River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1879-02-13
News Through a Knot Hole.

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News Through a kn0t- Hole.
Mrs. jenkins lived in the other part Of
Rev. Mr.. Capers' house, and thought her
self fortunate in the enjoyment OF so great
a privilege Most good people like 70 be
rs hear minister as they can. Mrs. Jen-
klns did. Fer part was merely an L.
built on the man structure. Her little
attic. therefore, was neighbor to the min
isters study. Just in the corner of the
minister's study floor was a knot-hole,
trihing sort of thing in itself; but
when once found to open into Mrs. Jen-
kins' attic, of the widest Importance in its
consequences.
When Mrs. Jenkins finally became
aware of 50 close a connection with the
ministers family, she sat down to fold her
hands and congratulate herself Next
she formed her resolution not to LET any
good opportunity slip rnimproved to in
form herself of matters that would other
wise remain dark 70 her. Day after day,
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 day to
day as there is in the price of stocks on
exchange.
Going up 10 the little attic one after
noon to hear if anythlng special was doing
in the adjoining apartment, she was de-
lighted beyond expression to catch the
sound OF voice 1t was Mr.. Capers in
conversation with his wife. Up she
climbed, walked tiptoe across the garnet
floor, got down on her knees, and put her
ear as close to the knot hole as she could
getit She even shut her eyes, lest some
Of the good things should escape by that
way.
Fer awhile she did not undo rstand
anything clearly. Now she heard Mrs.
Capers laugh; then Mr. Capers stopped a
a minute and laughed too. This served
to excite her the more, and she pressed
her head 50 close against the rough par
tision that when she came to go away SIZE
carried off splinters IN plenty in her bar.
Finally she heard something with dis
tiactness. Mr.. Capers was telling his wife,
who appeared to he 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
our 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 a stop to it; he had
enough of it. 1t did not do her any sort
OF good, and made great deal oftrouble
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, eff our minister says that of
Mr. Jonesl'
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 T4utog.
Now | want to know" said tine latter,
as Mrs. jenkins came through the back
entrance, "do tell if that's your Sit down,
do What's the word this afternoon?
Heard anything very new lately?"
90, well, mol do'no either; p'raps it
may be new to you, though"
"Why, what is it27 said she. 81 dare
say It's. I'm not in the way Of hearin'
anything till everybody else has picked
it up ali clean. What is it now2"
"Oh we'll, nothin' really worth mem
tiunin. But then You may as well know
as me. It's nothin, th ugh, that | care
to have go from me; you know | don {
wish to be mixed up in this scrape."
'No, your name shant be mentioned.
But what Is it. Mrs. Jenkinsl What is it,
Do pray tell me suddin', for am dyin'
to know
'It's no great affair after all, though.
Still it's something. But this is all there
is TO it Mr.. Jones has got to abuein' his
wife most dreadfully; and he declares
that If she thinks of goin out visitin',
he'll surely shut her up where she cant
get out so soon
"Of ALI the things in the world
ayes, and more'n that; he's even gone
and forbid her gCin' to evenin' meetings.
What DO u think o such man as
thatG"
II think he's a monster
"And so do /. 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 10 think of II!
How did you hear aboutiti wonder
if folks generally know it. How did you
hear about it, I'd like to know
"Well, 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
be gaddin' around the neighborhood for,
/ telin' hard stories about respectable folks.
] Who did tell you, thought"
/ Nobody told me exactly, but hap
! pei 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 evel
thought of such thing of Mr.. Jones
/ But I've seemed to take notice back along
+ that his wife was good deal down hearted
and sort o melancholy like. And that
must be the reason, know. that ex.
plains it all.
/ " Yes, said Mrs. jenkins, that's it.
The latter did not stay very long after
unbosoming herself of her heavy secret
when off posted Mrs Tautog, armed and
I EUQtDpGO ICE AllG biaNG buSlllCSo size HtA
in hand. The first house she dropped
into was Mrs. Mallory's.
Mrs Mallory said she, almost as soor
as she was seated, shave you heard tn,
I news3'
Why no" answered the astomshed la
dy what is it, prav!'
And forthwith Mrs. Tautog related al
/ that Mrs jenkins had been kind eDougt
to tell her, sad good deal more, saying
| nothing about the embellishments sht
| laid on in the coutse of her story.
Mrs Mallory wss astouihsed. Of course
and, as soon IS her visitor had withdrawn
/ she dons he. bonnet and shaw and whip.
across to Mrs. Drinks. There the story
was repeated with variations ami consid
I cradle additions Then Mrs Brink took
! 1t M: and then Mrs. Murry got interested
in il, and then Mrs Filpot, ana 50 on, til
every body had got hold of il and has
talked it up ana had passed judgement
upon the man who was guilty OF sacf
mslpTsctice upon his family. II had
stopped right there, perhaps 1t woulc