Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1881-07-20
An Eccentric Needle.


quilting in East Tennessee the noun
tain boys and girls were playing some
game like ''snap." Miss Maria Peel
ers was being chased around The room
by Jarkin Soby, her ardent admirer.
She gave a scream suddenly. and be-
gan TO examine Inc sole Of her foot.
whieh-as is the custom in that region
was shod with natures own morocco.
1t was found that she had stepped on
needle that had fallen by accident upon
the floor. As there were seven or
eight inches of black patent thread
hanging from the eye of the needle
Jsrkin insisted upon pulling it out, but
Maria screamed with fright at the bare
mention OF the thing. She would not
suffer any one 10 touch the string. So
Jarkin took ber up behind him on his
horse and took her home to the cid
iolks, intending, by The assistance of
the old man. to prevail upon her 10
let the needle be pulled out. Lo!
when they had made the trip there was
no thread visible, aud 1t was thought
that, as Maria's feet had daneled along,
it had caught on bush and pulled out.
All parties were in despair. Maria
was considerably frightened, but only
complained of a dreadful stitch in her
leg. Jarkin went home, after yalnly
training his own eyes TO fnd that of The
needle leaving Maria, as she said. TO
let the thing heal and work out. The
next day JarkLn called on Maria to see
If the place had begun to tester, but tho
hole, where the needle had entered.
was scarcely visible, and Maria was
complaining OF only a little stitch 10 her
knee, and was in such good spirits as
to place Jarkin 10 ecstacies. From
day to day the visits continued. and
Maria and Jaikin had forgotten all
about the needle. Maria now and then
complained TO her mother of a peculiar
stitch in different localities, but went
cheerfullY about her work. When Jar
kin called in the long evenings il was
evident that he sat very close TO Maria.
and while that silent ecstasy spoken of
In novels would steal over them they
would forget everything but their own
little heaven, until secular snore from
one OF the old people IN the back part
OF the room would cause them TO stir.
This thing continued until one night.
afIer they had been together longer and
closer than usual, Jarkin removed his
arm and sighed that he must 20. AS
be went to rise he gasped from a sharp
stitch in his side next to Maria. Maria
edged spasmodlcally toward Jarkin,
catching a short breath and holding TO
him convulsiyely. Jarkin felt an indies.
crioable pain ia the effort to part.
Maria hung to him with calculations
no more tender than indicative of great
physical pain. Finally they clung to
each other in wild alarm. Each ex-
claimed: "WhaPs the matterl o!
Maria! o! Jar-Jar-Jar-kin y,
The old folks awoke and struck a LIGHT
in great trepidaton. Seeing the couple
clinging TO each other the old gentle
man insisted upon immediate senara.
tion, but Maria screamed, "He can't:
Oh, he can't? Jarkln was in too much
mysticism 10 solve the question, and all
the old folks did in their vain ea5rts to
separate them was to elicit great cries
OF agony. After many inNffe ctual at
tempts the thing was given up. AS
beth parties seemed to be in the, ex.
tremest mental and physical anguish
doctor was sent for, and after MANY
hours arrived. Upon investigation he
found a short. 5lsck-patent thread
Iunning from Maria's side to Jarkin's
side. A new light broke over Maria's
lace at the revelation, while all the
others were thrown into the deepest
conjecture. Upon slgnifying that she
could at last solve the riddle, the par
ties waited breathlessly to hear. sits
that needle" "What needle, Maria ?n
why, its been workln' all this time,
that needle l tramped on at, the
qultn'."
The mystery was solved; the thread
bad not pulled out on the way home,
but as the needle had worked 10 out of
sight the thread had followed. 1t had
continued its course about Maria's
members, aid now all those inexplica-
BILE paine, which had for six months
disturbed her, were accounted for; and
Jarkin had been so persistent aud so
close iu his attentions that the needle
had impercephbly. in a protracted sit
Ilng Of the two, worked out OF Maria
into him, and, as it were, stitched them
together.
Hold on dar,' said colored man,
hailing an acquaintance. Does yer
cross de street sbery time yer sees me
ter keep from payin' dat bill? No l
Doesn't what fur, den? Ter keep