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

THAT man." says Minty, sis the rich
est man in New England! l knew him
the minute / see his face"
80, wall, if he's, so awful rich, L m
glad ont says |, ''bein' 5 he won't new
er miss this money he gin me, and it IL
be quite "a fortin' to my coal man,
saysI
So walked on, tryin' to feels bold as a
lion; but didn't felt like deth; and |
guess Minty knew it, for she never sad
another word about it.
After this, l KEEP pooty quiet for awhile
only ran into q peanut stand one day
and had ter pay dollar and half dam
ages; and once | chased coal cart TILL
was clean beat out, and had to hire
coach to kerry me home.
But the wost on It was, was gittin'
all discouraged, and was willin'
to own at last that l had got the
monomanier, or a touch on t any
way; and finally, consented to let 'em
call in doctor.
He said how tiny sistim needed tonin'
up, and he left me some medicine. |
took the medicine faithful; but l knew,
and Minty knew, too, that couldn't
never git toned up right, till l found that
pesky coal man.
Our advertisin' didn't amount to
shucks. A few smutty faced, lynn fell
lows called on us, expectin' to make
somethin' out on It, s'pose; but we
want so easy took in, and they went
away as poor as they come.
One day, Minty showed in a young
Irishman. He come bowin' and scrapin'
up to the table, where sot SEWN, threw
down his old hat and put out his black
paw with a flourish, as if he was tickled
to death to see me.
''By my sowl," says he, ''if it isn't the
identikle old lady, herself, now! knew
We as quick's | set my two eyes on yer
Singular" says l, cools could be-
for I'd got used to 'em, you know.
singular, but l never see you afore,"
says l.
go, now," says he, coaxin' like-"ye
wouldn't forgit so aisy. Think, now,
how would it be, say, barrin' the baird,
and the short cut O. me hair, for the hot
weather!'' says he.
"Barrin' as much as yer mind to-"
say L, uOH hhOW DO anu JUL
wanter," says 1; land now if you Il stop
your blarney and tell me what We want,
I'll be obliged to ye."
He looked all struck of heap for
minute, and then says he, Didn't yer
advertise for the young man as driv We
ter the depot on his coal cart last Christ
masp''
81 did," says 1.
'And isn't it meself as is the very fell
ler?" says he, slappin' his knee, and
lookin' up as bold as brass, agin.
''Now think ont, dunno but We
be- says l. eyes, 1 guess you be the
very teller; and so 1 'spose you've come
to pay over that five dollars 1 lent you,"
says l, and l riz up and hid out my hand
to him.
You 'orter seen that man; he looked
all ways to once, and everywhere, but to
me; then he picked up his old hat, and
says he:
Its mistaken am now entirely! It's
not meself at all. Imane, it's not your-
self at ALL
80 yes, it is" says /, s'it's myself, but
it amt yourself" So sayin' 1 opened the
door, and he went out in hurry.
md this was only one of quite num-
Der O. experiences we went through, and
all for nothin'. No great wonder l had
the monomanier, was itP 1t was mercy
that Minty didn't get it fastened on to
her, too. l guess she did come dretful
nigh it.
But there's an end o some kind to all
things; and there's an end ten. this story,
as you'll see, if you wait till l git
through.
One morning Minty came to me after
breakfast, and says she, ''Aunt Ruth,
Jack is goin' ter be away few days, and
you and nell give a party; a coal mans
party" says she. ''We'll advertise in
every way we can for two days, and on
Thursday We'll hold the recepshun IN
our basement. Wen have lemonaid
and donuts and SANDWICHES enough for
all the coal in town. What do you
think on't??" says she,
l hid my breth's much as mint,
was so struck with the idea.
"Minty, it's jest the thingr' says l.
'You are genius"
So we set right about it. 1t was awful
hot weather, and it stood to reason that
no hard workin' coal man would miss
chance O. gittin' good lunch and cool
drink o. lemonaid, free, for nothin'.
THAT must fetch him." thinks /, and l
felt encouraged.
The advertisement run this way:
Gree lunch to Coal Men! At No. IS
Clay Street (basement. from eleven a.
m. to one o'clock. Come one, Come
allr'
asked Minty what she s'posed the
neighbors would think, when they see
the doin's.
She said she didn't care what they
thought; but they'd probably think we
was exsentrick, and took that way O.
doin' good. 1t was fashionable ter be
Wall, when the time come, it was
well worth all our trouble, jest ter see
EN-; and if it hadn't a'ben for my mon
we sh'd had lots O. fun out
ont.
There was line o. coal carts standin
up. and down our streets as far as YOU
could see, both ways, and them fellers
KEEP pilin' inter that basement as bizi-
ness-like as you please, as eff, for all the
world, it was an everyday thing to 'em;
and they scrambled for the vittles, and
l. hi. I'LL. f..II 3 L. %