The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-03-26
BATCH OF SHORT STORIES
Tales, Incidents and Gossip About
Town That Is Worth Reading.
New Way Of Cleaning Up Small
Boy-Musical Kittens.

side flock can testify. In his church 10 q
member of advanced years whose activity
of interest IN pious undertakings together
with his liberal contributions. cause him
TO be regarded as a pillar. The pillar. I'M
fortunately, is not entirely with
ont flaws. He has brother
reason. he cheerishes unfriendly feelings.
and with whom he has not exchanged a
word for many years. The brother fell i'll
recently and came to the point of death.
The pastor felt it his duty to bring about
reconciliation. if possible. 1t was not
pleasant task, but he approached the deli
cate subject courageousIy. and was just
getting launched into homily on the
Christian obligation to be charitable and
forRiving when the pillar interrupted him.
Look here. Mr.. -" said he. Il give a lot
of money to the church TO pay your salary
and one thing aud another. but | pay for
you TO preach and attend TO church bust
ness and not for interference in my family
affairs. i can look after them myself.
Good day." The pastor went his way, re-
fectiDG sadly that even If he had been
paid for preaching, the sermons did not
seem to have had much moral effect on at
least one nearer. +
Now and then prisoner in the county
Jail writes letter to a friend or relative.
which is unusually pertinent in its charac-
ter. The turnkey at the prison invariably
reads these missives before they are sent
out and occasionally falls upon something
indited by a msera BILE inmate worth repeat
ing. Jennie Carr. the young colOred woman
arrested the other day for the alleged muir
der of her infant child. was taken with
spirit of exceeding penitence last Thurs
day and scrubbed letter of four pages to
her sister, who is q resident of another city.
The girl, in her illIterate way, pOurs out o
heartful of sorrow. not on account of her
condition. but because her infant WAS
poisoned. She quotes much Scripture and
says that since the death of her babe she
has been converted, and proposes TO lead q
better life If she is acquitted of the charge
of murder.
Jennie's letter was of the serious nature.
but the other day Jerre Collins. tho turn
key, vas handed one from a prisoner, o
hardened young fellow. who had just re-.
ceIved sentence TO the wOrkhouse.
"Jim," as he was called. possessed q young
wife and child. the babe, it seems. having
not yet been given name when the father
was sent up. One day during Jims Incar-
ceration, while waiting trial, his wife
had written 20 him announcing that the
infant as old enough to be christened.
and, she added, that she had decided to
call IL James. after it's papa. The fond
father appeared highly elated over the
mothers choice. and the next day was sent
before the court to be tried for his misde-
meanor. The Judge gave him ninety days
on the works" and Jim was taken back to
jail. Hurriedly he called for paper and
ink. and rapidly scratched off few lines
which. before being mailed, fell under the
notice of Turnkey Collins. They were
brief, bnt philoso phicsily to the point. and
read: Don't call tho baby James; the
mama q dead IouarO
There is charming young lady teacher
in one of the city schools VINO is just now
pouring out a wealth of the tenderest af
lection upon a pair of rollicking young kit
tens. and she allows no opportunity to pass
without extOlling the virtues of these de.
lightful felines to her friends That these
cats possess remarkable talent is evident
from the fact that the young lady has
chrIstened them, respectively. Alto and
Soprano Both are beautiful. dappled
darlIngs and both partake of q musical
quality that Is truly wonderful TO those
" no have been fortunate enough to attend q
musicale In which Alto and Soprano
predominant. The mistress OF the prOdi-
gies is quite fond OF the piano. and it is
her custom 10 instruct the pets half hour
each evening in simple exercises. She seats
herself at the instruments, with the cats on
either side. and. deftly touching the keys
with her shapely fingers goes on with the
lesson. The kittens are all ears, and soon
the members OF the family who are not
permitted to enjoy these events are edited
by wave of melody that Is most startling.
The concert continues until the entire
gamut run. and then the furry artists are
encOred by the vivaci0us tutor. At times
the notes emanating from the pink throats
of Alto and Soprano are somewhat out
of touch with harmony, but the neighbo
nd m II ia
He is very little fellow and is some.
what given to mischief. One day his
mother left him alone with fond and dot
ing maiden aunt, who thought she would
dress him no and 60 to snelghbor's to show
OF. He is something of q meddler; is in
clined to want to know what is on the
table. to which his head just bout reaches.
In some way or another. just as his aunt
was about to start with him. he was
missing, and she went to find him,
having received no answer TO her
call. What sight met her eye she
entered The kitchen. That boy had pulled
n bowl of gravy over on his head. and the
greasy stuff was smeared all over his clean
dress. There be stood, too frightened to
cry, and knowing not what TO expect from
hIs aunt. Her woman's fertility of ex-
pedient here stood her in good stead. Call
shepherd dog. she bade HIM lick OFT that
gravy. This was quite To his taste. and
when he was through there was not
particle of grease on the boy, and no dam
age was done. except che need of new
dress. Trix walked off licking his chops as
though he would not care If such &C
cidents happened every day.
Said the drummer who sells drugs: II
was sitting behind one of my custom
ers who was IN. poker game in
certain town that shall be name
less, save that it Is SITUATED in In
diana. Presently he skinned his hand
with the result of showing mp four queens
and an ace. When the draw came he stood
pat ana the result that no one bet
against him. / asked him afterward why
he dId not draw one card. and give the i'm
preston that he had but two pairs. i
guess you don't know that gang said he.
III had a let that there ace get OF to the
table somebody would have had four aces
sure.'"
iss Winterboth Tiles.
As soon as Miss Ruth Winterbotham has
finished her designs for the mantels TO be
- - . a