Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1884-11-28
why Joe Changed His Mind.
A THANKeGTvTNG sToRY.

what's the use o. Thank 'givin' when
there amt nothin' to be thankful forg
And where's the good o. runnin' arter an
unsartainty2 A rollin stone gathers no
moss.
And gangin' foot is aye gettin', !"
said 81 Pettingill, the country storekeep-
or. Not but that he agreed with his old
friend Joe IN deploring the wickedness
and willfulness of his only sons leaving
the homestead and going out west. 81
Pettingill hated to see an extra wrinkle
in his neighbours fine and forid face.
who was only known as old Joe because
there was young Joe grown TO man.
hood. It was only week before Thanks
giving, and queer time for extra wrin-
kles, but ST couldn't afford to lose an op-
portunity for proving his knowledge of
proverbs, and combating the oracular
prophecy OF one by that Of another. The
country store was the high center of ar
gument. No subject was too solemn or
too frivolous, too high or too low. too
light or too profound, for discussion.
They do say, = said Monk, the miller.
that the heft and richness o. grain out
there Is most amazin, and the sile is that
soft you can put your arm clear down to
yer elbow in it. If was s young 3 Joe
=" And here the miller paused, for his
friend the farmer broughthis hand down
heavily on an adjacent box of soap.
And amt his own land rich enough?
Look at there ten-acre field of corn and
look at them punEinsl Though, for.
that matter, where's the use o. corn for
turkeys, or turkeys for Thank givin', If
mans own flesh and blood flies in the
face Of Providence like my Joe?''
ssHe amt goin' before Thank 'givin,
surelyg''
HE calkiIates to start tomorrow
night. said the farmer, dolefully.
Then the group about the store expec-
torated with mournful precision, and
shook their heads, and hoped he
wouldn't regret such precipitate aban-
donment of this worlds blessings. Old
Joe Comstock united his fine pair of
mules and went jolting away to the Com
stock farm, followed by the sympathiz-
ing remarks of his neighbors. And as
the dust rolled away, another vehicle
was seen approaching, high
seated, launty affair with yellow
wheels, drawn by q long, clean
limbed creature that was out Of sight
before his points could be well discussed
and criticized, In truth the good folks
upon the porch Of the country store were
more interested in the couple that were
seated fashionably aloft upon the gay
box Of the wagon. A fleeing vision Of
laughing blue eyes, and yellow curls
wantoning with the November wind. and
the pale, dark face of q stranger in close
proximity to these charms, caused the
wise heads upon the porch to wag again
with melancholy unison.
faint the natur' of the sile that
young Joe complains OF, said one.
Nor yet the corn. nor the punkins.
said another. IT'S that he amt got the
stomach for 'em be used to have before
that city fellow broke his wagon in front
OF the widow Bens0n's door. and took
notion to Kitty.
And / swan to man 'ef the widow
amt that set up about it she's hevin'
black Sam do her TALL whitewashin. ?
Shed better not count her chickens
before they're Matched That fellow
don't mean to marry Kitty Benson she'll
fall between two stools. that's what KIT
ty'll do. She'll get shet Of Joe, and lose
AAA&0 &AAf &A40tf AAb6A ~A&s Joe was I'D 0EM0
earnest. poor fellow, but this chaps only
foolin'
Which was not altogether true. The
" city chap" had been perhaps in rather
. tritiing mood. He considered the re-
markable interest which be took iii this
little rustic was all due to his artistic
perceptions About six weeks before. III
passing through che village, his horse
had stumbled upon i bic bOwlder ii
front Of the widows door, and one Of
the big yellow wheels had come to grief.
+ was the most natural thing III the
world for Dir. Morton to knock Is the
nearest door. and equally natural that
the widow should ask him ii. Kitty
lay sound asleep, with her curly head on
the kitchen table. al the yellow fanple
Of is tumbled carelesslv about the ex-
quisite line q her brow and curve Of her
rounded cheek Her brown lashes lust
merged into the flush upon her face. and
her red lips were parted, showing the
white. even teeth within
Laws mercYl 81 said The widow.
with kindly curiosity. there ainsf no
body hurt. hopper
Only the wagon whesI said lIr.
Morton.
And you want . st 8 town. ven