Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1888-07-18
ROGERS HOUSEKEEPER.

ROGERS HOUSEkEEPER.
Three ForgeS owed It's name to the
casual remark or queer genius, who,
apt at discerning analogies betwixt
things and circumstances ordinarily
unnoticed, had discovered the particu-
lar one from which the village got its
appellation on this wise.
Happening to stop his old horse and
wagon one morning in front of the
smithy between the two forks, Just at
the bifurcation of a certain highway,
which smitby had on its right hand a
two-penny country store, and on its
left a not unfrequented tavern, he was
suddenly struck with the oppositeness
OF calling the spot the three forges,
because" said he, 1.-THE blacksmith
fOrges shoes for the farmers horses,
the store-man, under the guise OF lean
pound-weights and fat pass-books
FORCES care and anxiety for the farmers
wives, and the tavern keeper FORCES for
the farmers themselves an armor that
must, perfOTce, receive severe tenn
pering in prospective Journeys, not
commonly supposed to take place in a
very temperate regionl"
Whereat, such as heard him deemed
his observation so well-timed that they
decided to christen village. then be-
ginning to spring up III the locality,
Three Forges, and they seemed ever To
regard 1t rs good joke to repeat in
the ears of strangers the origin OF the
little towns designation.
And now, from so odd a probation,
let us drop into our narrative.
One warm, bright morning In June 4
middle-aged woman, dressed IN a neat,
brown calico, was standing at the front
gate of two-story and attic, white
frame house, around which the roses or
the month beamed blushingly upon
clumps of spotted lilies. Hers was
the third dwelling from the turn that
the street made before ushering one
into the railway station, half-mile
and more from "the FORKS" which
constituted the heart of the village,
and a quiet enough bit of road, except
at train entries or departures, when
there usually passed thin stream of
people to or from the centre OF the
place, where, albeit the blacksmith
shop and the grocery remained scarcely
In the least changed, the tavern had
evolved itself into quite presentable
hotel, thanks to the patronage OF sum-
mer boGriers,
No train was expected at the hour
wherewith we have to deal, and the
sole occupant OF the well shaded side
walk was also a woman, who, on her
reaching the gate above mentioned,
was salute1 with a good mornin', Mrs.
Jack; heard the newsp" from the fe-
male standing beside IL.
"What news, Mrs. Sharp?" inquired
the person addressed as Mrs Jack
"why, haven't you really heard?"
"Why no."
"TrulyYn
"No, haven't. What is ita'
"Well, they say-at least Roger told
my husband last evening, with his own
lips, that he, Roger, Is goin' to git
housekeoper."
Mrs. Sharp, you're only iokin'r'
'sNo, amt That Is what he said
to Job, with his own lips, no longer ago
than last night, Mrs. Jack"
.'Roger-Roger Braceup goln' to
get housekeeperV'
"Well, yes. he's the man, and no
body else"
But, perhaps, it would not be irrele-
want to state that Roger Braceup was
the village cobbler, and-sometimes,
though rarely-the village shoemaker;
that he was likewise an old bachelor.
and the solitary occupant OF habita-
tion containing n couple OF rooms and
n shop. at the farther end of the left
hand fork of the street; and, finally,
that his humble lodging was not more
isolated from other houses than was
he himself socially from intercourse
with his Relghbors. For, although
every one knew him to be kindly dis
posed at heart folks relished not his
gruff address, crusty speech, and scowl-
ing mien, which were terrible foes to
anything like familiarity. Therefore
he lived a refuses life, doing his work
TO the satisfaction of the public, though
In his own, most independent fashion,
and keeping his private concerns TO
himself, as he was in every way wilt
ing TO have other folks do with theirs.
But, to continue.
"Roger-Roger Braceup goin' 10
get housekseperl" re-eiaculated MIS-
Jack. "Who could have guessed such
q thingl News you may well call II,
Mrs. Sharp. But is that all he told
your husbandf"
THAT'S all, but you don't need TO
be informed, Mrs. Jack, as to what
sort of a bein' that Roger is. He'll
tell, you know, lust what he's mind
to tell, and not one word more Be
sides that, Job, my husband, amt
good hand at pushin' and pryin' into
secrets. He takes what's allowed him,
and asks no questions. But think,
on the whole, he secured pretty nice
fish this time-don't your"
"Of course, Mrs. Sharp, but wish
he'd got wind of some Of the partick-
lers."
ITO be sure," interrupted the latter
lady, although she appeared 10 De
determined TO enhance, to the best OF
her ability, the worth of what was
already acquired, for she exclaimed
presently, .-Oh, who would ever have
thought that that old man should get
somebody to take charge OF his mouse
and look after him, after his nvin
alone and waitin' ON himself all these
yearsI II I'D slipped Into my hfties,
AS he has into his rather think Ia
keep on in the old track TIL L died,
wouldn't you, too, Mrs. Jack"
Yes, I guess I would; but 1 10
wish we knew sometliu, more"