The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-08-01
ELLEN vas TeO YOUNG.
IRON the Utica observer.l

lfTOm the Utica Observer
Just because a jar of butter was not
up to the grade that those asked to
purchase it felt they must insist on
two loving hearts have been rudely
thrust asunder, and there are two large
chunks of woe down in the southern
part of the state The scene of this
oleaginous tragedy is the little hamlet
of Rhine Greek, not far from Bingham
ton The principals are Henry Davis
and Ellen Johnson These two live on
adjoining farms. Some time ago Henry
made the discovery that Ellen was
about the best ever, and the only one
to cheer the declining years of his life
(Henry is ''in his twenties.'' as the
neighbors would put it, and resolved
that he and Ellen must we'd. About
the same time Ellen woke up to the
warm fact that Henry was It When
matters had progressed this far the
plot began to reveal itself
At this point a group of villains, both
he villains and she villains came on to
the stage from both sides, and began to
interfere with the smooth progress OF
loves young dream by means of jeers
and threats. The said villains were
impersonated by the parents possessed
respectively by Henry and Ellen. With
much unnecessary harShneSS and with
cruel disregard of the tender feelings
of Henry and Ellen they declared IN
chorus that this must not be, must not
be, and that all was over between
them. Red fire and a slow curtain on
Iy torn from each others arms by
their respective sets of parents, Ellen
weeping and Henry cussing soto voce-
So ends the first act of the tragedy.
The second act opens with Ellen un-
der close parental surveillance and
Henry, the faithful lover, stealing sur
reptitieus interviews with his sweet
heart With appropriate gestures and
to low. trembling music, the absent vii
lains are defied and an elopement de-
cided upon, to take place as soon as
sufficient funds can be raised to pay
the minister's fee About this time
Ellen is nearly Frustrated with a sud
den thought. It is not the fact that she
has a thought, nor yet that 1t was sud
den. that upset Ellen; she has had
thoughts before and some of them have
been sudden. But the brillIancy OF the
present cerebration almost prostrateS
her Out in the nnilkrOom there is a jar
of butter made by her own fair hands.
1t is hers by every right, and they viii
take it to the city, sell it and with the
proceeds thereof start the merry mar
riage bells a-ringing.
The third act opens in Binghamton.
Henry and Ellen have come to town
with their jar of butter in a wagon
loaned by a sympathetic neighbor- They
make the rounds of the various gro
sen shops and the fiShmongerS. But
such a slack demand for butter at any
thing like living-to say nothing or
marrying-prices was never known be-
fore Gloom in thick layers began to
descend on their hitherto buoyant
But this time it is Henry who does
the brilliant thought act He will go to
the minister, tell him the joint desire OF
Ellen and himself, and tender him the
jar of butter in lieu of a wedding fee.
The minister's house was soon reached
and the proposition hopefully submit
ted The reverend gentleman looked at
Henry and looked at Ellen and looked
at the butter While two hearts hut-
tered and palpitated the minister tested
the butter Then he opined that Ellen
was too young to we'd
It was a sad couple that turned their
backs on Binghamton and headed for
Rhine Creek. Ellen has returned to her
fathers house and Henry is doing the
chores. as usual. And both are Won
dering what was the matter with the
butter.