The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1878-04-25
KEWs FROM A KNoT-HOLE.

NEWS FROM A KNOT-HOLE.
Mrs. jenkins lived in the other par
Of Rev. Mr.. CaPer's house, and thought
herself fortunate in the enjoyment ol
50 great a privilege. Most good people
like to be as near the minister as they
can. Mrs. jenkins did. Her part wal
merely an l., built on the main struc
ture. Her little attic, therefore, wa'
ueighbOT to the minister's study. JUS
in the corner of the minister's study
door was a knOt-bole; a trihing sort Oi
thing in itself, but when once found tC
open into Mrs. Jenkins attic, of the
widest Importance in its consequences
When Mrs. Jenkins finally became
aware of SO close a 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 ear
and that knOt-hole renewed their ac-
quaintance with one another. Some
times she picked up quite a little bunch
Of news; Al d sometimes she went of
down stairs as hungry as ever. There
was as much variation from day to day
as there is in the price Of stocks of ex-
change.
Going up to her little attic one after
noon to hear if anything special was
doing in the, adjoining apartment, she
was d lighted beyond expressing to
catch the sound Of a voice. 1t was Mr..
CapeTs in conversation with his wife.
Up she climbed, walked tip-tOe across
the garret floor, got down on her knees,
and put Ler ear as close to the knot
hole 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.
CaperS laugh; then Mr.. Capers stopped
d minute and laughed, too. This
served to excite her the more, and she
pressed her head so close against the
rough partition that when she came to
go away she carried off splinters in
plenty in her hair
Finally she heard something with
distinctness. Mr.. Capers was telling
his wife who appeared to be in great
glee. of a man who had been saving hard
things to his wife. Said he, in the
course of his remarks
''Nlr. Jones got to abusing his family
at last. He declared his wife should
not go out visiting, and threatened 10
shut her up if she dared disobey him.
AS for going to those evening meetings,
he declared he meant to put a stop to
it; he had had enough Of it. 1t did not
10 her any sort of good, and made a
great deal of trouble and expense to
him. He should put an end to it at any
and every hazard!"
Mrs. jenkins started up IN blank sur
prise. 'Now want to know" +" said she
to herself ''If our minister says that of
Mr.. Jones?"
Without waiting TO hear any more
Mrs. Jenkins folded her arms tightly
and defantly about her, and started
down the stairs. The next thing sne
did was to throw on her things" and
start off at high speed for her friends,
Mrs. TautOg.
Now 1 want to knOw!" said the lat
. er, as Mrs. Jenkins came through the
back entrance, do tell if that's you'll
Sit down, do. What's The word tIls
aftornoon? Heard anything very new
lateIy?"
"Oh, well, mol do no, either; p'raps
It may be new to you though"
''Why, what is it?' said she. Il dare
say Ills. I'm not in the way of heTin'
anything till everybody else has picked
t up all clean. Wha is it now"
mo, your name shant bo mentioned.
But what is it? Mrs. Jenkins3 What
is it? Do pray tell me suddin', for I'm
a dyin' to know"
cit s no great affair after all, though.
ShH it's something. But this is all there
is to it-Mr. Jones has got to abUsin'
his wife most dreadfully; and he de-
clares that if she thinks Of goin' out a
he'll surely shut her up, where
she can'tget OutsO SOON"
''Of all the things in the world"
Eyes, and more'n that; he's even
gone and forbid her goin' 10 evenin'
What do you think O. such
a man as that?"
Il think he's mOnsterl"
"And so do l. But that amt quite
all. lie jaws her all the time, abuses
her, threatens her, and keeps her in
mortal fear of her lifeI Only to think
Of i'll"
'Uow did you hear about it? Iwonder
if folks generally know it? How did
you hear about it, I'd like to know"
'Weu, I'd as lief tell you as not, Mrs.
Tautog, but then you must promise
not to tell anybody else about it."
"Oh, to be sure not. What should I
be gaddin' around the neighbOrhOOd
for, tellin' hard stories about respecta-
BILE folks. Who did tell you, though?''
Nobody told me exactly; but hap.
~" to know it come in the first place
from v..- mister"
"You don't say SOP"
Mrs. jenkins nodded in silence,
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