St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1900-04-07
MIR. JObson's Generosity

A T NOON the other day Mrs. job
~ son received, per messenger boy,
a large, fragrant bunch of double vio-
let's, with Mr.. Jobson's calling card at
tached thereto, and his affectionate fe-
licitations scrawled on the back of the
card.
Mrs. Jobson couldn't understand 1t.
She turned the violets upside down
and side Jays, and studied them from
all points of view. Then she scrutin-
lied the card as if it were written in
Arabic and the job of translating it
were difficult and slow.
"Violets!" said she to herself, Won
deringly. "And from Mr.. Jobson! Let
me recall how many years it has
been"
But she couldn't recall.
Il wonder if there's anything the
matter?" she unused. "Violets! And
from MIR. Jobsonl"
Another messenger boy rang the
bell about three o'clock and handed
Mrs. Jobson a two-pound box of ehoc-
olate creams, nicely done up. Resting
on top of the candies was Mr.. job
sons calling card, his affectionate fe-
licitations scrawled on the back of the
card.
Mrs. Jobson, fustered by the re-
ceipt of the violets, was now complete
ly habbergasted.
"There's something wrong; I'm sure
there isl" she said to herself, excited
1y. '1t can't be that he's dr.? No,
that is out of the question! Perhaps,
though, his mind is wandering little
he was fiighty when he had that re-
turn of the grippe in Decemberi What
can the matter be? Il he has become
little figby again as the result of
the grippe, maybe his flightiness has
taken the form of the de .fium of
grandeur that I was read ng about
somewhere not long ago. III do wish
that he'd come home, SO that I could
plaster on him and send for the doc
tor. Goodness gracious me, there sure
ly is something wrong!"
Thus Mrs. Jobson worked herself up
to high pitch of nervousness. Vio-
let's and candies from her hus band, all
in one day! 1t was all very delightful
but it was too delightful. Mrs. job
son had foreboding of trouble. How
ever, she put on her prettiest tea
gown, pinned the violets thereto and
waited anxiously for Mr.. Jobson's IA
miliar step.
Mr., sJobson got home at the usual
hour. He wore an expression of be-
nightly as he entered the Vestibule,
where Mrs. Jobson, in saluting him,
found out that he hadn't drank drop.
"Why, you dear old extravagant
thing, you!" she said to him. Il never
saw such lovely violets in my life, and
as for those candies, why"
''Tut, tut, little one" said Mr.. Job,
son, amiably, don't speak Of 'em. Just
happened TO think to send 'em up to
you, you know, and they're no more'n
you deserve, at that. I tell you what,
Il were a rich man, you'd have every
thing"
But Mrs. Jobson scarcely heard what
he said. Little one!" she was saying
to herself "Why, it's been years and
years since he"
"Have you been speculating in
stocks, my dear?" Mrs. Jobson asked
him, timidly.
Stocks? Who, me? Well, I'd like
to see myself" said Mr.. Jobson, good
naturedly. No, ma a'am; no stocks for
mel" ~ S%E
Mrs. Jobson looked him over care
fully, but he was all right, so far,as
she could see. His extraordinary good
nature sat on him as naturally as if
that were his everyday manner. He
stepped out into the hall for mo-
ment, got a package that he. had
dropped on the rack in coming in and
opened it.
Happened to remember. as was
coming up, that you wanted some
books" said Mr.. Jobson. in an off
hand way. Brought you up a few.
Hope you'll like 'em.''
Mrs. Jobson took the books and
looked them over in dazed kind of
way. They were just the books she
had been wanting for a long while
all good. substantial editions, too.
She couldn't refrain from giving him
9 hug.
''Why, You generous, silly old
thing!" she said. "Just the books
that I've been pfning for for ages.
Won't you please veil me what it ia
81 about what Ire done to deserve
Gil these lovely pre-"
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