The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1878-11-20
"Call A Many

''Call A Man!'
pam, unassuming, bashful youno mon
was John Eidred, living with his mather nr -
good iarm, left him by his father. Who 1 ,H. -
a sS lhey were IN excellent circumstance.
can he ~ Tas as happy as well-to-do farmer
can De. he was no fool, either, for he had "a
good library-and read it, too,and eaine u q
81 eat deal OF useful KNOWLEDGE Jobn no q
sood-iooklng, not handsome man .but tail
nnelyiormed man. But John had one failinG'
III my eyes he was twenty-six wears old ana
noI married. Nor was there any prosDect If
any suGn event happening very soon, for of ali
John Eldred was the worst. The girls in o that
immediate vicinity We're strangers IN hin,
Sonn Always avoiding everything that wore a
oress, save his mother and sister
Soht lnother was quiet, loving woman
VINO ever had uppermost in her mind the han
plness OF ner children, consequently She had
married 'D@' 'ohn was
Gertrude, Johns sister, was nrettv vouro
iaay, and also shared her mothers wish bndf
now 10 prlng 1t about she could not imaSi,e
r, III Tue same neightorhood lived Judge
Ozark, who had daughter named MahsI
now, John had for a long time admired
Mabel, and although he had never BETRAYED It
nls sister mad guessed his secret, and resolved
h1,f
just how to do it she did not know. '''
1t happened in July, the anecdote am ,ov
10 shape TO relate. Gertrude had invited a
number OF girls to quilting party one after
noon, Mabel among the rest. She told John
they were coming, and then added:
NOW, John, for my sake, do come into tea
t .l!,S afternoon. You know all the girls that
will be here, and"
a. But, Gertrude, that patch of timothy BY
The north wood must be cut, and as Jim has
gone to stay over Sunday. shall have to cut
And SO, much to Gertrude's chaerin. he
TOOK his scythe over his shoulder after dinner
ana started for the patch of timothy. But he
fingered around the orchard until he saw the
pump hgure OF Mabel Clark coming, and
Then heavlng sigh, he started for his work.
The patch oftimothy referred to was new.
ly-cleared piece of land, nearly surrounded by
woods, and so full of stumps and log piles
mat 1t was impossible to use the machine
Here we will leave Johh moving and return
to the party.
1t was very warm day, so the girls had
moved the 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 lad 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 OF any breeze that might be stir
ring. John was more than hottie was fair
~ boiling, and as thirsty as an old toper, So
John, thinf ing that no one could possibly
see him, sat down on log and took off his
shoes and pantaloons, and then, with his long
gingham shirt aud wide trimmed straw hat
and his socks, resumed moving. He had
moved twice across the piece, and was pick.
ing out the tall grass around an old log pile,
hScj do IN
racers.
John was no coward, but he was mortally
afraid of snakes. If he had been warm before
he 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
ed and jumped just as the hooked teeth of the
rear end of his Bingham shirt.
He cast one look behind him and saw his
dreaded notwithstanding out like a pen
nant from steamshi p-and, thinking only of
the terrible fate that awaited him if he stop
ped. bounded toward the house with the
speed OF al 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.
He dashed down past the west end of the
house, and as he rounded the corner the
whole party of girls met his view.
'Call mani" be 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 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 came
ehe cry:
Call a mani"
No quicker did he 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
rom the grounc at least four feet, and at
every blow ne would yell:
"Call manp' .-E
The frightened girls rushed for the house,
md they had hardly got inside the door as
John flew past it with the shout:
Call manW
Around the barn, back again toward the
house, went the strange pair, and as the gate
vas again leaped, came the cry this time Of:
"For Gods sake, call mani"
As he again disappeared around thehouse,
0abel Clark an out of the door. and, Selling
stick some four feet in length stationedkh r.
elf at the corner, with the cudgel elevated
bove her head. On came John, painting like
n engine, and as he came around the corner
own went the club, barely grazing Johns
ead but striking the racer blow that broke
Is hold and back at the same time
John concluded it best not to wait, but
ather ing his remaining strength for final
ash, bounded into the house, up stairs, an
lto his room.
An hour later Gertrude tapped at his door
John, will you come down to tea or shall
all q many"
81 will come down, Gertrude" was his an
yer, in firm tone.
And he did. He made careful toilet, and
here was not feature of his face that betray
i embarrassment. Mabel had exacted q
romise from the girls not to speak Of the
pisode or betray any knowledge OF it what
yer.
Mabel had Johns company home that night
nd in the glorous October weather there was
wedding at Judge Clark's. 1t was not I'M
l then that the story came out but John
ften says to Mabel, II am thankful to Proyi-
ence that you did not call mani"
Child-"Ma, dear, we must be
reat people. Here's our name upon
oat!" Ma-"Yes, dear; the owners select
le names of great or famous people for