The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1879-04-11
"cALL A MAN"

4
man was John Eldred, living with his
mother, on good farm, left him by his
| father, who was dead. They were in ex-
cellent circumstances, and John was as
happy as well-to-do farmer can be. He
was no fool, either, for he had a good Ii
brary-and read it. too--and gained a
great deal of useful knowledge. John
was good looking, not a handsome man,
for there are none), but tall finely
formed man. But John had one fail
ing IN my eyes; he was twenty-six years
old and not married. Nor was there
any prospect OF such an event happening
very soon, for of all the bashful men
that ever wore a shirt collar, John Ell
bred was the worst. The girls in that
immediate neighborhood were strangers
TO him. John always avoided every
thing that wore dress, save his mother
and sister.
Johns mother was a quiet, loving wo-
man, who had ever uppermost in her
mind the happiness of her children, con-
sequently she had for some time secret
ly wished that John was married
Gertrude, Johns sister, was very
pretty young lady, and also shared her
mothers wish, but how to bring it about
she could not imagine.
In the same neighborhood lived
Judge Clark, who had daughter man,
ed Mabel. Now John had for long
time secretly admired Mabel, and al,
though he had never betrayed it, his sis
ter guessed his secret ana resolved to
bring about a match between the two,
but just how to do it she did not know.
1t happened in July the anecdote l
am now in shape to relate. Gertrude
had invited number of girls to a quilt
ing party. She told John that they
were coming, and added:
Now, John, for my sake do come in
to tea this afternoon. You know all the
girls that will be here, and''-
But, Gertrude, that patch of timothy
by the north wood must be cut, and as
Jim has gone home to stay over Sunday
shall have to cut it.
And so, much to Gertrude's chagrin,
he took his scythe over his shoulder af-
ter dinner, and started for the patch of
timothy. But he fingered around the
orchard until he saw the plump figure
OF Mabel Clark coming, and then heav-
ing sigh he started for his work
The patch of timothy referred to was
newly cleared piece of land, nearly sur
rounded by woods, and so full of stumps
and log piles that it was impossible to
use the machine. Here we will leave
John moving and return to the party.
1t was very warm day, so the girls
had moved the chairs out doors in the
shade of some large naples, and there
they sat chatting, joking and laughing
as only party of light-headed girls can
Meanwhile John had moved several
times across the patch, and it began to be
terrible hot. The sun poured its rays
down with great intensity, and the thick
wood on all sides kept off any breeze
that might be stirring. John was more
than hot-be was fairly boiling and thirs-
ty as an old topper. So John, thinking no
one could see him, sat down on log and
took off his shoes and pantaloons, and
then, with his long bingham shirt and
wide-rimmed straw hat and his socks,
resumed moving. He had moved twice
across the piece, and was picking out
the tall grass around an old log pile,
when right behind him he saw pair of
blue racers.
John was no coward, but he was NOR
tally 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, turned and
jumped just as the hooked teeth of the
snake caught above the wide, firm hem
of the rear end of his gingham shirt.
He cast one look behind him and saw
LIS OUT ike
the pennant from steamship; and think
ing only of the terrible fate that awaited
him if he stopped, bounded toward the
house with the speed of an express train
On, on he ran through the north mead
ow 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 manp' he yelled, and then
turned the corner. So great was the mo-
and struck him on his bare legs like the
sharp sting of a 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 the cry:
Call a man."
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 from the ground
at least four feet, and at every blow he
would yell
"CalI mani'
The frightened girls rushed for the
house, and had barely got inside the
door as John flew past it with the shout
Call mani"
Down across the road he went, leaping
the gate at a bound, and as he cantered
through the flock of hens, scattering
them in all directions, the shout rose
loud and clear
Call manr'
Around the barn back again to the
house, went the strange pair, and as the
gate was again leaped, came the cry
this time Of
"For Gods sake, call manr'
AS he again disappeared around the
house Mabel Clark ran out of the door,
and seiZing a stick some four feet in
length, stationed herself at the corner,
with the cudgel elevated over her head
On came John around the corner, down
went the club, barely grazing Johns
head, but striking the racer blow that
broke its hold and back at the same
time.
John concluded it best not to wait,
but gathering his remaining strength for
final dash, bounded into he house, up
stairs and into his room.
An hour later Gertrude tapped at his
door. "Jonn, will you come down to
tea, or shall 1 call man? 20
II will come down, Gertrude" he
said, in firm voice.
And he did. He made careful toilet,
and there was not a feature of his face
that betrayed embarrassment. Mabel
had extracted a promise from the girls
not to speak of the episode, or betray any
knowledge of it whatever.
Mabel had Johns company home that
night; and in the glorious October
weather there was a wedding at Judge
-Clark's. 1t was not until then that the
story came out; and John often says to
Mabel, Il am thankful to Providence
that you did not call MANI
Malaria is a SYNONYM for fouI air and