Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1877-10-17
Only a joke.

golden Weddlng OF his good wife, Aunt
Patty, and himself. But jokes have
their proper time and places, and that
reminds ME of a little story will relate
to you young people while mother is in
the other room taking down the old
china.
''Some ofyou are married now, and
some ofyou are likely to be at no dis
tant day-if there is any truth in signs
and hearsay-and none Of you will OBJ
ject to receiving a mild lesson from an
old man.
II was always fond of a Joke as 1
was saying, but never 'joked' my wife
| but once. That was after we had been
married about a week, and had got
nicely to housekeeping. The old minis
ter who had married US, and had known
us both all our lives, and his wife, came
to make US call, and Patty urged them
to stay to tea. They accepted the
invitation, so cordially given, with
evident pleasure.
''As they were our first visitors,
Patty wanted to put her best foot
toward, of course, so she made hot
biscuit for supper. 1 remember it as
if it were only yesterday, how pretty
she looked in her blue homemade gown
and clear, fresh -starched checked apron
as she was stepping around in her shy,
quiet, womanly way, making the bis
| cult, looking at and turning them in the
tin baker before the open fireplace,
setting the table and pleasantly talking
with her guests at the same time, for
we had no parlor then.
| Il felt quite proud of her, 1 assure
you. when we drew our chairs around
the neatly-spread and bountifully-loaded
table, and just at that moment l
thought more. l fear, Of Parson and
Mrs. Bancroft's opinion of Patty's
cooking and housekeeping than did of
the grace he was saying. Both of our
guests praised the light, short, properly
brown 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: I hope you like
them, Moses, for they are the first
biscuit 1 have made since-since-.'
Since you have become Mrs. Fuller
said the parsons wife, considerably
helping out her speech.
sob, yes" replied fippantly, think
ing it would not do to praise my rc.re
.~e--. company, and not rellshing the
possibility losing the opportunity to
get off one of my Jokes like them,
to be sure but should hate to have
anybody throw one Of them at my head,
for the consequence might be serious
Patty's countenance changed as if she
had received a blow; and wife-hke, she
tired to throw off her ill-concealed
modification at my thoughtless speech.
Although I could find no fault with the
way she performed her duties as hostess
I noticed she ate very little of the
supper.
''Mr. and Mrs. Bancroft started for
their home just before dark, and as 1
was tucking them up in their comfor-
table old chaise thought what a happy
old couple they were. When l handed
! the parson the reins, after everything
was ready, and they had hidden Patty
good night and she had gone back
through the gate into the yard. he
leaned down toward me, and putting
his trembling hand On my shoulder
said: MY son, bear in mind that pure,
FURNISHED gold even may be scratched
and defaced by rough usage
i II felt like brute all the time I was
getting the cows and milking and doing
! the chores. When I carried into the
| kitchen the Drumming pals of milk,
Patty was Washing and polishing and
putting away that very China she is now
taking down, and could see in the
gathering twilight that she had been
crying. 1 kissed her impulsively with
my heart in my throat, and catching the
empty milk pail started for the well. /
didn't make any promises to anybody
!. but my self.
1.-The moon was shining high in the
heavens and as l ran down the bucket
: saw it reflected in the clear water at
the bottom of the round, deep well, I
feltas if it might be Patty's love going
down, down, far beyond my reach,
slipping from nae forever. AS drew
up the brimmlng, messy bucket, the
brilliant harvest moon was reflected on
that in broken flashes of light, shining
|up curiously from the dark depths of the
we'll. l hurriedly drew up the smooth
pole, feeling that was gaining what
had come near losing.
set the over-fowing bucket down
upon the soft, green grass, and let it be
until the purturbed water became still
and smooth like mirror. Then look
ing into it saw the moon peaceful and
calm once more, emptied the bucket
into the pail, and as did SO, said
aloud Twill never joke Patty again.
She is gentle and sweet and sensitive
far too good for rough fellow like me
1 will never grieve her tender, LOVING
heart by my peculiar kind of joking
again.
Il ''And l have kept my word. w,
were married so years ago to-day, an,
although have had my jokes will
! other people-jokes that they say are
f rather cutting, though Uncle Nose
t don't mean anything have neve
: joked with my wife. She has proved t.
no Ynalloyan GOLD and thonts 70 A.,