The farmers' union. (Memphis, Mo.) 1891-1895, 1894-02-08

/ made the attempt. with Purdy to
help me, but it wouldn't seem to go ON
in the natural way: and Purdy pro-
posed that he should hold the band of
it open, while | got down on the floor
and crawleI into j..
We we Just doing this when we
heard voices bel wv. and the c'oss yah,
YAH" OF a ii ed baby. and knew that
the ladies had letur. e. Mrs. Purdy
was coming in t. rest 4 little and talk
over the events of the day.
IL rd." says /: if Araminta sees me
thus it will be all up with Potts.
And | ha tened to scramble out of
the thing. and had just or pped it on
the floor when the ladies nd the Ia
bies came il. Pu dy-wise Purdy.-
had jumped in behind the Eel at the
first sound Cf their apr roach. a1d was
left to +; ce the storm una med and SIN
| gle-handed
Mrs. Potts had a baby in her arms
50 had Mrs. Purdy. Mrs. Potts eyes
fell on that p icoat the first thing.
Never shall forget the expres sion
| of her face.
"pO1 Is >" say- she. in capital letters
! an inch ong, and in Il voice to which
the voice Of the roaring lion would be
| like the bleat of a lamb.
My dear" says |, with my mot az
| fecti mate intOnatl n.
where is she::' demanded Mrs
| Potts.
She" says |. We'll. really. my
| dc ar. that is que stiOn which is open
! to discus sion amt it. Purdy:"
When spoke to furdy, Mrs. Puidy
flung turn on the bed, and with one
leap she cleared the mattress, and
| landed on the other side with her
hands in 'urdy's hair.
You villain. you rascal. cried she.
you. the husband Of a ntioing wife,
and the father OF twins. tut up in d
chamber with a strange pctticoat.."
It's Potts works I know it is
screechcd Araminta: he is false as
Satan. Vine G is the woman: I'll tear
her into inch pieces. Ill claw her
heart out. I'll bust her pull-back. I'll
--I'll-Ill"
And here she ceased threatening.
and tiew at me with will. She drew
maps on my face with her tinger-nails:
she kicked my shins with those French
kid shoes Of hers bought with my
money: she tore my vest IN two up and
down the back: AMI to complete all,
she rubbed my nose on the stOvc-pipe.
and tendcrly expressed the opinion
that hanging was too good for me.
| ted her / was glad to hear it, for |
had observed in the cOurse of Il long
and varied life that people were not
likely to get much of what was too good
! for them.
| Purdy had been lying under the bed
for some time. and his wife was putting
in the ticks where they would do the
most good.
1 explained matters to Mrs. Potts
while she paused to take off her back
hair: for, ii You are family man, you
know that wOman's back hair always
comes down in scrimmage, and when
she stops and takes it off you had
better be on your guard, for depend
| upon it she means business.
| Purdy swore to what | had said, and
we showed the two ladies the wrap
pings and the address which had come
on the bundle, and they subsidized. Only
Mrs. Potts declared she knew the Pet
| t;coat came from cd maid Ann Stig-
| gins. who used to be an old flame of
mine. and who has hated Araminta
ever since our marriage.
We were a happy family that night,
and Mrs. Potts gave the petticoat to
Mrs. Purdy to make a pair of 'em for
the twins: and Purdy says:
Tell EN- to send their valentines
right along. It'll pay a man to have
twins, he says. when he has such sub
| stantial encouragement. -Exchange.