Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1878-08-28
The elled Feather.

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needn't have said there's pet,' un-
less be liked, but he used to think that
1t was a great shame that women were
called all sorts of pretty names before
they were married, but none after
wards. 4 say says Sam, many o
the poor creatures are cheated with
them three pretty names; poor folks !
they think they'll always get them; but
they become mighty scarce, after the
finger is in the ring
We don't meau to tell all the names
Sam called his wife before they were
married; but now he called her 'pet:'
and as soon as she heard the loving
word, she threw down her duster on the
chair, and sped of to the kitchen for the
flask. The flask had feather in it, as
such TASKS generally have; and Sam,
taking the said feather between his
fere-fnger and thumb oiled the key Of
the street-door right well, and then
locked it and unlocked it dozen times.
AT first it went stiff, and required some
strength of wrist to turn it; but, as it
was worked to and fro, and the oil be-
gan to make its way into the wards, it
worked more and more easily, at last,
Tommy, Sans little son, who was
standing by, was able to turn it almost
with touch and then Sam pronoun-
ced that it would do.
The operation finished, Sam thought
he'd just give his knife touch of the
end of the feather; less than drop out
of the flask would do just a mere
touch-that was all it wanted; and
presently, to young Tommy's great
delight, his father made the blade go up
and down, click, click. Tommy
evidently app we'd Of the result, for he
began to CT. click with his tongue
and the roof OIL mis- mouth, in imitation;
and how long he might have delayed
his father, We can't tell, if it were not
that Mrs. Parsons caught him up in her
arms and made off with him, she call
ing Tommy n "saucy rogue and
kissing him on the way, and he on his
part click, clicking, as though his mouth
were cutler's shop, and you were
opening and shutting every knife in it.
Some folks might think that Sam
Parsons had done enough in the olling
way for one day; but there was one
thing more to do, and then he would be
quite ready to take his potatoes to
market. One or two Of the wheels Of
his wagon had been a trihe creaky, and
and so a touch Of its contents. You
could have rolled all he put upon them
into the size ola couple Of marbles,
but it was quite enough; the wheels
gave over their creaking. If the old
proverb be true. Silence gives consent
no doubt they approved of what Sam
had done.
Now, then, Pm of to market said
Sam, Good bye, Jenny, pet Oh that
little word pet didn't the cunning
fellow oil his wifs's temper, and eyen
almost her very joints, for her days
work, when he called her that little
name ?-'Gosd bye, Tommy, my dar-
ling Oh, you cunning man, there you
are with your oiled feather again for
when Tommy was naughty, and his
mother reminded him that she must
tell his father when he came home, and
father would be sore grieved if his
darling was naughty wasn't Tommy
good? for, child though he was, he was
able to reason thus much IN his mind;
Tommy is fathers darling, and he won't
vex him; darlings ought not to vex those
who love them. Never mind, good
reader. if there's flaw in the logic
nursery logic is sometimes very funny
reasoning, but it Unanswered the purpose;
naughty Tommy became good, and
cllck-clicked about the house as m erry
as a cricket, instead of sprawling and
bawling on the ground and all be-
cause his father happened to call him
darling before he went out.
4 say, Polly said Sam Parsons to
his one servant-mind, as he left the
house, don't forget to clean up those
irons, if you can manage it, there's a
good lass you'll find the oil.fask
hanging behing the kitchen door, And
so, with cheerful smile on his counte-
nance, Sam Parsons took his departure
for market. Ah! cunning Sam; before
he went he oiled his wife and child, and
now he oiled his servant-maid; and
when he turned his back upon his ewn
doer, he left smiling faces and glad
hearts behind him, and, l warrent, he
found them all smiling to receive him
when he came home.
Il have great faith in OIL said Sam
Parsons; 4 oil almost everything; this
very morning l oiled the lock Of my
street-door, and my pen-knife, and
creased my wagon-wheels; and I oiled
nay wife and child; and 1 gave the
ssrvant-maid touch too; and, tell
you what it is neighbor Joe, slip along
famously, where l find many another
sticks FAST
Rusty Joo's' torn nail seemed TO
give him a fresh twinge when the pen
knife was spoken about ; and so as to
the wife. his conscience reminded him
how bearishly he behaved to her at
breakfast.
what do you mean by oiling your
wife, lman?' said Rusty Joe,' rather