The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-01-03

not die when he expected to.
A saonth or two after the squire's
exodus, John Nugent came to town to
engage in the very striking business
of putting up lightning rods
Immediately the widow was siezed
with terrible dread of lightning.
She had rods put on all her buildings,
the hen-house included.
Mr.. Nugent took a room at her
house. When it Numbered, she few
to him for protection. He protected
her. When it did not thunder she
was afraid it was going to, and sought
of him consolation. He console her.
There was more lightning than
usual that sum mer, and Mr.. Nugent
had. his hands full Altogether, it
was delightful time. Every body
was happy.
August the 5th was set for the we'd
ding, but, alasl on that day of all
others, appeared at the Wi dow Peas
lees front door, inquiring for Tim
JeE 3ins, freckle-faced woman, with
five children.
Mrs, Peaslee told her that she had
not3 the honor of Mr.. Jenkins
acquaintance. And Hshe called Mr..
.Nugent down to3protect her from the
woman's abuse.
At the first glimpse of him, the
woman darted forward and seized him
by the arm.
'tOh, Timothy! you heartless, on
feeling man, you! To desert your
affectionate wife and all your inter
esting family of children!"
And then there was fearful scene,
during which a good deal of hair
changed hands and everything was
badly mixed up.
And it all ended by Mrs jenkins
marching Jenkins off with a young
one on each of his shoulders. and the
others hanging to the legs of his
pantaloons. begging for cents to buy
candy.
Again the Widow Peaslee was
widow.
At first she thought of falling sick
like the heroines in novels when great
emergencies occur; but, on second
thoughts, she changed her mind, and
sought consolation in various little
proverbs about patient walters"
Scraps OF poetry also came to re-
lieve her mind. She thought favor
ably of the wonderful production
which begins, IF at first you don't
succeed, try, try again"
Then she remembered the spider:
''Three times the spider tried his web to tie
fast to the beam
Three times to cross the main had people
tried before Columbus.
I will not give up to spiders, Spain, or aught
but death
quoth the widow courageously, and
she bathed her eyes, for she had been
crying a little, and prepared a plate
of toast and jelly for old Peter Pray,
who was sick, and a bachelor.
Put the widow Jones was before
her. supporting old Peter on her arm,
and feeding him with mutton broth.
Mrs. Peaslee was too late. She gave
the toast to Jellison's dog, and went
horae almost in despair.
Iut Providence favored her. A rail-
road was laid out in her vicinity. It
was constructed, and brought a great
many strangers that way. Mrs.
Peaslee took boarders-only single
men.
james Juniper was one of them.
Juniper was rock worker. and had
charge of blasting operations on q
ledge little distance off.
The widow fascina ted him, and in
due time they were engaged.
The day before they were to be
married, blast of powder went off
without any notice, and as poor Juni-
per happened at the time to be stand
ing directly over it, he went up.
When he made his ascent he had
two legs and two arms; when he de-
scended, it was found that one of
each was missing.
The widow received him at her
house-what remained of him.
He lifted his pow Ter blackened face
at sight of her, and said family:
Hannah, be you going to give me
up? Because, if you be, won't have
none of them doctors a-sawing off my
bones; but if you'll stick, let 'em saw
and be darned."
But the widow was loyal, and
James was raised up to life again,
though one of his legs is a wooden
one, and he has only one arm with
which to hug Mrs. Juniper.
So you see that patience and perse-
verance always bring forth their
fruits, and when you feel inclined to
despair, think of the Widow Peas1ee,
and renew your courage.