The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1899-01-26
THE SURRENDER or JOSHUA.

tions within for . respectable single man
IT usually uassns mischief u 10 The Old.
old invialon Of the sriier 10 sbe ny,
aos 90 earth could mere, ordinsry' insf
pefieDeed, suilsless single man be other
sise than clay 10 the hsnds Of Mrs Potter,
o isiD.lly (. whslka. she hst married
IN The nr., place Hissop, snd 10 the
second The late, not uudnly lsmented Pot
Ter.
The srss. 90 The grave Of The latter
having pov begun 10 srou quits lu1urisn'
Nv, tie ruliei cousiaersd ihst to remain
sldow any longer would be sheer waste oi
time sud opportunity. Hence the card
sir inches by four with the snnonunce
ment referred TO.
The rest. said Mrs. Potter. l leave TO
Providence.
And Providence. thns piously invoked.
responded With Joshas Jebbinss
Mrs Potter summed him mp 10 one
word Giagsr. che commented complsc
ently. and never knowed . ginger man
or boy with what you could call sperrit.
Ipdeed, go satisfactory was the general
outlook that she began picking The crspe
tu,ks oii her best merino without further
delay.
Daring tho first few weeks Joshua Jeb
bipgs rubbed bis bands and felt be was
10 clover. HIS new lsndIsdy "did' for
him what hsd never been "done" before.
When he came 10 from work be WAS .
"sheelwristt to his trsde"-there was
bi, dinner ready to the minute. Az soon
as be opened The door the ssvory smell OF
onions, or tue cheerful sound OF saussses,
or SONS other dainty, frizzling in the Try
ing pan, saluted him, while there was
nearly always lettuce fresh pulled for
| his tea
He vsG an unsssuming individual. was
| Joshua, aud 30 was conscious vt times o.
vague presentinen, that this vas con
diiion OF sfl,irs too good to last II was
Joe Wbibble who fret opened bis eyes 10
the snare that was being spread for him.
Recon ye'll be putting up the bsnns
fore long, remarked this worthy. with
significant wink.
Biunsl exclsimed Joshns. l amt got
potbink to do with bsnns. ain't
| Unsbssbed by the srsy Of negatives
Joe executed another wink Of even desdli
er Significance. but con ented bimself with
The skepticsl monosylable, G'arn.
This was ell that passed at that time.
but Joshus went home with the ominous
word band )" ranking in bis breast.
He was very silent over his tes, except
when bone welt the wrong way. His
lsndlady kept an Intermittent watch oo
him on, OF the corner oi her eye.
It's about time / give i'm lot she
thought. Times getting op, and Wbitsun
| tide'd do % well as not.
1t was st this moment that Mr.. Jeb
bings, looking up. caught her eye. But
for the poison instilled into his mind by
Joe Whibble, it was probable that he
would have seen nothing particular 10 il.
As il was, it seemed to look bands" Of
him which was worse than dsggers.
Mr.. Jebbinss choked again, partly from
emotion and partly owing to smother mis-
directed iish bone.
Mrs. Potter sighed sigh Of fond remin
iscence.
l declare, il you don't remind me for oil
the world OF Higson. Wonderful one be
we're to choke. I've knowed him to go
black 10 the face over red herring And
more'n once he's brought my heart into
my month with 40 apple core. But for
ell that be lived TO die in bis bed.
As soon as supper was over Joshua
slipped out and soueh solsce and security
at the Ham and Chicken. Joe was there,
and to him Mr. Jebbings alter the usosl
Interchange OF opinions on the weather
and crops and the prices Of pigs put 10
poser.
S'posiL' wild that . wom least wsys
female makes up her mind to marry
man und be won't bsve her. what then2
Asa gen'ral role, responded the oracle,
after seeking Inspiration Vt the bottom Of
his blue and white esithernware pint N ug,
ss een'rsl rule she marries him oil the
came.
MIR J bbinss rssped his chin dsspoo
iettly with the back OF his hand.
Ait there no way OF choking her oh2
he asked. desperately.
Depends whether she's single or vid
der, replied Joe With an expression oil
oi deep mesning.
S'pose We allows. just for the sake o
the argument. Is she is . widdsr.
Then. said Joe. slowly and emphsticsl
ly. my sdvics is COX IT.
Josbus Jebbipgs Quilted tae Ham and
Chichen itruns mp to the pitch Of giving
bis iaudlsdy . weeks notice. By the
time be reached the corner Of bis road bis
resolution was oczins fast. there vas hard
ly ses,ise OF IL left ss be raised the
latch.
The frsi tbins thst met bis too conscious
gaze vas. Mfs Potter.
II it's ell the same to you, put 10 Mr.
Jebbins. With considerable tsepidstion, il
ne all the came to you, LIN thinking
Of leaving you this day week IL 90 oil jsc
ton. be concluded lsmely.
Bless us and cave us ALL exclaimed Mrs
Potter.
Goo good night. snswasd Mr. Deb
bines, exeeaipg reirosrsde mosement 10
IN. aifectiou Of tue stsiressf; never mind