The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1882-10-25

Sim was disappointingly reticent, and
he kept persistently at work, contrary
to the prediction of everybody in the
town, and was seldom to be found at
his accustomed pastime of "settin' in
the store"
Everybody who had ever heard of
Cynthy Jane called upon her, and all
pronounced her ain a Decline" and
wondered what would become of those
poor children left to the care of that
shiftless Sim Pingree," when she was
gone. He was working now, but he
couldn't become steady working
man any more than the leopard could
change his spots"
But Cy1thy Jane seemed to make up
her mind not to go. Instead of grow
ing worse with the fall Of the leaves,
as everybody had predicted, she grew
better. The children were well fed
and clothed, and sent to school, and
Sims humble domain began to take an
air Of thriftiness and comfort. One
day Sim came home with something on
his mind.
"Cynthy Jane" he began, shutting
to and fro in his most excited man
ner, "they're a-sayin' down in the
village-you know it comes kind of
material for Greenhollow folks to talk
about other folks affairs, and they
don't mean no harm by it neither
they're a-sayin' that you and had
better git married. know amt fit
for you, Cynthy Jane, and never was
but when a woman can git stiddy days
works out of a man that he never
thought was there, why, if she would
bring herself to be so accommodatin'
as to have him, seems as if 'twould be
the maxim of him"
"Why, Sim, 1 believe you've for
given me-" said Cynthy Jane, blushing
as brightly as when she was young
And the upshot of the matter was
that Cynthy Jane and Sim went to
see the minister.
1t was about five years afterward
that Sim sat in the store one evening
with about the same group that had
been there when his memorable letter
from California had arrived.
"Did you ever hear again from that
friend Of yours in Californy that was
goin' to give You chance to make
your fortin, Sim?" said jim Durgin.
Yes. He made pile of money,
and then he lost it, and made more
ag'ln, and don't know jest how It's
with him noW," said Sim, rather in
differently.
"Them minin' fellers has their ups
and downs" said Uncle Zach, with the
manner Of one who knows all about
it. "Seems as if that must "a been
your chance, Sim, seein' no other one
hain't ever come along" he added.
81 don't see as Sim has anything to
complain Of" said Elijah Wiswell, the
storekeeper "Industrious as any man
in Greenhollow, and CROWN fore
handed every day, amt you, Sim? 1
guess twas Cynthy Jane comm along
in the stage that day that was Sims
chance"
Well, there is sometimes a thing
comes along that seems a mans chance
and it amt, and then ag'in there's a
thing that don't seem to be and is.
I've always said it took man of in
terleck to tell when his chance come"
said Sim, in his old Oracular way.
but this of yourn seemed to be a
case of heart moren interleck, eh
Sim? said Jim Durgin.
Sim hung his head sheepishly.
"Well, now, there's that chubby
faced youngster of yourn, mebbe he'll
git your chance and hisn too. Couldn't
that happen accordin' toyour theory?"
asked Uncle Zach, who had never
ceased to puzzle over Sims theory Of
chances.
"Well, now, to tell you the truth, if
he gets as good chance as 1 have 1
won't ask any better for him." said Sim,
still looking little sheepish, but hold
ing his head very straight.
And Sims content was as great as it
seemed, in spite of the stiddy days
works" though once in a while he did
have an attack of laziness, when they
became intolerable. But then he went
fishing with Dan Wingate, and brought
home a great quantity of fish. And
Cynthy Jane never scolded.-Harper'S
ROz0F