Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1882-01-04


Certainly said /, for the mans
manner was so natural and cousinly like
that began 10 think considerable of
MIN, for Johns sake.
Tn about getting lunch, and if
you can be satisfied with hot ginger
bread, and bread and butter and cup
of tea, you're welcome"
" Thank you very kindly said he;
have you got quarter handy?''
a quarteri" I exclaimed, astonish-
ell.
Yes; you see, have some letters
to pest, and though I've got plenty of
money, it's all in large bills; and he
took out bulky pocket book, though
he didn't open it. I'll hand it back to
John. to morrow
Il thought that queer, brt l hap
pened to have fifty cents in my pocket.
and handed it to him.
thank you kindly, he said, very
pleasantly. and offered to go out and
change it.
81 went into the kitchen, through the
dining-room, my thoughts in sort of
whirl, what with the queerness of Johns
cousin, and the news of the ten thous-
and dollars. 1 must say kinder lotted
on that money; for John was working
too hard for man of his age; he was
past forty, a little, then, and not nigh so
strong as he is new
"Well, I'd got the roa kettle to boil
ing, and the tea out, and the ginger
bread was done, beautiful always did
make good gingerbread, if l do say it
and I'd gone into the dining-room to
set the table, and was Just putting the
cups on, when I felt 4 hand on my
shoulder. 1t startled me and scream
ed and turned round. There stood that
man, with two or three pounds of meat,
done up in red silk handkerchief-th5
same l had seen round his neck
/" Would you be kind enough TO cook
this?' said he, with queer smile, and
he put it on the table, right on my snow
white best damask cover, that Id got
out in consequence of the ten Thousand
dollars-no. I mean in honor of the
visitor" said grandma, seeing that We
smiled.
"Well. well, it amt possible 10 tell
YOU how L fel. when / took up that mess
in the red silk handkerchief. Iput the
meat on a plate, as soon as j could. and
Just wanted to burn the handkerchief,
but instead L put it on a chair by the
door, and went obviously into the kitch
en-,
".What kind of u man can he be,
thinks Ito myself, 'to bring meat home
in that fashion,
"There was stove in the parlor-one
of those old-fashioned, sheet-iron, air.
tight stoves-and hearing noise, l
went to look through the glass top of
the dining room door.
"Well, you'd a-thought the house
was on fire TO hear the roaring of that
stove, He must have put all the wood
in it that was left in the wood-box. As
for the man himself, he had taken off his
coat and collar, and thrown himself full
length on the floor in front of the stove,
where he appeared 10 be asleep. That
was the moment l began TO he
scared,
However, l tried TO reason with my
self that he was probably one OF those
old-fashioned, easy-going men, who
make themselves at home anywhere
though do think that sort ought never
10 go into anybody's houses but their
own.
'sWell, went back and cooked the
meat of course he took that fifty cents
to buy ii with-and then l called him.
But I'd made up my mind that / would
tell him he had better go and see John
at the printing office; for the thought OF
his staying there ali day WAS beginning
tob be more than 1 conld bear.
'.It was some time before he woke up,
but after he did, he had the grace to put
on his coat before he came into the
dining-room. He sat down to the table,
and folded his hands and shut his eyes.
1 shall never forgot the words he said
for grace:
so Lord, have mercy upon all Jews,
give us this day our daily bread, and
make this meat and this ginger-cake 8
blessing and refreshment. Amen" D."
Gas foI me, 1 could not eat. Never
in all my life have seen man eat as
that man did. Hall the loaf of ginger
bread and all that meat disappeared
and the wild way his eyes worked in his
head was frightful.
"Thinks 1, What shall / do?'-for ht
watched every movement l made. Hi
finished his dinner at last-but / had
not eaten a mouthful.
/" And now,' said he, L want II
wash
Very well, said /, there's pumi
in the kitchen.
"a pump" said he. A pump! d.
you take me for a heathen man? !
pump, No, wish to wash like Chris
tian, and mus; go up stairs, and I'd hk'
You to lay me ont clean shirt and
collar, for I've brought my razor along
and / intend to have gooC
shave
with that, ne took new shining
black-handled razor from his vest-pock
ct, and opened it. L recognized it in
moment for a new one John had bough
the day before, and careless'y left in it
case on the parlor shelf
II assure you then cold chill raj
over me. 1 tried to look unconcerned
I didn't dare TO move. The table wa
between us, and I felt sure now that II
| ,.os n maniac