Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1898-10-13
THE SURRENDER OF JOSHUA


window to the effect that there il
accommodation within for respect
able single man it usually means mis-
chief II is the old, old invitation of
the spider to the fly. How on earth
could mere, ordinary, inexperienced,
guileless single man be otherwise than
clay ia the hands of Mrs. Potter?
Originally awhelks, she had married.
in the first place Higson, and in the
second the late, not unduly lamented,
Potter.
The grass on the grave of the latter
having now begun TO grow quite lux
uriantly, the relict considered that to
remain widow any longer would be a
sheer waste of time and opportunity.
Hence the card six inches by four
with the announcement referred to.
'tThe rest,n said Mrs. Potter, 81
leaves to Providence. I"
And Prov idence, thus piously in
yolscd, responded with Joshua Jeh-
bings
Mrs. Potter summed him up in one
word. Ginger, she commented COM
placontly, and / never knowed gin
ger uian or boy with what you could
call sperrit. :"
Indeed, so satisfactory was the gen
eral outlook that she began picking the
Grape tucks off her best merino without
further delay.
.'They did for Higson and they've
done for Potter, and there's no know
ing whether I've seen the end of 'em
yet,' she told herself, rs she folded
them smoothly and laid them carefully
away in the bottom drawer.
During the first few weeks Joshua
Jebbings rubbed his hands and felt he
was in clover, His new landlady "did"
for him as he had never been "done"
for before When he came in from
work he was a 'wheelwright to his
trade9--there was his dinner ready to
the minute. As soon as he opened the
door the savery smell of onions, or the
cheerful sound Of sausages, or some
other dainty, frizzling in the frying
pan, saluted him, while there was
nearly always lettuce fresh pulled for
his tea.
IF YOU wants to manage man,
reasoned Mrs. Potter, ''you can always
do it,. easy as easy, through his
vittles. !"
1t was Joe Whibble who first opened
Joshua's eyes to the snare that was
being spread for him.
Reckon yell be for putting up the
bands fore long," remarked this
worthy, with significant wink.
Bands p exclaimed Joshua. 81
amt got nothing to do with no bands,
/ ain IT,
Joe contented himself with the skep-
tical monosyllable, "G'arn.''
This was all that passed at that
time, but Joshua went home with the
oIninous word "bands'' ranking in his
breast.
/ He was very silent over his tea and
his landlady kept an intermittent
watch on him out of the corner of her
eye.
Its about time l give him int, !"
she thought. tTime's getting on, and
Whitsuntide'd do as well as not. !"
1t was at this moment that Mr.. Jeb-
bings, looking up, caught her eye.
But for the poison instilled into his
mind by Joe Whibble it is probable
that he would have seen nothing par
ticular in it. As it was, it seemed to
look "bands" at him which was
worse than daggers. Mr.. Jebbings
checked, partly from emotion and partly
owing to misdirected fshbone.
Mrs. Potter sighed a sigh of fond
"Reminiscences.
declare IL you don't remind me
for all the world of Higson. Wonder
full one he were to choke. I've
knowed him go black in the face over
a red herring, And more'n onoo he's
brought my heart into my mouth with
an apple core. He were Jest about your
| figger, too, and | made him knitted
wescut the winter fore he died. Pot
ter were q stout build, and were
thinking of letting it out for him when
he took = chill and, remembering how
weak all the Pottcrs was in their
chests, | reckoned it weren't hardly
worth while. It's upstairs in a drawer
| at this very minute, and / should say
it'd fit you like wax. You might lest
try it on after tea
The cold perspiration stood out on
Joshua's forehead as he husIily as
sured her that it was uncommon kind
other. but he wasn't in any pertickler
need OF a wescut Jest at present.
But she persisted.
III go'n look it out soon's ever I've
washed up" she declared
| The moment her back was turned
Joshua slipped out and sought tolace
and security at the Ham and Chicken.
Joe was there, and to him Mr.. Ieb-
| bings-after the usual intercha age of
opinions on the weather, the crops,
&c, he said:
"S'posin' wid-that is a WON
ieastways female makes up her mind
TO marry man and he won t have her,
what then?'
"As q gin'ral rule" responded the
oracle, ,as gin'ral rule she marries
L go II ~. 4
J. marry 3 liner, or did S'liner marry
me, and IL so, what's the oddsP''
Amt there no way of choking her
off?n Jebbings asked, desperately,
Depends whether she's single or a
widder," replied Joe.
"S'bose we allows Jest for the sake
o. argument as she is q widder. -
| Them" said Joe, slowly and en-
phatically, my advice is, 'ook IL, -
Joshua Jebbings quilted the Ham
and Chicken strung up to the pitch OF
giving his landlady weeks notice.
The first sight that struck his too.
conscious gaze was that of Mrs. Potter
IN combination with variegated
wooden garment.
brat the pepper" was her intro
dnetory remark. ITS up my nose and
in my eyes and everywhere. .
IF it's all the same to you,'' put in
MIR. Jebbings, with considerable trent
dation. If it's all the same to you, IE''
But it amt. Peppers all very
well in its place; but pepper here.
there and everywhere--''
| ,fI'm thinking of leaving you this
day week if-'if no objection" he
concluded lamely,
Bless us and save us allt' ex..
claimed Mrs: Potter, dropping the
waistcoat and apparently addressing