Weekly Trinity journal., 1878-12-28
Weaverville, December %, 1878
Written for the TRINITY JOURNAL
STUBBS' WOOiNC.
BY T. L. JONES.

Samantha Jane sweeping. AS this
was a portion of the daily routine of
duties devolving upon that lady, it may
seem that the Information was uncalled
for on our part. Every woman is pre-
sumed to sweep the house at least once
day, and why we should allude to it at all
may seem superhuous.
But Samantha Jane was sweeping.
Sweeping the porch. To the ordinary
observer this would Indicate that, having
disposed Of the other household cares, she
was about ready to sit down and read, or
sew, or devote herself to some other of
the lighter occupations of feminity.-
But such n conclusion, although it might
be one which would seem warranted by
the facts would be far from correct. A
peep into the interior of old man Stigger's
presumably happy home, would show the
breakfast dishes unwashed, the beds un-
made, and even the sweeping itself con-
fined to the exterior of the building.
Let US then enlghten the world as to
the cause of this departure of Samantha
Jane from all the ordinary rules of house
keeping. There was man in the case of
course. And while Samantha Jane was
sweeping, his approaching form began to
appear through the fog. For this was
Christmas morning, and have invaria-
bly, observed that Christmas morning is
foggy in a dry Winter. The coming
man was none other than my friend and
partner, Mr.. Peter Geiger, called, for
shortness, l suppose, "Old Stubbs. u
Not that he was either old or stubby, but
he was called that, as we always thought
on the principle that the boys called
another fellow deacon" because he
played seven-up in the chuch once while
waiting the arrival Of the preacher.
Samantha Jane continued to sweep the
porch, and the nearer Mr.. Geiger ap-
preached the more vigorously she piled
the broom. II this proceeding upon her
part was intended to awaken the admra-
ton Of Stubbs, very mnch doubt its
expedency. The broom, for some pur-
poses and the broomstick for others, are
proverbially woman's weapon, and a
thoughtful man seeing the nimbe dexter
ity with which she handled the one,
might we'll pause and consider if she
could not, if occasion called for it be
all 4 ntl D,,E
Mr.. Stubbs was not thoughtful man.
He reasoned, (when he reasoned at all,)
from analogy alone. Therefore it is but
justice to my old partner to say that when
his eyes rested upon tho 1.-the, active form
of the maiden, his thoughts dwelt only in
the present.
Samantha Jane continued to sweep,
apparently oblivious Of the existence of
anything in this wide world, except the
dust she was driving before her. But
while her form moved in sympathy with
the motion of the broomstick, a close
observer could have noted that her eyes
were cast furtively upon the mascu line
.
AS for my friend Geiger, or Stu bbs, if
you choose to call him, although he had
not expected this happy Meeting, he was
not unprepared for it. So when he reach
ed that point in the path nearest to the
dcmclIe of the venerable Stiggers, he
paused and sauted {:
"MOrnin :"
Samantha Jane quit sweeping with
start and little feminine yell. What
deceivers women are. She knew this
was Stubb's ordinary mode of giving the
mernng salUtation. But it did rot suit
her purpose to seem to be expecting any,
thing, hence the start and the yell alluded
to above.
"Lawk, Mr.. Geiger, how you frightened
me I"
"Its enough to skeer any good looking
creetur, i expect" assented Geiger.
"But now you've got over it, how are
you ?"
"Nicely, Mr.. Geiger, won't you drop
in and see the folks ?"
"I see 'em all care about seein' just
now," gallantly replied Stubbs.. Fact
is, Pm in suthn' of hurry. The boys
are layn' off to-day, bein its Christmas,
and l was just goin to the burg to get
some little traps to help 'em out"
II s'pose you'll be at the party, to-
night" questioned Samantha Jane.
"What is there to be party? This is
the first I've hearn of it"
"Why, do tell now And you hadn't
heard. Why its this way you see. Mrs.
Wilet's cousin, what came here last
week said it was shame that Christ
mas should pass, and 10 doin's. And so
they're goin' to have time at the hall"
"Glad to hear it," said Mr.. Stu bbs.-
"You'll be thar, of course"
"Wal, I don't know. Mebbe so."
What could Mr.. Geiger do What
would you do my young masculine
friend, if buxom, blooming Missouri
gal made a similar revelation to your
Mr.. Geiger took in the situation at .
glance. He saw that he was in for it,
and if | must tell the truth | think he
was rather glad Of it. So he did the only
thing possible for young man in hi