Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1886-07-21
TOO MUCH HURRIED.
Why Uncle Joel Failed to Set the
Old Speckled Hen.

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 lest 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 S
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
Mug 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 not
unworthy, perhaps, to DO compared
with the Apostle Paul. The fifteen
years more Of life which Uncle Joel
had seen, and crippled limb tho re-
suit Of an accident In boyhood--may
have had much to do with his lack Of
energy; but more OF 1t was nature, an
inheritance from his mother, an in
tensely religious woman, who, the
ncighbors said, "could work all day in
half bushel an never git out o. mt. {"
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 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-deep
in tho floury mysteries of the bread
bowl, IAN don't be all day about it;
I'm in a hurry"
''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, I reckon"
Aunt Hannah interrupted, sharply.
I'm certain sure you'd have to be
born agin afore you did il. Come, cit
that water, I'm in hurry, / tell We"
"Yis, Hannah, I'm a-coming.n
"An' SOS Christmas, an it'll cit
here first, | reckon. I wonder if there
ever was another SIGH slow mortal in
this world!'
And ruhbinO hon. bo,I, f,o, IT,.
the dough, she caught up the pail and
had drawn the water and returned be-
fore Uncle Joel had finished his all-im-
portant chapter, and rising slowly
from the chair limpcd across the
| kitchen.
why, the pals full, Hannah" he
said.
Full, of course it's full.' Aunt
Hannah snapped. did We .'pose |
was a-goin twait all day? ! rather
guess they'd be lot o work done in
this house " body was TO wait for
you"
But We shouldn't be in SIGH hurry,
Hannah" Uncle Joel interposed.
mildly; "thc Lord took six DAYS t'make
the heavens and the earth, an faint
best I try an do every thing in min
ute"
81 should think he took six years TO
make you, an then didn't finish We of
I'LL Saturday afternoon lest at night.
You We been bchindhand ever since We
was born
"Well, well, Hannah, we won't quar-
rel about it; cv' ry body can't be so spry
as you be, an the race isn't allus to the
swift-n
But yell find the battlc'l be C. tho
strong-an' right here in this Kitchen,
II ye don't stir Yer siumps lively"
but what shall do, Hannah?n and
Uncle Joel looked around in helpless
bewiiderment
DO? Why, just 90 out an set the
old speckled hen. I've told We to more'n
dozen times. She'd had time C. set
an hatch whilst We was gettin ready &
do It,"
And Aunt Hannah, catching up the
first thing that came handy, which
proved TO be Uncle Joel's soft felt hat,
proceeded to fiji it with eggs.
Here they be- and don't be all day
about itl'' she called, coming out of the
pantry holding the hat with both hands
and depositing IL in the soft, fluffy
depths OF the feather cushion in the big
rocking-chair.
Hurrying back TO the pantry, she re-
turned to her baking, while Uncle Joel
hunted around for his hat and cane,
which were always missing when
needed.
Good mornin'. Miss Potter came
the next moment to Aunt Hannah
ears, as her next-door ncighbor walked
into the kitchen without knocking;
busy as cvcrp What a master hand
you be & work. | wonder IL YOU ever
atom long cnouoh 4 CAT and sleeui',