The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1881-12-24
"MARY SMITH,


uMaRv sMJTH.n
"Alecture, ehr' said Deacon Hobson,
changing the tobacco leisurely from one
cheek to the other, as he stood en-
tranced before the bulletin board of
the Stub Mountain Lyceum. "And
upon the Rights of Womenp Well.
swan! Mis- Hobson, she'll be a-wantln'
to hear it, an shouldn't wonder if
Jemimy Ann set up her dander. she'd
90 into the bargain. Gals is always
racin' arter every new idee. And p raps
it's good thing to stir us country folks
up-a rousin' good lecture once in q
while. Tickets twenty-five cents. Wal.
I'll think about it."
"a lecturer' said DR.. Briggs. the
newly fledged M. D., who had just hung
out his glittering blue-and-gold sign;
"and respecting women's rightsf l
cannot say that I approve Of the sub
ject; but q new conner like myself must
show himself in public, and there are
SO few opportunities in Stub Mountain.
Upon the whole, l think that l will take
o ticket"
"Women's rightsp" said old Mrs.
Mix, who was always tormenting the
Selectmen for the privilege of franchise
on election-day. and who went out to
gather her own hay in harvest-time,
with q mans boots and rather more
than mans strength. I'm powerful
glad on It. The subject needs agitation
in place like this. where there's wus
than Egyptian darkness. I'll 60, ii it
costs me q whole weeks butter
money"
And thus. in various styles and from
various motives, the Stub Mountaineers
commented on and approved of the lee
ture which was TO be delivered at the
lyceum on that Wednesday evening.
Squire Dodley stroked his long beard
as he checked his gray pony before the
the village store.
81 suppose my girls will insist on
going" said he; 'but there are so few
things going on at Stub Mountain that
it seems q pity to deny them little re-
creation" !.
And the landlord OF the Stub Mount
ain Hotel chuckled.
1T was an i'll wind that blew good
to nobody" he said, land any popular
sensation was good for business"
This was on Tuesday. Upon the
Wednesday morning, q stout gentle,
man, in o chaise, drew up to the hotel
and strutted up to the bar, with very
rubicund face and little, fiery eyes.
s.Mary Smith lectures here to-nightT'
said he.
al guess you're about right there
Squire" said the landlord, feeling II
his pocket for The bundle OF ClcKeCS
which the lyceum proprietor had au
thorized him to sell. "A poplar sub
jock, too. You can read all about 1t or
the bulletin-board out there, and
II forbid itr' said the stout gentle
man, growing redder and more apo
plectic with every moment.
:" Land o. Goshen!' said the land
lord.
"Sheis my wife," said the stranger
My name Is Smith-Zerubbaoel SMITH
land ! won't be disgraced BY any o
this Notwithstanding business!'
% Yes, l know" said the landlord
- but don't b'lieve the law will up
hold ye in it, Squire, arter the ticket
are sold and
"Hang the lawv' shouted Mr.. Zerub
babel Smith, bringing his closed ms
down among the glasses with . bang
81 don't care two strsws for the law
My wife is my wife. and won't hav.
her making q Merry-Andrew of hersel
here or anywhere else! When do yo1
expect herP' .
1.-THE room was engaged from twelv
O'clock" faltered the landlord; ''bu
s" a
Very WELL" roared the red-face
man, I'm just go and stroll aroun
the village, and You let me know whe
she arrives-d'ye hearr'
Mr.. Zerubbabel Smith had hardly bt
taken himself to the shadow Of the oil
elms on the village green. when an elt
erly woman OF . starched appearing
came in, with . striped carpet-bag o
one arm and carrying Q gingham I'm
brella in the other hand.
is this the Stub Mountain Lyc'
ump said she, primly.