The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1888-04-07


and whistling cheerily, took his way to the
barn. while Mrs johnson looked after her
handsome son with fond pride
IT was a well known fact in the neighbor- |
hood, of which the Johnsons formed good |
and prominent part that the mother OF jed |
watched with jealous eye all the unmarried
ladies, with the exception of Manday Green;
and as the aforesaid Manday had so oIten
declared to her that she thought it would be
so cruel in any one to supplant Mrs. Johnson
| in the affections of her son, that GOOD lazy
| believed Manday free from any designs on
| her Jed.
"Well, mother" said Jed few days after
the arrival of the new neighbors, 81 saw
| Manday sailing into the house over the way,
| and suppose call has been made.
Eyes, she dropped in here a few minutes
| and told me about it. do think Manday IS
the most neighborly of any of us. She is the
first one to go in there, and it was not from
curiosity either, for she said So"
sit was very good of her, of course, " drily
remarked Jed.
s'Manday says Mrs circuit is a dreadful
pretty little woman, and as pleasant and
common like as need be. She says she don't
look one bit worried over the idea of having
| a bad boy to manage. She didn't see the
boy; his mother said he was not well, and
had kept his room the most of the time. Mr..
circuit will not be here often, for his bust
ness keeps him in the city. That boy
will Just run wild around here with his
capers, you may depend on it, for Manday
says Mrs. circuit looks too mild to hold him
in"
eff the boy is sick can not SEQ any danger
OF our being overwhelmed with his pranks.
Do go over and see them, mother; don't let
| CO. : Ia oil nj with cictT
boy and we so near"
THAT 1 will don't want to feel as if
they was intruders even if the boy is here.
Strange 1 should feel so put out about one
boy, for l well remember when you was a
lad, and dare say this youngsters mother
| loves him as well as l loved mine, but then
you was an extra good boy, jedi
''Why did you allow me to grow up such q
bashful BOBBY then, mother?'
''NOw do Jest hear. Who ever would think
of calling you such name as that, pray
tell. know you have always kept shy of
the girls around here, and l am right glad of
that" and Mrs. Johnson spoke from the
depths of her heart then.
None of the rustic beauties in that quiet
farming district had succeeded in attracting
the attention of Jed Johnson. At the death
of his father he had come home from dis
tant college and taken charge of the farm.
As he found his company among his books
and with his mother, he was looked upon as
a bashtul bachelor, title that would not
disturb him any if he knew it.
Jed" said Mrs. Johnson, 81 called on
Mrs. circuit to-day, and she is one of the
prettiest little women l have seen for many
a day. She seems dretful taken up with
her new home and says if Johnnie only i'm
proves, she will be perfectly contented.
don't know which she meant, his health or
conduct. dare say it's both. She thinks
ho will be out in few days. / wonder if
called her name rightl She opened them
big blue eyes of hers when | called her Mrs.
| circuit, so wide and inquiring like that l
thought may be l was wrong about her
name"
1T might be, mother for l noticed she
looked surprised when l used her name in
speaking to her to-day. a board was loose
on the fence back of the garden, and saw
her trying to nail it on so / walked over and
fastened it for her. 1t is my opinion We
have found some very nice neighbors.n
In a few days JOHNNIE Circuit was out
and, as nothing terrible seemed to develop
in the neighborhood on account of it, Mrs
johnson quite lost her fear of being terror
lied by bad boy.
t you think him 50 tame" was the quieting &,
remark of Manday.
Things seemed progressing finely witt
Mrs. johnson and her pretty neighbor, who
d dropped in often and chatted so pleasantly
+ that Miss Manday grew quite Jealous anC
a told the old lady she was quite carried away
It by pretty face.
e Dear, no, Manday, it's not her face as
t knows on, but it's her bright CHEEKY ways
e that takes my heart"
o 80, well" with toss of the head, "rn
e no hand to lay aside old friends for new a
you must know How do you know She
=, amt fishing for Jed!'
''Mercy on us, Manday how you do tall
" of Mrs. circuit"
- ''Hain't you ever heard of married womel
10 firting3 l have, if you hain't.n
ia 'I'll never believe any such thing Of her
10 anyway; beside she never comes here whel
N Jed is about home, and they have not go
n one bit acquainted yet"
,t ''Wel, why don't her husband come HON
w oftener, I'd like to know"
. Il am sure l don't know, Manday; TO
nc some good reason, dare say"
3r ''Wel, I'd ask her, l would, but it's n
" affair of mine. Good afternoon, Mrs Johr
al SON."
~ The following afternoon Mrs. Johnso
- took her knitting ana went over 10 Slt VIII
W her little friend the intervening hour befor
@ supper getting. She found her busy men(
" ing coat for Mr.. circuit
sc ''Tm so glad to have you come in, Mr.
II johnson. 1t seemed so quiet here, for JOIN
~, ME is off to the woods this afternoon.
~ could not go with him for had nearly TO
al gotten this coat needed mending, and E'
ward is coming tomorrow. Johnnie ca
of scarcely wait, he is so anxious to see h
yIo papa
- II found it lonely to sit down without son
- one to talk to. You are spelling me abo
aS being alone. 1 am getting childish, a
bo afraid, Mrs. Orcutt."
no 'Call me Jenny, will you please? l won
- so much prefer it. always allow john
,a,. to call me that"
"a 81 see he does, but it don't seem to me Il
nv right thing for him, to be calling you Jenny
- 'He always has since he could talk at a
nd Then too,n and she blushing slightly, an
Ion. laughing, said: "it does not make me see
50 old to have Johnnie call me Jenny;
he don't mind telling you, Mrs. Johnson, dor
like to appear older than l really am"
his ''None of us do for that matter. How co
you look here. Young fingers have such
the bnacl1 for fixing up things"
= - Alws