The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1886-03-05
SETTING THE SPECKLED HEM
ny JENNIE PORTER ARNOLD.

liked him most were forced to admit that h
was jest little slow
But to his wife he was far beyond the little.
As she cmPhatically asserted. he was rs SLOW
as molasses in January
1t must have been one of natures strspr,
laws Of attraction Of opposites' which brought
this couple together; for while Uncle Joel wa.
slow, plodding, dreamy, Aunt Hannah wa.
quick. enegetic, amhitious-s notable house
keeper, who could do the work Of two women
while others would be planning what 90 DO
wh.se washing was on the line Monday mcrn
ing, looking like riffs Of snow. long before mos
OF her neighbors had finished br eakfast
To her energetic nature, her husband slow
movements and lack Of ambition were thorns in
the flesh not unworthy. perhaps, to be compared
with those Of the Apostle Paul
The fifteen years more of life which Uncle
Joel had seen. and crippled lmh-the result
Of an accident in boyhooi-may have had
much to do with his lack Of energy; but more of
1t was nature, an inheritance from his mother
an intensely religious woman, WHO, the neigh
bors said, could work all day in half bushel
a mover git out ont
And Uncle JOEL highest dream of happiness
Was to sit in his arm chair by the south window
in the spacious old kitchen and read aloud TO
himself by the hour from the big Bible lying
In his lap, his low droning monotone driving
Aunt Hannah TO tho verge of distraction.
Here, Joel want pail O water? 2 she
called one morning when he was thus reading,
and she wa, elbow-deep in the floury mysteries
n M hny - ~.
it, I'm in n hurry.
Yis, yis, Hannah Uncle Joel remark ed.
reading along softly, his finger following hi,
eyes over the page. And they that wait on
the Lord shall renew their strength, they
An they that wait on their wives shall re-
new their youth, reckon, Aunt Hannah in
terrupted sharply. I'm cer,ain sure you'd
have to be born agin afore you'd do it. Come,
git that water, I'm in a hurry, tell ye
'lis. Hannah, m a-coming.'
An SOS Christmas, an it'll git here first, I
reckon. | wonder If there ever was another sch
slow mortal in the world
And rubbing her hands free from the dough.
she caught up the pail and had drawn the water
and returned, before Uncle Joel hal finished
his oil important chapter, and rising slowly
from the chair limped across the kitchen.
Why, the pals full, Hannah, he said
Full, Of course it's full" Aunt Hannah
snapped. Did ye s'posc was goin' twait
all day? rather guess they'd be lot O.
work done in this house if body was to wait
for you.
But yc shouldn't be in sich hurry, Ham
nah, Uncle Joel intcrposcd. mildly, the Lord
took six days tmakc the heaven and the earth,
an taint the best t try and do everything in
minute.
Il should think he took six years to make
you, an then didnt finish ye off till Saturday
afternoon jest at night. You've been behind.
hand ever since ye WAS born.
Well, well, Hannah, we won quarrel about
it evrybody can be so spry you be, and
the race isn't alius to the swift -
But yell find the battle II be t the strong
and right here in this kitchen, if yc don't stir
yer stumps lively.
But what shall | do, Hannah: . and Uncle
Joel looked around in helpless bcwiderment.
Do? Why, just so out and set the old
speckled hen. I've told We to morc'n dozen
times. She had time { set and hat ch whilst
ye was gettin' ready to do it,.
And Aunt Hannah. catching ur the first thing
that came handy, which proved TO be Uncle
Joel'S old soft felt hat, proceeded to fill it with
eggs.
Here they Lc an don he all ,ny about il
she called, coming out of the pantry, hold.
ing the hat with both hands and depositinp il
in the soft fluffy depths tf the feather cushion
in the big rocking chair.
Hurryirg back into the pantry sine returned
TO her baking. while Uncle Joel hunted around
for his hat and cane which were always MISSING
when needed