Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1899-12-21
THE LAZY JENNINGS.


too early, and then again some hours were
too late. II simplifed matters to lie still
and let the sun attend to its own business
1t knew how to get up and to go down with
out anF concern on the part of Pa Fenning
Ma Fenning kept more abreast with the
times-knew when to get breakfast, could
approximate the dinner hour, and knew al
what season of the year 1t was best to set
hens Her five sons and three daughters had
grown up around her-an inadvertence on
their parts which necessitated the baking
Of 10 loaves at time instead of ten, which
was the requirement when they were
younger Where the Jennings got the -four
for the baking was mystery the neighbor.
hood over, for when it came to common toll
the Jennings assumed the airs of priv
ileged class. If the times were hurried it was
no fault of theirs II the labor market was
overstocked they were not to blame.
The Jennings hired out reluctantly to do
small jobs about the neighborhood and their
lazness was a byword. But the neghbors
disliked the idea of having anyone starve to
death, and they assiduousy hired them
even against their will.
Lew Fenning alone escaped the stigma Of
confirmed laziness. But this was not be-
cause Lew did anything. Not at all. He did
less than the rest. But he was possessed of
only one arm, having lost the other in a
threshing machine. The fact that he lost il
in that manner was great triumph for the
Jennings, as family of deserters would
feel itself vindicated by victim of the bat
tie front, so the lazy Jennings pumed them
selves upon this disaster, incurred in the
days work. Nay more, they secretly re-
garded it as a sort of warning. They opined
that it was indeed dull man who failed to
recognize the penalties attaching to indus
| try.
The Jennings, as has been said, were all of
good stature, but Lew was larger than the
average, and when he leaned against fence
rail, or squatted upon the ground, watch.
ing other men at their toll, his face wore a
melancholy expression.
"I'd like to help you out if could, Blk
by" he would say to one of his prosperous
neighbors. Nothing would give me more
pleasure than to help you in with them po-
tatoes"
81 know it, Lew" Farmer Bixby would re.
ply, feelingly. 81 know just how you feel,
and | sympathize with you"
There goes a man that would have made
something of himself" the farmers would
say nights after Lew left them to trudge
down the sandy road to his home, ''if only
he could have fair show"
At home the great bare living room was
thronged with smoking men. Pa Fenning
smoked where he lay in bed, and all his stall
wart sons smoked; and the women chewed
| gum. They were not quarrelsome family.
| On the contrary, they INDUCED in a good
deal OF horseplay and laughter. The con.
sequence was that passers-by heard riotous
outlaws proceeding from the Fennng house,
and remarked disapprovingly that some
| folks didn't worry II they did go hungry
! Lewis downward droop of the corners of his
eyes, his pensive expression and air of set
tied sadness as he walked down the road
were a great argument for him His role
met with the approval of his neighbors and
they were entirely taken in by the perfec-
ton of his acting. They never dreamed
that the loudest Of the laughter that pro-
ceeded from the walls of the cluttered house
belonged to the man whom they imagined
to be wrapt in sorrow.
Now the whole truth of the matter was
that Lew was an astute creature, and it oc.
CURED to him that he would have to make
some strenuous effort or he would lose his
reputation for industry. This effort he did
not wish to be commonplace. Lew was not
he didn't know the word, perhaps. But he
confessed that he liked to have folks talk.
ing about him. He knew he enjoyed the
pity and the kindly hattery that the neigh.
bors bestowed upon him.
Wandering over a strip of barrens that
lay to the south, Lew had frequently stopped
to talk with Jacob and Liza Inglehart
They were brother and sister, and were little
dark silent creatures, shy and hard working
who were making a good farm in the midst
Of the charred pine trunks. Without funds
they were forging a livelihood for them
selves from the ground that other men con.
sidered to be mere waste. They worked like
plow horses early and late, and they went
nowhere, spent no money except for neces
saries and spoke to few.
Lew saw his chance for a dramatic and
prudential stroke. He made violent love to
the amazed Liza, won her consent to a mar.
riage and was installed in the forbidding
shack occupied by the Ingleharts
What dark, wretched little thing Liza
is," all of Lewis sisters made plant, as they
sat around, handsome and disheveled in
their rags. But Liza wore no rags She
made herself gay little calico frocks, in which
she looked ugler than in more somber gar.
ments. She slaved and did not mind the
shaving. And Lew followed her about with
hoe in his hand and looked loving and
melancholy
The comedy ended merrily. The Jennings
at the parental home continued to lose caste.
Their laziness became a byword and scof.
fling, and at last they were suspected Of as.
stimulating the chickens from their neigh
bors' yards. But as they continued to laugh
as loud as ever, it must be inferred that they
did not suffer the pangs Of remorse.
But down at the Inglehart farm in the
barrens all went well. Lew had taste and he
made suggestions, and the two little earth.
worms dark and dour, his wife and her
brother, followed these suggestions faithful.
ly. He was sort of necromancer whom
they, evil worms of the soil, were under OBJ.
legations to obey, Paint appeared upon the
shack, vines clambered up its sides, curtains
dTaped the windows Lew, who could drive
magnificently with one hand, sweHed into
town on green wagon, drawn by two big
roans-which belonged to Jacob Inglehart.
The hank account was kept in Lewis name.
Lew joined the church and sat well up in
front, holding his head high. Jacob and
Liza dropped shyly beside him, apologize
and workworn But Lew never ceased to
look melancholy.
He was still pitied as he walked about the
fields at his wife's heels, holding his hoe in
his hand
Lew Fenning has executive ability" de.
cided the neighbors. seeing how he pros.
pered Hes brought himself and the Ingle.
harts right up in the world. just think what
he might have made of himself if he'd only
had fair chance!"
But Pa Fenning and all the brothers Fen
ming roared with great roars of laughter.
Lew knew what he was about when he
lost that arm" they would say. II was
perennial joke, Of which they never tired.
'What ~ atv bad baJ t,ro houJ.t M