The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1878-05-16
JAMES BROTHER JOHN.

JAMES BROTHER JOHN.
Only three little months since that
Saturday morning, and yet how the
world is changed to me! I had promised
my little son his favOrite dish of stuffed
meat for Sundays dinner, and had for
gotten thyme, the very root and essence
of all favors; SO, in hot haste, with my
sleeves rolled up, my white apron on,
and nothing but dusting cap on my
head, 1 rushed into Jane, singing cheerily
to myself, ~. Grtr aaFEa
s' L know bank xhereon the wild thyme blows
In truth, Jane was a bank where some
thing else could be had beside this fra
tided over a Sundays dinner with the
help of pudding or pie from her capa-
cious larder; and, on rare occasions,
seasons of dire necessity--for Jane was
more chary of money than anything else
| in the World-she had lent me bit of
currency, which l always paid back at
my earliest convenience, even if / was
compelled to borrow it from somebody
| else, because, / knew that, to be in James
! favor, one must not forget what she
called business transaction. | confess
| with shame and remorse that ] have lest
count of half leaves of bread, humps of
| butter, small quantities of vinegar, pep
per, mustard, even a scuttle of coal.
| These things have passed from my mem
Ory, and lett no distinct trace (; but
never have failed, when l have been
compelled to borrow money from my
sister in-law, to put the amount down on
| the kitchen door, and have even worn
string on my finger till the debt was
wiped out. She wasn't exactly my
sister-in-law--she was my br9ther-in
| laws brothers wife--but it amounted
to the same thing, and I've even intro
| duced her as my sister sometimes to
save ceremony. Jane generally ex-
plains, for she is very cOnsc!entlous
and strict woman, but the ramifcations
of relationship are so intricate that L
never stay to hear them unravelled.
| On this Saturday morning of which l
speak [ rushed into James kitchen,
| singing
| ''I know a bunk wherein the Wild thyme blows -
but the notes died away in an embar-
rassed cough. For there, by the kitchen
range, fitting back in his chair, and
staring at me with all his might, was a
strange gentleman. One could see he
was a gentleman at the first glance aud
| truth to say, all the good people that
visited Jane did not reach my idea of
true gentility. In the meanwhile a
warm, generous, encouraging smile
| lighted up mis- face.
''My--my sister is out ~ ] stammered,
| looking about me for Jane.
"Your sister," he said, in9uiringiy !;
and as Jane wasn't there, l was COM
| pelled to explain.
mot exactly my sister" l began ;
and suddenly he broke in:
! ''Your sister~in-law, you mean 2"
! "Oh, what does it matter ?" l said.
I" It's of some little consequence to
me-" be said, still smiling in his pleasant
way, and somehow 1 felt as if I'd
known him a hundred years. Before
knew it began telling him about the
stuffed meat for my little HOward's s
Sunday dinner / had to wait for Jane.
and it was stupid to stand there and
] saw nothing. At the least encourage
r1ent my tongue always ran like mill
race, and here was the brightest and
best OF reasons for talking, when had
so ready and willing listener, and one
so sympathizing and genial. From my
little Howard il was the easiest thing IL
the world to get back to his poor, deal
.l |
and comforted by the gentle sympathy
that shone in the face of this kind gen
tleman for my widowed and lonely con
dition.
AS usual, when my tongue ran ahead
of my reason, was brought up short by
the awkward consequence of this impuls
iyeness of mine, and when / found tha
was actually being consOled byan entir'
stranger, my tardy timidity took fright
and / should have beaten q retreat If h'
had not anticipated me- -5..5 b.
Il think Jane is coming" he said.
will go out tor walk, but hope soon K
see you again.
I couldn't help smiling when h
smiled, to save my life. He caught NJ
his hat from the dresser, and went to th'
Why, where are.,you going, John p
said Jane, upon the threshold.
g I'll be back presently he said, and
with another litSle nod 20 me he disap
J peared.
sticking pin in her baby's eye! " sait
Jane. 81 declare to goodness, a woman
that won't sew hooks and eyes or button
on her dress don't deserve to have (
baby !"
Z
NY poor, dear Howard used to say tha
: every embrace of his was at the risk o
being stabbed with pin or a needle, so
to change the subject, asked Jane wh'
the gentleman was that had just left us
, "Why, that $ brother John," salt
. Jane d" brother John, from Long Island
, He's such home body, I guess you'v'
never seen b m before" Here Jan
paused, ana winked her eye at me ant
+ smiled. Her smile was like her brothe
+: Johns, and lit up her whole face. YoI
: see," Jane went on, beginning to mol
. nersbread, but still nodding and winkip
at me, 4" Johns come down here 70
, somethin' special. My worst enem,
couldn't call me a matchmaker; bu
, when see poor widow stTugglin' along
I irwin TO keep the wolf from the dOol
, / can't help takin' an interest. There
: nothin' mean or contrivin' abou
. me "
? I'm sure there ism t, Jane" said.
e "And l hate 6 meddler; but eve
( since Belindy died Johns Just burie
:. himself down there at his place on Lon
Island beautiful place-bt-yl t. }iIl,
( repeated Jane, unctuOusly. Tree
= fsirly laden down with fruit; and whs
!, with new>laid eggs and cream, an
o hume made hams and sausage the plac
is next door to q paradise. There aIH
y no manner o. use Of Johns giyia' u
t his whole life to mournin' over Belindy
Y she had good time of it while sh