The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1882-01-14

III W every DOuy, are OWlu DOOty muCn
to her enjoyin' good health and to her
havin' "a husband that worships the
ground she walks on to.
Good health and love-about equal
parts-is my rule for maxim handsome
woman.
Wall, the next day, when I'd got rest
ed little, Minty and talked the mat
ter over, and we concluded that the fust
thing we'd better do, was to advertise.
So she writ piece and sent it to the
newspaper.
"That'll fetch him. says she, eff he
can read and ever looks at paper; but
in the meantime Wen keep our eyes
open. He may turn up when we amt
expectin'," says.she.
From that day it seemed as eff didn't
think O. nothin' but my coal man. Jack
said how't I'd got a n1oraonGnier, but l
knew better, and told him so; nothin'
in the world allied me, and 1 should be
all right soon's this bizness was Off n my
mind.
The fust time l went on the street l
come pooty nigh gittin' killed myself
or KILN somebody else, number O.
times
Ye see my eyes was everywhere to
once, but mostly in the road, lookin' out
for coal carts, and every one spied l
generally made dive backards or for
ards, ter git sight o. the drivers face
we know, and 'twant safe way to do in
a crowded street, by no means.
Once | run into man and jabbed
stool he was carryin' right inter his
stummick, soft he bellered out, and ev-
erybody turned and stared.
"Old lady," says he, "mind where
yer goin', can't yerP Amt there room
for my stummick and yourn too, on this
ere sidewalk"
Some laughed, and 1 felt cheap enough.
Another time walked right straight
into lady face and eyes, my gaze bein'
fixed ahead in the road, on a coal cart
just heavin' in sight; jest bumped
square inter her face, and her spectacles
fell off, she dropped her purse, and let
go the string that was hitched on to her
poodle dog, and lost my bag; so we
had ter paw round quite a spell 'afore
we got right side up agin.
l 'pollygized as wells 1 knew how,
and asked her if couldn't do somethin'
to kind er bring her ten, and make her
feel BETTER and so on She was leanin'
up agin store winder, and she Jest put
up her hand and fixed her spectacles on
to her nose, more firm, and then she
looked me over calmly, and says she:
" Hon. gerry peculiarr l was awful
mad!
If she'd jawed and scolded l wouldn't
n ht,t frh ~,
was a menagery or some sort of curl
osity-I couldn't stand it nohow.
Madam" says l, "p'raps you'd be
peculiar yourselfif you had whole city
full O coal men to look arterr' says l.
She only stared the more insiiltin' and
| went off and left her standin' there as
if she's paralized; l dunno but what she
stands there yit-I don't care a snap if
she does.
But that w mt circumstance to what
1 come ten another time.
Minty and went one afternoon to
concert to the Music Hall. We thought
1t would rest us and do us good, and
anybody ID think that wouldn't be such
fool as to look for a coal man there;
but l sot through the fust half O. the con-
cert-the music WANT very intercstin'
ter me-too heightened, 'spose. Idon't
like this heller SHELTER music | like
somethin' with time to it, if its no more
than " Yanky Doodle" Wall, as 1 was
a sayin', | didn't feel interested in the
music, and so l got ter thinkin' and
wonderin about my coal man; when all
to once man right in front on us had
little coughin' spell, and turned his head
round so'tI could see his face; grabbed
Minty's arm.
" Minty! l whispered, "there's my
man-therer'
She looked where 1 pinted, and saws
she: "Aunt Ruth, you're crazy! that
man is a gentleman; he looks like a
Beacon Street swell! Do be quietr' says
she.
4" l can't help that" says I. "He's the
Teller rid on the coal cart WITH or less
he's twin" says 1; 90 and I'm goin' ter
speak to him after this show is over,
sure's my name is Ruthr'
"How foolish?' says Minty. faint
very likely that coal men make bizness
o. washin' up and putin on their white
kid gloves, and goin' to concerts right in
the middle O. the day."
But there I sot and looked at him: and
the more looked the more sartin grew
that he was the very man. Ever feature
of his face looked natural.
"Who knows but that he's had for
tune left to him. says 1 ter myself. |
Stranger things have happened.
So when the concert was over, Jest |
pushed my way along side on him, and
laid my hand on his arm.
Excuse me, sir" says l, all of a
tremble, "but amt you the coal man
that kerried me to the depot one day
bout Christmas time last yearP"
The man drew back a little. and
looked at me serious and inquiring. |
was awful scairt, but he didn't speak,
and rs bound I'd make him. So l fol-
lows on, and says /:
''Mebby you've had fortune left We
it looks like it-and if so, I'm glad ont;
but We needn't be ashamed ter remem-
Der dom kind act, and want ter thank
ye and relieve my mind all the same, if
ye don't need my money" says /.
We was half way out by this time,
and he seemed ter have his mind made
up about me; for he turned to me, and he
saws, very serious and reSpectful.