The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-08-13
MR.. POTTER'S JOKE.

They were sitting IN Inc pretty pdfloI
Of coy cottage on the outskirts OF
Chenille Their courtship had not been
long one-iu fact IL had been short,
earnest and decisive and when Mr.. Peter
Potter parted with bis betrothed that
Sunday night hecOnsidcrcd himself very
lucky man in securing such prize as
Polly Perkins the prettiest lass in Glen
Vile who had catel more philopenas and
broken more chicken breast bones than
any maiden for miles around.
True. she was only 20, while Peter was
bachelor away mp in the thirties. but
he was a man Of property and carried on
thriving grocery business in the village
and there wero some girls in Glenvillc
who would have felt very much put out
if they had overheard tho engagement
words spoken that Sunday night.
Christmas was now only two months oil
and Polly at once began to procure her
wedding trousscau She was a poor girl
who made her living by working in n cot
ton factory, and she had no relative in the
world except an old maiden aunt with
whom she lived. She was a bright girl.
somewhat pert in manners. and, on Occa
sion. she could be as tart as vinegar
Air Peter Potter was a queer mental
compound lie was phenomcnally un
stable in his views on religion and pol
tiles, so much So. i'm fact that he had
won the nickname of Peter Change
about and no one more faithfully OBJ
served the maxim when you're among
Romans do rs the Romans do, than he
In politics he was equally Gckle. One |
year he was an ardent Democrat the next |
year he was Republican, and once he |
figured as a bright and shining local light |
IN the ranks of the Independent party
Peter Potter was man well liked by |
the people Of Chenille He was not |
stmgy. lie was foremost in works of |
charity and many poor family. to which |
enforced idlcness or sickness had brought |
priyation. was the recipient Of substan-
tial gifts from his store lie was always |
a cheerful man. and no social party in
Glenvillc was considered complete with
out his presence And he was very pop
ular with the gentler sex. Moreover he
greatly enjoyed practical joke, even il
he himself were tho victim of IT, In this |
respect he could give and take with equal =,
satisfaction 10 his disabilities in either
case.
Now. when tho news got around that
be had engaged himself to Miss Polly
Perkins the gossips made all sorts Of re-
marks about the matter not at all compli-
mentary TO Mr.. Peter Potter
"lil bet q watermelon TO punkin
seed said Bin Jackson, the postmaster,
that Peter Potter won't be on hand when
She time comes OF course he now thinks
he loves Miss Perkins. but he's likely TO
be smttcn with the charms of Sallic
Twcedlc next week, and with those of
Susie Timkins before Thanksgiving
comes Poor Polly Perkins She's too
nice body TO be trihed with and made
the jest and jeer Of all the girls in this
town
And this was the popular view taken of
the situation. and some of the gOssips
were not dilatory in saying 50 much to
Miss Perkins. Ncyert heless she had faith
In her aiiianccd. ami received the attic of
the busybodies without allowing her good
nature TO become rutilcd for a moment
Why, said she to a neighbor one day,
do you suppose I'm going to 90 crazy if
he don { keep his wOrdg Oh, no. There's
inst us good FISH i'm the sea as ever was
'aught you know, and then she laughed
most heartily and went tripping along the
roadside humming n CHEEKY air
or course much Of this gossip reached
he ears of Mr.. Peter Potter. who, how :
'vcr. went about bis business as usual
md was not at all affected by the GOODNESS I
which some of the marriageable girls of
he sewing society manifested when he 5
net them on the street or at church As '
Tor the gentlemen--those fellows who had I
declared that his engagement to Polly was I
e 10 Of ,,l t,1. IL
aid: Let EN- have their fun III show
EN- joke yet that II make EN- laugh on
he other side Of the mouth.
We'll IL was now within a week of I
christmas. Invitations TO the wedding
lad been sent ont with the request that
he recipients be at Miss Perkins Aunt q
}etsy residence at 8 o'clock of that day
O witness the ceremony. =
IL was a conventional gathering Of vii /
age society that met there that day. j"
even the gossips who had been most in -
ustrious in crticising Mr. Peter Potter =
we're there. The Rev. Philip Thompson =
rived a few moments before tho APP :,
ointed hour-hc was to bo master of a.
and when the old clock !,
truck there was only one absentee | {.
Hiss Polly Perkins, prettily attircd in h
1htc silk, white kids, white tullc veil :,
nd orange blossoms, was standing by q g.
'indow i'm close conversation with Aunt
'etsy. Ten inmates passed, and then
'w muttorings were heard from knots Of
uests IN the parlor.
Il told you so. said Postmaster Jack
On Peter Potter is still entitled to tho &C
icknamc of Pctc- Changeabout. Now. b
renew my bet Of q watermelon to a pun. "a
in seed that Peter won't be- here. He's IL
ost cruelty Tilted Polly Perkins, you re
e." ps
These remarks were addressed to Young al
lwyer Tom kert. whose conversation st
ith long haired. bushy whiskered and in
ayily mustached gentleman had been nc
terrupted by them. in
It's too bad-too bad" returned the 81
wyer, but here, Mr. Jackson, let me in
odaee you to my friend. Mr. Max Spiel
The bushy whiskered man and the post NJ;
aster shook hands and then the three
tered into whispered conversation ia
out Peter Potter's non-appe&ranee. II
lie yos goot faillow, umg" queried w
r Spieller. ~
oh yes, Peters O good enough fellow,"I mr.