Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1893-1895, 1893-08-26
A THoUGHTLEss REMARK.

Predieament Of a Well Meaning Man Who
Talked a Good Deal
A man sometimes makes very serious
mistake in not being explicit in his utter
ances. For example, our worthy towns
man, Mr.. p. f. PettibOne, got himself in
to precious scrape the other day by re
marking in the most casual way possible
at the Union League club, We've got
fine boy at our house" 1t happened in this
way: Mr. Pettibone was in the coatroom
and was complaining of headache. There
upon friend said that nobody had any
business having a headache such fine
weather.
To this. Mr.. Pettibone answered, You'd
have a headache, too If you'd been kept
awake all night by baby's crying"
why, what do you know about babiest"
asked the friend.
What do | known echoed Mr.. Petit
bone. II know a heap. We've got a fine
boy up at our house"
The friend scrutiniZed Mr.. Pettibone's
face closely and saw that he was in earnest.
So-just like aman-he went of and busted
himself, spreading the news that Mr.. and
Mrs. Pettibone had baby son
Mr. Peetibone should haveexplained that
the fine boy" was not his boy, but merely
the property of friend visiting the Petit
bone mansion. You see that he said just
enough to get himself into trouble.
Well, everybody was delighted to hear
about Petitioners ''fine boy" and every
body heard about it. because everybody told
everybody else. At the club his friends
agreed among themselves that Pettibone
was "a sly dog" and all that sort Of thing,
and they vowed that they'd get even with
him for keeping the precious secret from
them solong. At the same time every last
one Of his associates was hoping that Petit
bone would honor him by naming the fine
boy" after him, and each made the secret
resolve to send the little newcomer a solid
silver spoon.
The trouble brewed all that afternoon,
and the crisis came about s o'clock In the
evening. Mr.. Pettibone was seated in his
quiet home on the west side, reading aloud
to Mrs. Pettibone from a volume entitled
How to Sail Yacht In Calm" when
all at once there came pull at the bell.
While they were guessing who under the
sun it was who was making calls this hot
evening"" in came the servant bringing a
lovely silver spoon carefully wrapped In
silk tissue paper. The spoon was for Lit
tie Master Pettibone"-so the card accom-
panying it was addressed.
why, Foster, what can it meani" asked
Mrs Pettibone.
''I'm sure haven't the least idea," said
Mr.. Pettibone, and they two sat there and
looked at the spoon and marveled.> The
spoons began to arrive. There were 20 OF
them by 0 o'clock. and an hour later there
were IA more. Next morning before break
fast the whole number had increased TO
four dozen, and spoons were still arriving
when Mr.. Pettibone started for his place of
business. The whole thing was so pro-
found a mystery to him that he was fairly
wild with curiosity. He set himself to re-
calling the events Of the last month in the
hope that he might detect therein some
clew to the secret Of these strange happen
ings. He retraced cOnsecutively every con-
versation he had had and every letter he
had written, and presently he recalled
yes, there came to him like a flash of light
ming a recollection OF the few words he had
passed with his friend at the club the pre-
vious day. Mr.. Pettibone saw through IL
all now. His friend had formed hasty
conclusion from a casual word, had spread
the news broadcast and-well, there you
arel
Mr.. Pettibone thought the matter ali
over, and the more he revolved IL the more
he became convinced that he alone was to
blame. Ii made him feel half vexed and
half ashamed. So after telephoning an ex-
PLANTATION to his wife he was too busy TO
see callers" at the store that day, and in
stead Of going TO the club at noon be ate a
snrreptitious luncheon in the corner OF
retired dairy restaurant.
Since then Mr.. Pettibone has been kept
pretty busy writing letters TO his many
friends explaining this curious comolica-
tion. and the task Is by no means ended,
for people outside the city have heard the
good news" and they, too. are sending
congratulations and spoons. The prospect
is that this remarkable agitation will con
tinue for an indefinite period, for Mr.. Pet
tibone's friends are legion. A pleasant
feature OF the affair is that those who have
learned the truth refuse to take back their
spoons. Keep them. Foster" they say.
"and may that which was meant for a ne
ward serve as an inspiration"
The real value Of this incident is, how
ever, the lesson it teAehes-viz, that Il Is
safest always TO be explicit In your com
munications with your fellow men. 1t is
merely TO inculate this moral that we have
told this true stoFy.-Eugene Field in Chi
eago News Record.