The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1888-11-17
Peter Potter's Joke,

"You have made me very happy.
Polly, and s'posc we set tho day for
Christmas.
Miss Polly Perkins looked lovingly
into his eyes aud answered Affirmative
~ by lesning her head upon his shout
der.
Thcy were sitting In the pretty par
Tor Of cosy cottage on the outskirts
Of Chenille. Thor courtship had not
boon long onc--iu fact IL had been
short earnest aud decisive. aud when
Peter Potter parted with $ belrclhod
that Sunday night he considered him
self very Ia man ia securing such
prize rs Poll, Perkins. the prcit est
lass IN Chenille. who had eaten more
philopenas aud broken more chicken
breastboncs than au, na.don for miles
around.
True. she was only 20. while Peter
was bachelor away up Ia thirties;
but he was man Of property and car
ried on thriving grocery business in
the village; and there were some girls
Ia Chenille who would have felt very
much put out" IL they had overheard
tho engagement words spoken that
Sunday night
Christmas was now only two months
oil and Polly at once began TO prepare
her wedding rousseau She was
poor girl who made her living by work
ts.s. la, -. A. A
relatives in the world except an old
MAIDEN aunt with. whom she lived.
She was bright girl. somewhat pert
Ia manners, and. on occasion, she
could be as tart as vinegar.
Peter Potter was queer mental
compound. lie was phenomenally un-
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 rs the
Romans do" than he. In politics he
WINS equally tickle. One year he was
an ardent Democrat; tho next vcrr ha
was a kup1 Sas~.,u. ...... O..cJ uc IA urcd
as a bright aud shining local light in
the ranks OF the independent party.
Peter Potter was n man we'll liked
by the people of Glcnville. Ho was
not stingy. He was foremost in his
works of charity. aud 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 Glenvllle
was considered complete without his
presents. no was very popular with
The gentler sex. Moreover. he greatly
enjoyed practical joke. even II he him
self were the victim OF IL. In this re-
spect 40 could give and take with
equal abstraction TO his rislbllltles in
either case.
Now when tho nows got around that
no had engaged himself to Mss Polly
Perking the gossips made all sorts OF
remarks about the matter not at all
complimentary TO Peter Potter.
all bet watermelon to pumpkin
Seed, said Bill jackson. the Postmas-
ter. s'ihat Peter Potter won't DO on
hand when the time comes OF course
he now thinks he loves Miss Perkins.
Bat he likely To bc smitten with the
charms uf Sallie Tweedle next week,
and with those OF Susie Iimkins before
Thanksgiving comes. Poor Polly Per-
kiusl She's too nice a body TO be- trifl-
cd with and made the jest and jeer OF
all the rls Ia town"
And this was Tho popular view taken
OF the situation. aud some OF the Cos
sips were not directory in saying SO
much 10 Miss Perkins. Nevertheless
she had faith In her ailianccd. and re-
celved the tattle of the busy bodies
without allowing her good nature TO
DO RULED for a moment
.Why," said she TO nelghbor ono
aav. do you suppose L m going TO go
crazy II be don't keep his wordP On.
mol There Is just as good fish In tho
sea rs over were cought, you know"
and then she laughed most heartily
and went tripping along the roadside
hummng choery air.
OF course much 81 this gossip reach
ed the ears Of Peter Potter, who.
however went about his business ms
usual and was not at all affected by
the GOODNESS which some OF. the mar