Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1879-02-13


Has the future pledge supplied;
For We know that when we "awaken"
We shall be satisfied"
-Temsleys Magazines
News Through a Knst-H Hole.
Mrs. Jenkins lived in the other part Of
Rev. MIR. Capers' house, and thought her.
self fortunate in the enjoyment of so grea,
a privilege. Most good people like to be
as near minister as they can. Mrs. Jen-
klns did. Fer part was merely an L.,
built on the main structure. Her little
attic, therefore, was neighbor to the min.
listers study. Just in the corner of the
minister's study floor was knot-hole,
triaing sort of thing in itself; but
when once found to open into Mrs. Jen-
kins' attic, of the widest importance in its
consequences. =. s<3
When Mrs. Jenkins finally became
aware of 80 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 unimproved to in
form herself of matters that would other
wise remain dark to her. Day after dav,
therefore, her ear and that knot-hole re-
newed their acquaintance with one an
other. Sometimes she picked up quite a
little bunch of news, and sometimes she
went off down stairs as hungry as ever.
There was as much variation from dav ia
day as there is in the price of stocks on
exchange.
Going up to the little attic one after
noon to hear if anything special was doing
ia the adjoining apartment, she was de-
lighted beyond expression to catch the
sound OF voice. It was Mr.. Capers in
conversation with his wife. Up she
climbed, walked tiptoe across the garrett
floor, got down on her knees, and put her
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 a
minute and laughed too. This served
to excite her the more, and she pressed
her head so close against the rough par
tition that when she came to 90 away size
carried off splinters IN plenty in her hal".
Finally she heard something with dis
tinctness.. Mr.. Capers was telling his wife,
who appeared to be in great glee, OF a
man who had been saying hard things to
his wife. Said he in the course of his
remarks:
"Mr. Jones got to abusing his wife, at
last. He declared his wife should not 90
out visiting, and threatened to shut her up
if she dared disobey him. As for going
to those evening meetings, he declared
he meant to put stop to it: he had
enough Of it. It did not do 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 I want to know" said she
to herself, IF our minister says that OF
Mr.. Jones2;'
Without waiting to hear any more,
Mrs. Jenkins folded her arms tightly
bout her. and started down the stairs.
The next thing she did was to throw on
her "things" and start off at high speed
for her friends, Mrs. T1utog.
'Now want TO know" said the latter
as Mrs. Jenkins came through the back
entrance, "do tell if that's you2 Sit down
do. What's the word this afternooni
Heard anything very new lately9"
"O.I, we'll, no. do'no either; p'raps il
may be new to you, though
"Why, what is it9" said she. II dare
say tits. I'm not in the. way Of hearin
anything till everybody else has picked
it up all clean. What is it now?"
"Oh we'll, nothin' really worth men
tionin. But then you may as we'll know
as me. It's nothin,' til ugh, that carr
to have go from me; you know I dom
wish to be mixed up in this scrape."
mo, your name shap't be mentioned
But what is It, Mrs. j enkinsy What is it
Do pray tell me suddin', for I am dyin
to know"
'It's no great affair after all, though
Still it's something. But this is all Their,
is to it,-Mr. Jones has got to abusin' hi
wife most dreadfully; and he declare
that it she thinks of goin' out visitin'
he'll surely shut her up where she can
get out so soon."
"Ofall the things in the worldr'
eyes, and more'n that; he's even gon
and forbid her goin' to evenin' meetings
What do you think O. such man a
that2" - i
II think he's monster!"
"And so do I. But that amt quite all
He jaws her: all the time, abuses bel
threatens her, and keeps her in morta
fear of her life. Only to think of it!'
"How did you hear about it, Iwonde
if folks generally know it. How did yo
hear about it, I'd like to know2'
"Well, Id as lief tell you as not, MR.
Tautog, but then you must promise NO
to tell anybody else about it."
"Oh, to be sure not. What should
be gaddin' around the neighborhood fol
tellin' hard stories about respectable folk!
Who did tell you, though2'
Nobody told. me exactly, but hap
pen to know it come, in the first place
from the minister"
"You don't say sol"
Mrs. Jenkins nodded in silence. y
"Well, do declare now! Who'd eve
thought Of such thing of Mr.. Jones
But I've seemed to take notice back alon
thathis wife was good deal down -hearte
and sort O. melancholy like. And til,
must be the reason, T know,-that e.
plains it all.'' -, .u- -
Eyes" ssaid Mrs. j enkins, that's it,,
The latter did not stay very long aft
unbosoming herself of, her heavy secre
when off posted Mrs. Tautog,, armed an
equipped for the brave business she ha
in hand. The first house she droppe
into was Mrs. Mallory's.
MRS Mallory" said she, almost as soc
as she was seated, 7t'haye you heard Il
news2" .:--........ -u..., .;.n,,. .....
"Why no." answered the astonished l
dy. "What is it, prav?" E3H& ] II g
And forthwith Mrs. Tautog related q
that Mrs Jenkins had been kind enoue
to tell her, and good deal more, sayir
nothing about the embellishments 81
laid on in the course of her story -.
Mrs. Mallory was astonihsed, of cours
and, as soon as her visitor had withdraw
j. Il sSl SS