suspense l was in no
longer, an Just up and spoke.
where's Lucy gone ?" says all on
sudden, an Sarah Jane most hoped off
her chair, she was so surprised.
"She's gone TO her Aunt James. Three
of the children are down with the measles,
and Aunt James got the rheumatism so
bad she can't move. Lucy'll have enough
to do with 'em all, and besides that. Silas
Tucker, her young man, lives up there
Likely enough Lucy'll come back Mrs
Tucker"
The heart all seemed TO die out of me
as Sarah Jane finished her speech, for
knew Silas Tucker was a handsome young
| carpenter. and doing a good business. SO
| got up from my easy chair, and bid
Sarah Jane good night and went away
In a weeks time was struck down with
| a fever which was raging in the town, an
| didn't know nothin' for three whole
again who should be in the room but Sa-
rah Jane, and near by sat an old woman
whom | knew TO be Nanny Scott, a reg
ular sick nurse. Soon Sarah Jane went
out of the room an then | spoke TO old
Miss Scott an she came up to the bed,
and asked me how | felt, and did want
anything.
What's Sarah Jane doin' here p'' /
asked cross enough.
Sarah Jane is in her proper place.
says Miss Scott. ''She's nursed you
through and thin. A good wife she'll
make to Job Snaffles."
When | calculate on gettin married TO
Sarah Jane, III let you know, Miss Scott"
says |, crosser than before. Sarah Jane
brought me cruel, and soups. and beef tea
an in two weeks more / was all right
again. And not having seen Sarah Jane
for short space, l thought I'd do the
polite and go up to Clark's the first day
was out.
"Well, Sarah Jane met me in the hall
and took me right into the parlor. staid
awhile talkin' an was about to get up and
go, when she says, in queer tone
you're strange man, Job, and you're
bashful. But know your feelings, dear.
and SO Well be married as soon as you
please.
"Thanky, Sarah jane" says |, so as
tonished that the room seemed going
round, "but | don't calculate on gettin'
married yet awhile to any one"
'She got right up out of her chair and
came Up close to me. and her eyes glared
so, felt all weak like. JOB Snafies,''
says she in an awful voice, You shan't
trtle with me. You've been coming here
for over year, steady, and people have
talked about ii. Ii you don't marry me
I'll sue you for breach of promise"
Well, felt kinder as if didn't care who
married, since Lucy was gone up to her
Aunt James to marry Silas Tucker. so |
spoke cheerful as l could IAN right,
Sarah Jane. I'll marry you in two weeks
time"
Then what should she do but throw both
her long. bony arms around me, an be-
gin huggia' and kissin' me, and oh can't
tell you how fel. when the door opened,
and Lucy came in. When she saw Sarah