The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1888-08-10
PETER POTTER'S JOKE.

''You have made me very happy, Polly,
and s'pose we set the day for Thanksgiy-
ing Day"
Miss Polly Perkins looked lovinslyinto
his eyes and answered afiirmatively by
leaning her head upon his shoulder
They were sitting in the pretty parior
of a cosy cottage on the outskirts Of
Glenville.
Their courtship had not been long
one-in fact, it had been short, earnest
and decisive, and when Mr. Peter Potter
parted with his betrothed that Sunday
night he considered himself very lucky
man in securing such prize as Polly
Perkins, the prettiest lass in Glenville,
who had eaten more philopenas and
broken more chicken breast bones than
any maiden for miles around.
True, she was only 20, while Peter was
a bachelor away up in the thirties; but
he was a man of property, and carried on
a thriving grocery business in the viii
lage; and there were some girls in Glen
vile who would have felt very much
"put QUIZ if they had overheard the en-
gagement words spoken that Sunday
night.
Thanksgiving Day was now only two
months of, and Polly at once began to
prepare her wedding trousseau.
She was a poor girl who made her liv-
ing by working in a cotton factory, and
she had no relative in the world except
an Old maiden aunt with whom she lived.
She was bright girl, somewhat pert in
manners. aud, on occasion, she could be
tart as vinegar.
Mr.. Peter Potter was n queer mental
compound. He was phenomeuallv un-
stable in his views on religion aud poll
tics; so much so, in fact, that he had won
the nickname of Peter Changeabout,"
and no one more faithfully observed the
maxim, "When you're among Romans
do as the Romans do than he.
In politics he was equally ficllle. One
year he was ardent Democrat; the next
year he was a Republican, and once he
figured as a bright and shining light in
the ranks of the Independent party.
Peter Potter was a man well liked by
the people of Glenviile He was not
stingy. He was foremost in the works of
charity, and many a poor family, TO
which enforced idleness or sickness had
brought privation, was the recipient Of
substantial gifts from his store.
he was always cheerful man, and no
social party in GlenviIle was considered
complete without mis- presence. And he
was very popular with the gentler sex.
Moreover, he greatly enjoyed a practical
joke, even If he himself were the victim
OF it. In this respect he could give and
take with equal satisfaction to his risibil-
tiles in either case.
Now, when the news got aroundthat he
had engaged himself TO Miss Polly Per
kins the gossips made all sorts of remarks
about the matter not at al compliment
oary to Mr.. Peter Potter.
"i'il let "A watermelon 70 puukin
seed, - said Bill jackson. the postmaster,
that Peter Potter won't be on hand
when the time comes. OF course he now
thinks he loves Miss Perkins, but he's
likely TO be smitten with the charms of
Sallie Tweedle next week, and with those
of Susie Timkins the week after, and with
half dozen others before Thanksgiving
Day. Poor Polly Perkins, She's too
nice body to be trifed with and made
the jest and jeer Of all the girls ia this
town.
And this was the popular view taken of
the situation, and some of the gcssips
Were not dilatory in ssyinc so much TO
Miss Perkins Nevertheless, she had
faith in her afianced, and received the
tattlH Of the busybodies withoutallowing
her good nature to become rufIled for
moment.
"Why," said she TO neighbor one dav,
''do you suppose I'm going TO go crazy if
he don't keep his word. Oh, no, There's
Just rs good fish in the sea a. ever was
most heartily and went tripping along
the roadside kumming CHEEKY air.
or course much of this gossip reached
the cars of Mr.. Peter Potter, who, how
ever, went about his business rs usual
and WAS not at all affected by the cold
ness which some of the marriagcable
girls of the Sewing Society manifested
when he met them on the street or at
church. As for the gentlemen-those
fellows who had declared that his iuteu-
tions to Polly were merely one Of his prac-
tical jokes-he said:
Let 'em have their fun. III show 'em
joke yet that'll make 'em laugh on the
other side of the mouth
Well, il was now within week Of the
time set for the wedding Invitations TO
the ceremony had been sent ont with the
request that the recipients be at Miss
Perkins Aunt Betsy's residence at 9
o'clock OF that day 10 witness the cere-
mony.
1t was a conventional gathering OF vii
lage society that met there that day.
Even the gossips who had been most in
dustrious in criuicising Mr.. Peter Potter
were there. The Rev. Philip Thompson
arrived n few moments before the ap-
pointed hour-he was to be tie master OF
ceremonies and when The oil clock
struck there was only one absentee.
Miss Polly Perkins, preitily atJ.red in
white silk, white Kids, a white tulic veil
and orange blossoms, was standing 10y "a
window IN close conversation with Aunt
Betsy. Ten minutes passed and then low
whisperings We're heard from knots Of
guests in the paglor.
Il told you so,'' said Postmaster Jack
son. Peter Potter Is stili entitled tothe
nickname of Peter ChanccaIout Now,
/ renew my bet OF a watermelon TO
punkin seed that Peter won't be here
He's most cruelty lifted Polly Perkins,
you bet
These remarks were addressed to young
Lawyer Tom Kent, whose conversation
with long haired, bushy-whiske red and
heavily musyacned gentleman had been
interrupted 10y them.
IT'S too bad-too bad, =" returned the
lawyer, 'buJ here, Mr. Jackson, let me
Introduce you TO my friend, Mr.. Max
Spieller."
The bushy- -whis6ered man and The Post
master shook hands and then the three
entered into a whispered conversation
about Peter Fotter's n-appearance.
He vos a gcot fellow, um.7 qUeried
! Mr.. Spieller.
"Oh, yes, Peters a good enough fell
! low, said Mr.. jackson, but you see he
has always been Il very ohangeable man
! shifting from one idea 10 another about
/ a lively as ied-aud he has loug been
( considered the boss practical joker oi Ihis
town reckon this IS one Of his jokes"
saying winch he Posi- mas ,er lcohcd over
toward he bride that waste have been,
and then turning TO Mr.. Srielleraud Law
Yer Kent he said, laying his hand upon
Mr.. Spieller's shor'dcr:
'sI pity thai cirl.'
"He vos Won practikeel shok er, ,un, ,nein-
| heer? Dot masht baf matt i'm ferry
funny fellow, um?" said the man with
the bushy whiskers.
'.Yes you bet he WAS; and"
AT this instant the attention q! the three