Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1888-11-09
Peter Potter's Joke.

"You have made me very happy,
Polly, and s'pose we set the day for
Christmas
Miss Polly Perkins looked lovingly
into his eyes and answered Affirmative
ly by lesning her head upon his shout
der.
They were sitting in the pretty par
Tor Of a cosy cottage on the outskirts
of Chenille. Their courtship had not
been long one-in fact it had been
short, earnest and decisive, and when
Peter Potter parted with betrothed
that Sunday night he considered him
self a very lucky man in securing such
prize rs Polly Perkins, the prett est
lass ID Glenv.lle. who had eaten more
philopcnas and broken more ch cken
breast bones than an, MAIDEN for III les
around.
True. she was only 20, while Peter
was bachelor away up in thirties;
but he was IA man Of property and car
ried ON thr wing grocery business in
the village; and there were some girls
in Chenille who would have felt Very
much put OUT if they had overheard
the engagement words spoken that
Sunday night
Christmas was now only two months
OFT and Polly at once began TO prepare
her wedding rousseau She was a
poor girl who made her living by work
ing in a cotton factory. and she had no
relatives in the world except an old
ma den aunt with whom she lived.
She was a br ght girl. somewhat pert
in manners, and, on occasion, she
could be as tart us vinegar.
Peter Potter was queer mental
compound He was phenomenally uu-
stable in his views on religion and
politics; so much so, in fact, that he
had won the nickname OF Peter
Changeabout, and no one more faith
fully observed the maxim when
you're among Romans do as the
Romans do than he. In politics lac
was equally tickle. One year he was
an ardent Democrat; the next year he
was Il Republican, and once he figured
as bright and shining local light in
the ranks of the Independent party.
Peter Potter was man well liked
b, the people of Chenille. lie was
not stingy. He was foremost in his
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 a cheerful
man, and no social party in Chenille
was considered complete thout his
presents. He was very popular with
the gentler sex. Moreover, he greatly
enjoyed practical joke. even if he him
self were the victim of it. La this re-
spect he could give and take with
equal sat isfactIon to his ris blltes IN
either case.
Now when the news got around that
he had engaged himself to NJ IS Polly
Perking the goSsips made all sorts of
remarks about the matter not at all
complimentary to Peter Potter.
al II bet watermelon to pumpkin
Seed, said Bill Jackson, the Postmas-
ter, 'rhat 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 Tweede next week,
and with those of Susie Timkns before
Thanksgiving comes. Poor Polly Per-
kins! She's too nice n body to be tritl-
ed with and made the jest and jecr of
all the z rls in town"
And this was the popular view taken
OF the situation. and some of the Cos
sips were not directory in saving so
much 10 Miss Perkins Nevertheless
she had faith in her aflianced, aud re-
ceived the tattle of the busy bodies
without allowing her good nature to
be rufiled for a moment
.'Whv," said she TO a neigbbor one
dav, do you suppose L m gong to 90
crazy if he don't keep his word? On.
no! There is ist as good fish in the
sea as ever were cought, you KNOW"
and then she laughed most heartily
and went tripping along the roadside
cumming a CHEEKY air.
OF course much Of this gossip reach
ed the ears of Peter Potter. who,
however went about his business as
usual and was not at all affected by
the GOODNESS which some of the mar
riageable girls of the sewing society
manifested when he met them on the
street or at church. As for the gen.
temen, those fellows who had declared
that his engagement to Polly was
merely one Of his practical jokes-he
said: LET 'em have their fun. I'll
show EN- a joke yet that'll mako 'em
laugh on the other side Of the
mouth"
Well, II was now within a week of
Christmas. Invitations TO the we'd
ding had been sent out with the re-
quest that the recipients be at Miss
Perkins Aunt Betsy's residence at 8
o'clock Of that day to witness the Ger.