Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1886-06-24
TOO MUCH HURRIED.
Why Uncle Joel Failed to Set the
Old Speclxled Hen.

NN BNou pvopie Ol IOgannac
would have told you that Uncle Joel
Potter was one of the best men that
Fever 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 emphatieally asserted, he was
''as slow as molaSses in January"
II must have been one of nature 5
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 10 do; whose washing was
on the line OF a MQpday morning look
ing ike riffs OF snow. lonsS, before most
OF her nefgf5ors had finished break
10 hfr energetic nature. her hus-
pana slow movements and lack OF
at%bition were thorns in the flesh not
N~Vhworthy, perhaps, TO be compared
with the Apostle Paul The fifteen
years more of life which Uncle Joel
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 il was nature, an
inheritance from his mother, an in
tensely religious woman, who. the
neighbors said, "could work all dav i'm
half buskc! an never git out o'nt. -
And Uncle Joel's highest dream of
happiness was to sit in his armchair
by the south window, in the spacious
old kitchen, and read aloud TO himself
by the hour from the big b bic lying in
his lap, his low, droning aonotone
driving Aunt Hannah TO the verge of
distraction.
Here Joel, / want a pail Of water!"
she called, one morning when he was
thus ceading. and she was elbow-deep
In the floury mysteries of the bread
bowl. IAN don't be all day about it,
I'm In hurry"
1''Yis, yis, Hannah" Uncle Joel re-
marked, reading along softly. his finger
following his eyes over the page. And
they that wait on the Lord shall re-
new their strength, they"
''An' they that wait on their wives
shall renew their youth, / reckon,
Aunt Hannah interrupted sharply
I'm certain sure you'd have 70 be
born agin afore you did H. Come, git
that water. I'm in a hurry. tell ye.'
"1is, Hannah. I'm a-coming."
"An SOS Christmas, an it'll Git
here first. i reckon. ! wonder IL there
ever was another sich slow mortal in
this worldl"
And rubbing her hands free from
the dough, she caught up the pail aud
had drawn the water and returned be-
fore Uncle Joel had finished his all-im-
portant chapter. and rising slowly
from the chair limped across the
itchoa.
why. the pals full, Hannah" he
said.
Full. of course It's full,r Aunt
Hannah snapped. ''Did ye s'pose |
was a-goin' fwait all dayP rather
guess they'd be lot o. work done in
this house If body was TO wait for
you"
but ye shouldn't be in sich a hurry.
Hannah" Uncle Joel interposed
mildly; "the Lord took six DAYS tmake
the heavens and the earth, an faint
best { try an do every thing in min
ute."
~ should think he took six wears 10
make you, an then didn't finish We off
till Saturday afternoon Jest at night.
You've been behindhaDd ever since va
was born"
well. well, Hannah, we won't quar-
rel about il; ev'ry body can't be SO spry
as you be, am the race isn't allus to the
swift"
"l,ut yen find the battle'll be T. the
strong-an' right here in this kitchen, |
II 80 don't stir yer stumps lively"
"Bnt what shall do. Hannahp" and |
Uncle Joel looked around In helpless !
bewilderment.
'DoP Why. just go out an set the
old specified hen. I've toldye 10 more'n
a dozen times. She'd had time & set /
an hatch whilst ye was gottin' resldy Z
do Il.
And Aunt Hannah. catching np tho
FIRST thing that came handy, which
proved TO be Uncle Joel's soft felt hat.
proceeded 10 nm II with oggs.
"Here they be. aud don't be all day
about III" she called, coming out 1.-THE
pantry holding the hat with both hands
and depositing Il in the soft, fluffy
depths Of the feather cushion In the big
rocking-ohair
hurrying back 10 the pantry. she re-
turned 10 her baking. while Uncle Joel
hunted around for his hat and cane,
which wero always missing when
needed
Good momln'. Miss Potter, came
The nQxt moment 10 Aunt Hannah's
esra As her next-door ncighbor walked :
lnto tho kitchen without knocking; 4
''husY a. oYorP What master hand
fpa " q work ! wonder II you ever h