Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-11-17
"Call A Man!n

was John Eldred, living with his mother ON a
GOOD farm, left him by his father. who was
DEAD: They were in excellent circumstances
ana John y, was as happy as a well-to-do farmer
can pc e. ne was no fool, either, for he had a
good llbrary-and reatl it, too-and gained a
great deal OF useful knowledge. john Was
good-looking, not handsome man but a tall.
hnely-formed man. But John had one falling
In my eyes; he was twenty-six years old and
not married. Nor was there any prospect of
an any such event happening very soon, for of all
the bashful men that ever wore shirt collar
John E!dred was the worst. The girls in that
immediate vicinity were strangers to him.
John always avoiding everything that wore
dress, save his mother and sister.
johns mother was a quiet, loving woman,
VINO ever had uppermost in her mind the hap
piness OF her children, consequently she had
for some time secretly wished that John WA
married
Uertrude, johns sister, was a pretty Young
lady, and also shared her mothers wish. but
how to bring it about she could not imagine.
=, In the same neighborhood lived Judge
clark, VINO had a daughter named Mabel
Mabel, and although he had never BETRAYED If.
his sister had guessed his secret, and resolved
TO bring about matcn between the two. hut
Just how to do it she did not know.
1t happened in July, the anecdote am now
IN shape to relate. Gertrude had invited a
number OF girls to quilting party after
noon, Mabel among the rest She told John
they were coming, and then added:
NOW, John, for my sake, do come into tea
TINS afternoon. You know all the girls that
VIII De here, and"
But Gertrude, that patch of timcthv bv
the north wood must be cut, and as Jim has
gone to stay over Sunday, | shall have 10 cut
it, ~ o"'
And so, much to Gertrude's chasrip he
TOOK his scythe over his shoulder after dinner
ana started Tor the patch of timothy But he
fingered around the orchard until he saw the
plump figure OF Mabel Clark coming. and
then heaVlng sigh, he started for his work.
Inc patch OF timothy referred to was a new
ly-cleared piece of land, nearly surrounded by
woods, and go full of stumps and log piles
that 1t was impossible to use the machine.
Here we will leave Johh moving and return
to the party.
twas a very warm day, so the girls had
MoVed Inc chairs outdoors in the shade of
some large naples, and there they sat chatting,
Joking and laughing as only parcel OF high.
headed girls can.
Meanwhile John had moved several times
across the patch, and it began to be terribly
hot. The sun poured its rays down with
great intensity, and the thick wood on all
sides kept off any breeze that might be STIR
ring. John was more than hottie was fail-
~ boiling, and as thirsty as an old topper So
John. thlnslng that no one could possibly
see him, sat down on log and took Of his
SHOES and pantaloons, and then, with his long
Slngham shirt AID wide-rimmed straw hat
ana his socks, resumed moving. He had
moved twice across the piece, and was pick
ing out the tall grass around an old log pile,
when right beside him he saw pair OF blue
racers.
John was no cowaui, but he was mortaIIv
afraid of snakes If he had been warm before
ne was lump OF ice now. With dash of
his scythe he cut Off the head of one OF them,
and the other one raised his head and darted
toward him. John dropped his scythe, turn
ca ana jumped just as the hooked teeth OF the
snake caught above the wide, firm hem OF the
rear eud Of his bingham shirt.
He cast one look behind him and saw his
dreaded notwithstanding out like pen
nan from steamship-and, thinking only of
the terrible fate that awaited him if he sion
ped. bounded toward the house with the
speed OF an express train.
On, on he ran through the north meadow
and orchard, and, as he neared the house the
thought OF the party flashed on his mind But
there was no other way, and SO on he ran
lie dashed down past the west end of the
house, and as he rounded the corner the
Whole party OF girls met his view.
Call man!' he yelled, and then turned
the corner. SO great was his momentum
that the snake swung around and struck him
on his bare legs like the sharp sting OF a raw.
hide whip.
The girls screamed and Jumped. and the
quilt went over on the ground The vision
sped around the corner, and once more me-
the cry
Gail a man.
No quicker did lie disappear around the
corner OF the house than he would appear at
The other corner. Every time he turned the
corner he would receive terrible blow from
the cold, Shiny snake, which would raise him
from The grounc at least four feet, and at
every blow ne would veil:
Call mani
The frightened girls rushed for the house,
and they had hardly got inside the door as
Joan ln new past t. 1t with the shout:
Call mani"
Around the barn, back again toward the
house, went the strange pair, and as the gate
was again leaped. came the cry this time of:
"For Gods sake, call manp'
As he again disappeared around the house.
Mabel Clark an out of the door, and. Selling
d stick some four feet in length stationed ner,
self at the corner, with the cndgel elevated
above her head. Or came John, painting like
an engine, and as he came around the corner
down went the club, barely grazing John's
head but striking the racer blow that broke
its hold and back at the same time
John concluded it best not to wait, but
gather ng his remaining strength for final
dash, bounded into the house, up stairs, an
into his room.
An hour later Gertrude tapped at his door
John, will you come down to tea or shall
call man?'
II will come down, Gertrude was his an
swer, in firm tone.
And he did. He made careful toilet. and
there was not feature of his face that be;ray-
ed embarrassment Mabel had exacted a
promise from the girls not to speak of the
episode, or betray any knowledge OF it what
ever.
Mabel had Johns company home that night
and in the glorious October weather there was
a wedding at Judge Clark's. 1t was not un-
til then that the story came out, but John
often says to Mabel, Il am thankful to Proyi-
dence that you did not call a mani"
A few years ago there lived in an ajoin-
ing county a physician who, though not
an Adonis, was not the less respected for
his professional attachments than admired
for his social qualities. On one occasion,
after consultation in neighboring
county. and while at dinner with his host,
he asked him if he ever saw his (the doc