The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1877-04-13
ONL L 4 JOKE.
BY MRS. ANNIE a. PRESTON.

"a difference of tastes i'm Jokes is great
strain on the affections ''-George Eliot.
81 was always fond of a joke" said
Uucle Moses Fuller to the friends who had
assembled to commemorate the golden
wedding of his good wife, Aunt Patty. and
himself. But jokes have their proper
times and places, aud that reminds me of
little story that will relate to you, young
people, willie 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 distant day
if there is any truth in signs or in hearsay
and none Of you will object to receiving
mild lesson from an old man.
Il was always fond of a Joke as | was
saying, but | never 'joked' my wife but
once. That was after we had been mar
ried about week, aud had got nicely to
housekeeping. The old minister who had
married us, and who 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 cor
daily given with evident pleasure.
Gas they were our. first visitors, Patty
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
in her shy, quiet, womanly way, max ing
the biscuit, looking at and turning them
i'll the tin baker 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 chair around the neatly
spread aud 5nuutifully loaded table, and
just at that moment / thought more,
r
of Patty's C ,oking and housekeeping than
did of the grace lie was saying. Both of
our guests praised the light, short properly
Drowned biscuit, and Patty's girish face
flushed with genuine pleasure she shyly
glanced up at my face for her husband 5
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. Fuller said the parsons wife, con-
siderately helping out her speech.
"'Oh, yes ," | replied fiippantly, think
ing it would no. do to praise my wife be-
fore company, and not Ielishing the posi-
bility of losing an opportunity to get off
one of my jokes, i like them, to be sure /:
but should hate to have anybody throw
one of them at my head, for the conse-
quences might be serious Patty's coun-
teuance changed as if she had received a
blow and wife-lke she tried to throw off
her i'll concealed modification at my
thoughtless speech. Although | could
fiud no fault with the way she performed
her Duties as hostess, | noticed she a.e
very little of the supper.
''Mr. and Mrs. Bancroft started for their
home just before dark, and as | was tuck
ing them up in their comfortable old
chaise thought what n happy, contented
old couple they were. When | handed the
parson the reins, after everything was
ready. ard they had hidden Patty good
night, and she ha6 gone back through the
gate into the yard, he leaned down towards
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
81 felt like a brute all the time | was
getting the cows and milking and doing
the chores. When | carried into the
kitchen the brimming 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. | kiss
cd her impulsively with my heart in my
throat, and catching the empty water pail
started for the well. didn't make any
promises to anybody but TO myself
"The moon WAS shining high in the
heavens, aud as | ran down the bucket,
saw it reflected in the clear water ut the
bottom of the round, deep well. | felt as
if il nigh: be Patty's love going down.
down, far beyond my reach, Slipping away
from me forever. As / dIew mp the brim-
ming, messy bucket, the brilliant harvest
moon was reflected upon that. too. in bro
ken flashes Of light. shining up curiously
from the dark depths of the we'll. / hur-
riedly drew mp the smooth pole, feeling
that L was regaining what had come near
losing.
Il set the overfiowing bucket down upon
the soft green grass, and let it be Until the
perturbed water became still and smooth
like a mirror. Then looking into it | saw
tie moon peaceful and calm once more. |
emptied the bucket into my pail, and as
did so, said aloud Il viii never joke
Patty again. She is gentle aud sweet, and
sensitive faI too good for rough fellow
like me. | will never grieve her tender,
loving heart by my peculiar kind OF Joking
again.
"And have kept my word. We were
married fifty years ago to day, and although
have had my jokes with other people
jokes that they say are rather cutting,
though Uncle Moses don't mean anything
i have never inlled my wife. She has
proved To be unalloyed gold, and thanks to
the good old parSOn advice, II has not
been defaced or had it's luster dmmed 10y
rough usage. | have never happened to
see the moon reflected in the old well with
out the memory of those supremely uuhar-
py moments coming back to me. Life is
short at the best, young people, and you
cannot bc too careful about wounding the
of those who are nearest and
dearest to you"
4 REMARKABI.E TURTLE STORY. We
have all heard of the frog story, but we
have the land turtle this time. In chop
ping down tree about two feet in diane