Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1893-04-26

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do hope Napoleon, you realize jest
how slim and peaked you are lookin',
and II 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 a discontented,
absent-mInded 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 confiagration
by upsetting a kerosene lamp which
exploded in the f1our-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
O. my years to be livin." he muttered
sayagely. as he vainly tried so make
the lantern wick burn. "There the
DANCED thing has gone out, and 1
might as well give up-Tve got to
set here in the dark, or else crawl to
bed without solitary nibble in my
poor stummock, and I'm ready to
faint. S'pose III put up with this
any longer? not by jugfull If the
sun rises tomorrow mornin', it'll see
me streakin' for the Widder Spoonersi
Let the neighbors talk If 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, 'let
'em talk; L don't give a dang-if
! Eunice Spooner will have me; we'n
be merried short-off; that's fiat"
The Widow Spooner was in her
strawberry-patch, pulling up the
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
nOwl Oh. dear! / dar'st go home,
what shall l 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 a lord, and wanted
me to give EN- some supper, but they
didn't git any, Jest the same. You
! wait minute till l 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 her
heels, Mrs. SpoOner proceeded to the
kitchen, where, throwing open the
oven doors, she displayed pair of beau
tifully Drowned chickens which sent
forth a most appetizing odor.
AlCCICi JCNI IOoh az
fowls, amt they doin' lovely? I've
been doin' lots of cookin' to-day. and
/ do wish some interestin' company
would happen along. I've had signs
of stranger all the afternoon; two
chairbacks got together, and l
bumped my elbow ag'in the pump
handle"
At that moment there came a loud
knocking at the door. Kittie gave
little shrek.
Its its s. him, auntie!" she
gasped, "It's the old tramp"
lis it?" said the widow brusquely.
"Jest let me git my weapons ready,
and III soon start him goin'."
With a saucepan of boiling hot
water in one hand and fire shovel in
the other, Mrs. Spooner advanced
boldly to the door.
In the semi-twilight stood seedy-
looking individual, wearing a s1ouch
hat covered with dust.
"Could-you-ahem-giye-me' he
began in a hesitating manner, then
hastily retreated a few steps as he
caught glimpse OF the war-like i'm
plements in the hands Of the widow.
"Yes, I'll give you," cried the
widow, "a good whackin' with my
shovel, and a scaldin' to boot, If you
amt off my premises before can
count ten. You great, lazy loafer.
Amt you ashamed round trampin'
and beggin' your livin'? Why hain't
you workin' on some railroad, diggin'
bitches, you Shiiless hulks?"
"I-I-hain't round beggin' no
| livin'," stammered the man, his eyes
firmly riveted on the widows
weapons. 'I-ain't no tramp neither
III have you to know-I-"
"Oh, no, you're no tramp, none Of
EN- is, you're bank president most
likely. Come, git; put yourself!"
II won't stir blarsted peg" he
spluttered. "You can't drive me
till I've had a chance to tell you
who
II can't, can 1? Well see about
| that, you wretch. Follow me with
| the tea-kettle, Kittie, I'll scald him
| to death"
Mrs. Spooner's appearance as she
| screamed out these words was more
that of a modern Amazon, than
staid elderly widow, and with a
| smothered shrek, the man fled pre-
| cipitately before her, never pausing
| until he ANONYMOUSLY tumbled over a
rock-heap by the roadside.
There, Kitty" exclaimed Mrs.
Spooner, as she come into the kitchen
flushed and triumphant, 1--WE sent
| him about his business. I've learned
by experience that soft words don't
count with the tramp gentry, and 1
guess this pertickler one won't visit
me ag'in."
"Why, auntic," said Kittie, star
ing hard out of the window. "he amt
gone; he's sitting down by the barn
now"
/ HWhy how Won fa1k Has he had