Smyrna times., 1894-08-01
One Man With Backbone.

One Man With Backbone.
Everybody called her "old Mrs.
Snarly," though she was by no means
aged, and everybody was afraid of her.
The 'boldest and most fluent woman
quailed aud grew dumb whenever she
put in an appearance; while the men
Mrs. Snarly's contempt was some
thing wonderful; she said if she was
man she'd be a man, statement that
was felt to be beyond contradiction. If
there was anything that Mrs. Snarly
did despise above another, it was man
without backbone, and, according to
her, there were not two men with a
back bone in the whole country; even
Snarly himself never did have more
than half of one, and could not begin
to stand up for his own rights, much
less for hers
Poor Snarly Two years before this,
he and his backbone, such as it was,
had gone out to the little graveyard,
there to turn into dust with his fathers,
and to rest at last with the weary.
Mrs. Snarly had eaten up more people
than, perhaps, any other cannibal in
the world, and her appetite was con-
stantly improving. She was not at all
particular, aud devoured everybody
that came in her way, though she
seemed TO be specially fond of your
precious good sort" and of young
girls who chanced to be comely. There
were delightful morsels, and she would
take them into her mouth, and let them
melt gradually, like caramels. 1t was
a terrible thing to fall into the mouth
Of Mrs. Snarly, and many there were
that did it. AT times she would get
enraged with the whole population,
and come down upon the little commu-
nifty, like the wolf and the Assyrian
did once, and deY0ur every man, wO-
man and child in it. Upon such occa-
siOns she was wont to say that she had
a devil in her as big as horse, and
there were those who thought the esti-
mate remarkably conservative.
No one ever dreamed of talking back
to her, for where was there a woman
who was able to do such thing, much
less man? Her neighbors had hard
time of it, and the house nearest hers
had actually deprecated somewhat in
value, for who could stand such a tar
tar, with her chickens, pigs and COW
At the bginnjng Of a certain year
this place was bought by Mr.. Norton
aud in a short time he aud his family
moved in aud took possession. His
friends warned him of what was il
store, but he only smiled, and said ht
supposed that they would be able t
manage somehow. Norton was quiet
| k,,k l,
thing or two, and had played more
than one practical joke while boy a
college. Mrs. Norton was a timid
pretty little woman, who adored he
husband and dreaded Mrs, Snarly.
Everything went on very we'll unit
spring gardening began, and then Nor
ton discovered that his neighbor'
chickens were likely to prove an in
tclerable pest. So, one morning, hC
wrote note to Mrs. Snarly, and in hi
most courteous manner requested he
to keep her chickens at home; but Il
this she only replied that he must bull,
his old fence higher, for she didn't pro
pose to shut up her chickens for an,
man alive.
This was unfortunate, for Nortol
still belonged to the living section, an
hoped to remain an active member TO
many years to come. In the course {
a few days a second note was sent, i
which he pleaded with Mrs. Snarly t
come to his rescue, as her chicken
were turning his garden into a barre
waste, but there was no answer to thi
whatever. So there was a third note
in which he announced that if some
thing was not done Immediately, h
should be compelled to take step
against those chickens.
"Just let him." said Mrs. Snarly t
the messenger, lust let him That
all I've got to say. Take steps indeed
He's a pretty looking thing to tax
steps, aiE't hep"
Now, Mrs. Snarly was very proud {
her chickens, and we'll she might bo
for they were decidedly the finest
the whole community. Two days aftC
this Mr.. Norton and his little son wei
into the garden, caught a goodly nun
ber of Mrs. Snarly's handsOmest rOOs
ers and hens, clipped as closely as po
sible one of the wings of each, and the
ran them home. 1t was fearful dee
and Mrs. Snarly's wrath knew 4
bounds. She sent "Bill Norton" wor
that she was coming up there to gi,
him piece of her mind, and that 81
would teach him how to go rouu
through the country mOmmockirg I
- other peoples chickens in that frigh
ful manner, as sure as she was livir
womanl The more she thought abol
it, the more she ragged.
"My chickens Mine! A lonI
legged, sleepy-eyed thing, with lun
of dough for a wife I'll settle hin
I'll show him a thing or two, or n
name amt Susan Snarly That's OIL
thing certain !"
An hour or so later, Norton mount,
his horse and started down into tow
"My dear" said Mrs. Norton, "a
you going by Mrs. Snarly's houseP"
- ''That's my intention" said he.
"Well, do be CAREFUL" pleaded /
wife, ufor the dreadful woman W
throw brick at you, or do somethiI
terrible; feel sure of it,"
: "No, she won'tl" said Norton. "Y,
see, mean to get ahead of her I'll
time, and do all the talking myself
may not be very manly thing-no
don't reckon il is very manly thi
but somebody ought to give the G
B tartar a setting-down for once in b
life, and I'm going to do it in the ne
FIVE minutes. mean to be perfect
furious about those chickens wher
get down there" And he laughed
) he rode off.
Z The house of the enemy was or
some hundred steps away, and ne
the road. Mrs. Snarly saw Mort