Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1892-03-30
lou mIgnU gIU marrIed,- sug-
Uasfad Lothian


me to-day. She's a widder that
courted some when l was young, and
lives on a farm somewhere in Slough
ton. I'd slick up little, and go up
and see IL she would like to change
her condition, il 'twasn't for neigh
bors talkin'. You know hain't been
a widderer this last time only about
seven months"
II know, but circumstances alters
cases. and if you can't afford to hire
a housekeeper, you had better hunt
up a wife lively. Let folks talk If
they want to. You hev smart woman
come here, and scrub and scour, and
brighten up things, and cook you
three good temptin' meals every day,
and you'd soon begin to fat up, and
be as strong and ambitious to work
as ever you was In your life. Now,
do hope Napoleon, you realize jest
how slim and peaked you are lookin',
and if you don't want to slip your
wind afore the snow flies, take my
advice, and merry that 'ere widder
Jest as soon as she'll hev you," and
taking his rake, lothian departed,
leaving Napoleon to his thoughts
which were not pleasant by any
means.
For several days after, Napoleon
wandered around in discontented,
absent-mlnded way, as though he was
uncertain whether to take Jotham's
advice or not.
At length, on this hot July evening
when we introduce him to our readers,
having nearly caused a conflagration
by upsetting a kerosene lamp which
exploded in the fiour-barrel, Napoleon
gnashed his teeth, as he tore around
the room in his efforts to extinguish
the flames, and vowed he would have
a wife to cook his suppers before the
week was out.
"Ain't this pooty way for a man
j my years to be livin." he mtttered
savagely, as he vainly tried so make
the lantern wick burn. There the
DANCED thing has gone out, and l
might as well give up-I'ye got to
set here in the dark, or else crawl to
bed without a solitary nibble in my
poor stummock, and I'm ready to
faint S'pose I'll put up with this
any longer? not by a jugfull If the
sun rises tomorrow mornin', it'll see
me streakin' for the Widder Spooner's
| Let the neighbors talk II they want
to, what they say don't put slab jacks
into my mouth, or mend the big holes
| in my stockin's. Yes-sir-ee," and he
snapped his fingers deflantly, '1et
| 'em talk; l don't give a dang-if
Eunice Spooner will have me; Well
be merried short-off; that's fiat"
The Widow Spooner was in her
strawberry-patch, pulling up the
weeds, and she was about to throw
them over the fence, as little Kittie
Henderson came rushing round the
corner.
20, Aunt Eunice!' she exclaimed
breathlessly; Mamma sent me over
to borrow some cream Of tartar, and
don't you think the awfulest looking
old tramp has followed me way
through the woods, and he's sitting
down on the big rock in the lane
now! Oh. dear! l dar'st go home,
what shall ] do?" and Kittie began
to cry.
Tramp, hey?" said the widow
coolly, "that's nothin, new. I've
been jest pestered to death with
tramps this summer. There was two
called here last night, and they was
Jest as sassy as lord, and wanted
me to give EN- some supper, but they
didn't git any. jest the same. You
wait a minute till can look after my
bakin', and I'll go home through the
woods with you, Kitty. / never see
the tramp yet l was afraid Of"
With Kittie following close at hel
heels, Mrs. Spooner proceeded to the
kitchen, where, throwing open the
oven doors, she displayed pair of beau
tifully Drowned chickens which sem
forth a most appetizing odor.
There, Kittie, jest look at M
fowls, amt they doin' lovely? Pv'
been doin' lots of cookin' to-day. anC
/ do wish some interestin' eompan!
would happen along. I've had sign'
of a stranger all the afternoon; TIVE
chairbaCks got together, and
bumped my elbow ag'in the puml
handle"
At that moment there came a lout
knocking at the door. Kittie gave ;
little shrek.
/ "lt's-it's- him, auntiew sh
gasped, "It's the old tramp"
lis it?" said the widow brusquely
"Jest let me git my weapons ready
and I'll soon start him goin'."
With a saucepan of boiling no
water in one hand aud fire shovel il
the other, Mrs. Spooner advances
boldly to the door.
In the semi-twilight stood seedy
looking individual, wearing a sloucl
nat covered with dust.
"Could-you-ahem h
began in a hesitating manner, the
hastily retreated a few steps as h
caught a glimpse Of the war-like i'm
plements in the hands Of the widow
Yes, TIl give you," cried tn
widow, "a good whackin' with m
!. shovel, and a scaldin' to boot, If yo
amt off my premises before ca
count ten. You great, lazy loafel
: Amt you ashamed round trampir
,, and beggin' your livin'? Why hahn
you workin' on some railroad, dlggiI
bitches, you shifiess hulksP"
) "I-I-hain't round beggin' n
/. livin'," stammered the man, his eye
= firmly riveted on the widow
weapons. 'I-ain't no tramp neithe
I'll have you to know-I-".
, "Oh, no, you're no tramp, none o
!, EN- is, you're bank president mos
likely. Come, git; put yourself"
81 won't stir a blarsted peg" h,
spluttered. ''You can't drive IN
: till I've had a chance to tell yol
= who
! 81 can't, can 1? Well see abou
9 that, you wretch. Follow me witt
the tea-kettle, Kittie, I'll scald hin
} to death"
Mrs. Spooner's appearance as sh