Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1886-06-24
TOO MUCH HURRIED.
why Uncle Joel Failed to SGT the
Old Speckled 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-
Ecthcr; for while Uncle Joel Yves slow.
Piodding, dreamy, Aunt Hannah was
quick, energetic, ambitious-a notable
hcusckccper, 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 Ike riffs of snow, long before most
OF her ncighbors had finished break
last.
10 her energetic nature, her hus-
band slow movements and lack of
ambition were thorns i'm the flesh not
unworthy, perhaps, TO be compared
with the Apostle Paul. The fifteen
Years more of life which Uncle Joel
had seen, and a crippled limb-thc 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, ar in
tensely religious woman, who. the
Gcighbors said, could work al! day i'm
a
And Uncle Joels 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.ble lying in
his Jap, his low, droning monotone
driving Aunt Hannah TO the verge Of
distraction.
Here Joel, want pail of watcr.'
she called, one morning when he was
thus reading, and she was elbow-daep
IN the iioury mysteries of the bread
bowl. IAN don't be all day about it;
I'm in hurry :
''lis, 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-
INV lHtlE StIcllHlU, lncN-
AN they that wait on their wives
shall renew their youth, | reckon"
Aunt Hannah interrupted, sharply.
I'm certain sure You'd have to be
born agin aforc you did it. Come. CIT
that water, I'm in hurry. / tell We"
''Iis, Hannah, I'm a-coming."
''An' SOS Christmas an i:'ll Git
here first, reckon. ! wonder if there
ever was another SIGH slow mortal in
this world!"
And rubbing her hands free from
the dough. she caught up the pail and
had drawn the water and returned be-
fore Uncle Joel had finished bis all-in-
portant chapter. and rising slowly
from the chair Empcd across the
kitchen.
why, the pals full, Hannah" he
said.
Full, of course it's full" Aunt
Hannah snapped. Did We s'pose l
was a-goin' t'wait all day? rather
guess they be a lot O work done in
this house if a body was to wait for
YOU"
But We shouldn't be in SIGH hurry,
Hannah, Uncle Joel interposed.
mildly; 1.-THE Lord took six DAYS t'make
the heavens and the earth, an faint
best t Try an do every thing in min
ute"
Il should think he took six years to
make you, an then didn't finish We of
till Saturday afternoon jest at night.
You've been behindhand eyer since We
was born
well. well, Hannah, we won't quar-
rel about it; ev'ry body can't be so spry
as you be, an the race isn't allus to the
swift
But yell find the battle'll be t the
strong-an' right here in this kitchen,
ii We don't stir yer stumps lively
But what shall do. Hannah?" and
Uncle Joel looked around in helpless
bewilderment.
DO? Why, just go out an set the
old speckled hen. I've toldye to more'n
dozen times. She'd had time t. set
an hatch whilst ye was gettin' ready t
do it"
And Au Hannah, catching up the
First thing lat came handy. which
proved to be Uncle Joel's soft felt kat
proceeded 10 fill it with eggs.
Here they be, and don't be all day