The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1878-03-08
NEWS FROM A KNOr.HOLE.

Her part was merely an L, built on the
main structure. Her little attic, there
fore, was neighbor to the minister's
study. just in the corner of the minis
ter's study was knot-hole; trifling
sort of thing in itself, but when once
found to open into Mrs. Jenkins attic.
of the widest Importance in its consc-
quences.
When Mrs. jenkins finally became
aware of so close connection with the
minister's family, she sat down to fold
her hands and congratulate herself
Next she formed her resolution.not to
let any good opportunity slip unim-
proved TO inform herself of matters
that would otherwise remain dark to
her. Day after day, therefore, her car
and that knot-holc renewed their
acquaintance with one another.
i Sometimes she picked up quite lit
tie bunch of news, and sometimes she
went down stairs as hungry as ever.
There was as much variation every dav
as there is in the price of stocks or
exchange.
Going up into her little attic one
afternoon to hear if anything special
was doing in the adjoining apartments,
she was delighted beyond expression to
catch the sound of voice. 1t was Mr..
Capcr in conversation with his wife.
Up she climbed, walked tip-toc
across the floor, got down on her knees.
put her ear as close to the knot-holc as
she could get it, She even shut her
eyes, lest some of the good things
should escape by that way.
For awhile she did not understand
anything clearly. Now she heard Mrs.
Capcr's laugh; and then Mr.. Caper
stopped a minute and laughed, too.
This served to excite her curiosity the
more, and she pressed her head so hard
against the rough partition that when
she came to go away she carried of
splinters in plenty in her hair.
Finally, she heard something with
distinctness. Mr.. Caper was telling
his wife, who appeared TO be in great
glee, of man who had been Saving
hard things to his wife. Said he, in the
course of his remarks:
"Mr. Jones got to abusing his family
at last. He declared his wife should
not go out visiting and threatened to
shut her up if she disobcyed him. AS
for going to these evening meetings.
he declared he meant to put stop to
it; he had had enough of it. 1t did not
do her any sort of good, and made a
great deal of trouble and expense TO
him. lie should put an end to il at all
hazard
Mrs. jenkins started up in blank sur
prise.
"Now, want to know" she said TO
herself, eff our minister says that of Mr..
,JOncs!'
Without waiting TO hear any more,
Mrs. Jenkins folded her arms tightly
and dcilantly about her and started
down stairs.
The next thing she did was to throw
on her "things" and start off at high
speed for her friends, Mrs. Tautog.
"Now, want TO know" said the lat
ter, rs Mrs Jenkins came through the
back entrance, 'dO tell if that's Won!
Sit down, do. What's the word this
afternoon! Heard anything very new,
lately?"
"Oh, well, no. don't, either:
praps il may be new to you, though"
"Why, what is it?" said she. "I
dare say tits. Fm not in the way of
hearing anything till every body else
has picked il all clean. What is il
now@
"Oh, well, nothin really worth men
tioning. But then you may as well
know rs me. It's nothing, though,
that care to have go from me, as You
know | don't wish TO be mixed up in
scrapes."
"No, your name shan't be mention
ed. But what is it, Mrs. jenkins?
What is it? Do tell me, for / am
dying to know"
alt is no great affair, after all. Still
it's something. But this is all there is
to it: Mr.. Jones has got to abusing his
wife dreadfully; and he declares that if
she thinks of goin' out a-visitin' he'll
surely shut her up where she can't get
out very soon."
"Of all things in the world!"
eyes, and more'n. that; he's even
gone aud forbid her goin' to evcnin
meetings. What do you think of such
man as that?'
81 think he is a monster!'
"And so do l. But that amt quite
all. He jaws her all the time, abuses
her, threatens her, and keeps her in
mortal fear of her life. Only think of
it,"
GLOW did you hear about it, I'd like
to knowr
"Well, I'd as lief tell You as not,
Mrs. Tautog, but then you must prom
isc not to tell any body else about it,"
"Oh, to be sure not. What should |
be gaddin' about the ueighborhood for,
telling hard stories about respectable
folks? Who did tell you thought"
"Nobody told me, exactly; but /
happen to know it come, in the first
place, from the minister"
"You don't say sol"
Mrs. jenkins nodded in silence.
"Well, | do declare now Who'd
ever thought of such thing of Mr..
Jones! But I've seemed to take no.
tice, back along, that his wife was a
good deal down-hearted and sort O.
melancholy like. And that must be
the reason, | know-that explains il
all."
eyes" said Mrs. jenkins, "thats
it,"
The latter did not stay very long
after nnbosoming herself of her heavy
secret, when off posted Mrs. Tautog,
armed and equipped for the brave bus
mess she had in hand. The first house
she dropped into was Mrs. Mallory's.
"Mrs. Mallory said she, almost as
soon as she was seated, shave yon
heard the newsy'
WI ny no" answered the astonshcd
lady, ,'"what is it, prayr'
And forthwith Mrs. Tautog narrated
all that Mrs. jenkins had been kind
enough to tell her, and a good deal
more-saying nothing about the en-
bellishments she laid OH in the course
of her story.
Mrs. Mallory was astonished, of
course, and as soon as her visitor had
Withdrawn, she domed her bonnet and
shawl, and whips across to Mrs. Dinks.
There the story was repeated, with
variations aud considerable additions.
Then Mre ninto tool- ,,,