Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1897-12-11
Humuruus department.
HIS LAST EFFORT.

Mrs. Fidelia Crowell often remark
ed that she did not suppose there was
another man in the country so careless
as her husband, Elijah. This opinion
was shared by the neighbors, who re-
membered numerous instances OF Eli
iah's carelessness. But there was one
occasion when Mr.. Crowell proved
that he could be as thoughtful as any
body, and Mrs. Crowell greatly enjoy
ed telling about it.
"We never moved but once," she
would begin, "and I may say we have
never got really settled, although It's
over 20 years ago.
"My sister Elizabeth was a real good
band to pack, and she came over and
took right hold. She packed all our
clothes and most of the dishes; and it
was going on two years before l dared
lift up a towel out of trunk without
using both hands, not knowing but
Elizabeth might have placed a tea
plate in it. -,
"I had six of Grandmother Crowell's
china cups. Of course set consider
ably by them, and I packed them my
self, just as careful as could. EiDah
saw me, and he noticed I put them
into a small box and tied them up and
set them on the shelf by the sink.
"When we come to start, I went on
the first team to see that the things
were unloaded and set where I wanted
them, and I took the box with the
china cups with me, and held them all
the way to Corinth. Elijah was COM
ing with the second load. We had q
real smart young horse at that time,
and Elijah was going to drive him
over. ,
ut seems after Elijah got his load
all on he stepped into the kitchen and
looked about, and right on the kitchen
shelf he saw box done up as careful
as could be. Elijah thought it was
the china cups, and I suppose ne was
dreadful pleased to find had gone OF
and forgotten them and he made up
his mind that he would show that he
could be careful if he set out.
81 know he must have had dread
full time getting into the wagon with
that box in his hands, for that horse
never would stand for nobody; but
Elijah fetched it someway, and got
started.
"He said the horse went 80 fast and
the wagon shook so that it scared him,
for he was afraid those cups would
get all smashed up. So he held the
box in his lap as careful as he could,
and being frightened then, he made
the horse walk every step Of the way,
over twenty miles, and he set on the
edge of that seat holding that box as
careful as if it was a sick baby.
"When he got here he was as pleas
ed as could be, and says he, Now,
Fidelia,' says he, you can't ever call
me careless again. You stepped OH
and left grandma's cups on the sink
shelf, and I've brought 'em myself, and
walked the horse all the way SOS not
to Jar 'em more than could help
II had unpacked the cups the first
thing, and they were set up in the
china cupboard ; so I just pointed at
them, and says I, What on earth have
you brought, Elijah p He hurried up
to undo the bundle, and if it wasn't
my two best fatirons! Yes, Elizabeth
had gone to work and wrapped them
up, and poor Elijah had been to all
that trouble to bring them over.
"Well, we had good laugh at him,
but he was considerable riled about it.,
and I guess it discouraged Elijah, for
he hasn't made much of an effort since
then, and he don't like to have any
body give him credit for ever trying
to be careful"