The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1881-01-21
An Eccentric NaodIe.


One day at an old-fashioned countrv
quilting in East Tennessee the mountain
boys and girls were playing some game
like snap" Miss Maria Peelers was
being chased around the room by Jarkin
Soby, her ardent admirer. She gave a
scream suddenly, and began to examine
the sole of her foot, which--as is the
custom in that region-was shod with
natures own morocco 1t was found
that she had stepped on u 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 Jarkin insisted upon
pulling it out, but Maria screamed with
fright at the bare mention of the thing.
She would not suffer any one to touch
the string So Jarkin took her up be.
hind him on his horse and took her
home to the old folks, intending, by the
assistance of the old man, to prevail
upon her to let the needle be pulled out.
Lo when they had made the trip there
was no thread visible, and it was
thought that, as Maria's feet had
dangled along, it had caught on bush
and pulled out. All parties were in de-
'P"i,' 1i"iia was considerably Ir1gnb-
ened, but only complained of a dread
iui stitch In her leg.
Jark1n went home, after vainly train
ing ms own eyes to find that of the
needle, leaving Maria, as he said, to let
Tue thlng heal and work out. The next
day Jarkin called on Maria to see if the
place had begun to fester but the hole,
where the needle had entered, was
scarcely visible, and Maria was COM
planning of only little stitch in her
Knee, and was in such good spirits as to
place Jarkln IN ecstasies. From day to
day the visits continued, and Maria and
Jarkln had forgotten all about the
needle; Maria now and then COM
Planned TO her mother CT peculiar
stitch IN different localities, but went
cneeriuily about her work. When JAR
KIN called IN the long evenings it was
eviuent INA. ne sas very close to Maria,
ana wniie that silent ecstasy spoken of
IN noveis would steal over them they
,!t woulu lorget everything but their own
niue heaven, uhth secular snore from
one Vi 'he oiu people IN the back part
Vi une room WOULD cause them to stir.
ms thing continued until one night,
a,1er 'ney Iau peen together longer and
closer .han usual, Jarkin removed his
arm ara sighed that he must go. AS he
weht 10 rise ne gasped from sharp
st,tcn III MS sac next to Mara. Maria
ougsu slaSihodlcaly toward Jarkin,
cslchin8 snort breath and holding to
mm convulsiveiy; Jarkln felt an indie
scripaole s pam IN the ehort to part Maria
nung 70 MN Ti'h eJacuiaAons no moro
.ei.uer 1tun II ihuic"tlVe OF great physical
pam inaliy Uney ciung TO each other
in =, VIZ, "iiu Iafarm. Each exclaimed
NnaV tne4 matter On Maria oh
OaiI'" '"r-JafLh Inc Old folks
awoke ana struck light IN great
.lepiu'tlon. seeing the couple clinglng
W eicil other, ,he OLD gentleman insisted
upon ilDhieaiate separation, but Maria
1clealheu' 2,. ne can /; Oh, lie can't T.
oa,Niu was IA 100 much mysticism to
soi'c VIC question, ana all the Old folks
u,u ,,.o ~ .heii men vain eno!ts to separate them
""' W oiiSi' Sre'' vIies OF agony. Alter
many iheiiec'uai attempts the thing was
given up. AS potl parties seemed to be