The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1886-06-18
TOO MUCH HURRIED.
Why Uncle Joel Failed to Set the
Old Specified Hen.

All the good people of PogannaC
would have told you that Uncle Joel
Potter was one of the best men that
ever lived; but even those who liked
him most were forced to admit that he
was 'jest little slow" But to his
wife he was far beyond the 'little .
AS she emphatically asserted, he was
''as slow as molasses in january"
1t must have been one of nature
strange laws of ATTRACTION of oppo-
sites" which brought this couple to.
gether; for while Uncle Joel was slow,
plodding, dreamy, Aunt Hannah was
quick, energetic, ambitious-a notable
housekeeper, who could do the work
of two women while others were plan
ming what to do; whose washing was
on the line of Monday morning look.
ing like riffs of snow, long before most
of her neighbors had finished break.
fast.
10 her energetic nature, her hus-
bands slow movements and lack Of
ambition were thorns in the flesh MOI
unworthy, perhaps, to be compared
with the Apostle Paul. The fifteen
years more of life which Uncle joe
had seen, and crippled limb-the re-
suit of an accident in boyhood-may
have had much to do with his lack OF
energy; but more of it was nature, an
inheritance from his mother, an in
tensely religious woman, who, the
neighbors said, "could work all day in
a half bushel an never git out OF -
And Uncle Joers highest dream Of
happiness was to sit in his armchair
by the south window, in the spacious
old kitchen, and read aloud to himselt
by the hour from the big Bible lying in
his lap, his low, droning monotone
driving Aunt Hannah to the verge Of
distraction
Here Joel, | want pail of water!''
she called, one morning when he was
thus reading, and she was elbow-deer
in the tloury mysteries of the bread
bowl, San don't be all day about it
I'm in hurry"
"Yis, yis, Hannah Uncle Joel re
marked, reading along softly, his finger
following his eyes over the page. "AnC
new their strength, they"
AN they that wait on their wive,
shall renew their youth, 1 reckon, >
Aunt Hannah interrupted, sharply
I'm certain sure you'd have to be
born agin afore you did it, Come, ri
that water, I'm in a hurry, l tell We. >
"Yis, Hannah, I'm a-coming."
can SOS Christmas, an it'll ci
here first, | reckon. / wonder if Their,
ever was another SIGH slow mortal il
this worldl"
And rubbing her hands free from
the dough, she caught up the pail anc
had drawn the water and returned be
fore Uncle Joel had finished his all-im
portant chapter, and rising slowl,
from the chair limped across tn,
kitchen.
why, the pals full, Hannah h,
said
Full, of course it's fuum Aun
Hannah snapped. ''Did We s'pose
was a-goin' t'wait all dayp rathe,
guess they'd be lot O. work done il
this house if body was to wait TO
you"
but ye shouldn't be in SIGH hurry
Hannah, - Uncle Joel interbosed
mildly; 1.-THE Lord took six DAYS t,mak
the heavens and the earth, an Tain
best t try an do every thing in MIN
ute.
81 should think he took six wears I,
make you, an then didn' finish We Of
till Saturday afternoon Jest at night
You've been behmdhand ever since V,
was born"
''Wel, well, Hannah, we won't quar-
rel about it; ev'ry body can't be so spr,
as you be, an the race isn't allus to tn
swift"
but yen find the battle'll be t tn,
strong-an' right here in this kitchen
if We don't stir yer stumps lively"
''But what shall do, HaunahPn ant
Uncle Joel looked around in helples
bewilderment
'DoP Why, just go out an set tn,
old speckled hen. I've toldye to more'l
dozen times She'd a had time t. Sc
an hatch whilst We was gettin ready t
do il"
And Aunt Hannah, catching up th,
first thing that came handy, whicl
proved to be Uncle Joers soft felt hat
proceeded to fill it with eggs.
Here they be, and don't be all da,
about itr' she called, coming out of tn,
pantry holding the hat with both hand
and depoSiting it in the soft, fluff,
depths of the feather cushion in the biz
rocking-chair.
Hu.rying back to the pantry, she re
turned to her baking, while Uncle Joe
hunted around for his hat and cane
which were always missing whel
needed.
Good mornin', Miss Potter" cam,
the next moment to Aunt Hannah.
ears, as her next-door neighbor walked
into the kitchen without knocking
"busy as everP What master hanc
you be t work! 1 wonder if you eyel
stop long enough t. eat and sleep!"