The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1878-09-19
Bijah's Hour.
A man whose every look betrayed
anxious thought knocked softly at
Biiah's door.
Detroit Free Press


anxious thought knocked softly at
Bijah's door.
One would know he was
Stranger there.
Mr.. Joy, this country is in an awful
way" he began as he took chair.
"Is-that-so?"
eyes. / can't sleep nights for think
ling of it. We must save her. We must
effect compromise between capital and
labor, creditor and debtor, office-holder
and elector, and thus save this glorious
old nation from destruction. Tell me
what to do, SIR"
Bijah looked him over from head to
foot, made mental guess at his age and
weight, and finally replied:
Mister man, my advice to you is to
begin to lay in turnips, Eaters and beans
for winter use, and to let this country
strictly alone. It's none O. your business
to save her, sir-none O. your business
what becomes of ,herl" &
"But won't you advise me, sir?"
eyes, you bet / will Go home, or
somewhere and get on clean shirt! Go
and get your hair cut and your face
washed! Go and fill up your lankness
with free lunch, and you might hire
boy to hoe the mud off them boots! Save
this country! Why, sir, you couldn't
save the northeast quarter of the south
west quarter of section one of mud
holel"
"Mr. Joy, do I deserve this?"
eyes, and more, too! There are a
dozen more just like you around town.
They are always talking about this poor
country, and wanting some one to save
her, while their wives and children 90
hungry for bread and shiver all winter
for the want of clothes. Git right out
of here, sir! Go and wash up and then
go to work! When this dear suffering
country wants your services I'll drop
you a postal card"
"Mr. Joy, won't you let me save this
country?"
"No, sirl
"Can't be a patriot2o
"No, sir!"
"Can't II"
No, sir!
The man paused for awhile, and then
in sad voice he asked:
"Mr. Joy, l believe you could lend
me quarter if you tried awful hard" I"
The old man grew black and blue in
the face, but suppressing his emotions
after a moment he forced smile and
replied:
"Please come out into the back yard.
I keep my silver buried out there for
fear of thieves
He started out, diabolical grin on
his mouth, but the man who wanted to
save the country made sudden break
for the street and got away.
MATRIMONIAL.
"No fearl No fear
Sleep. tmid helrt, sleep safely here.'
He was young man who had seen
about twenty-three years of turmoil and
| cheap watermelons, and he entered the
parlor in timid, hesitating way, and
| looked all around to make sure that a
third party was not present.
"Can speak to you in confidence? ("
he finally inquired.
"You can, sir. What passes between
us will never be known to the villainous
public-not word of it. J"
| Inc young HAL piusneu, nltcneu
around on bis chair, and finally re.
marked that he thought about getting
married.
Perfectly proper-so do l." was the
encouraging reply.
"The girl loves me and would marry
me tomorrow" continued the lover,
"but her mother hangs off,"
"Just the way with 'em," growled
Bijah-" wants her daughter to marry 8
golanda, / s'pose."
"Pm getting ten dollars week and
steady work, but her mother says We
can't get along on that. Sarah and
have figured, and we see how we coulc
live like bond-holders and save money
but the old lady is obstinate and says W.
shan't marry for five years to come"
"The hard-hearted old tarantula-
she must be brought to her senses
Young man, have you any of you
figures with your"
The lover produced from his wallet ;
paper headed: "What it will cost Saral
and me to live for one week" and passet
it over to the old janitor. 1t read as fol
lows:
| Tap ,,ornds Anur a A