The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1902-06-06

hlGti minus the hhlNiA Oh hHeeelt hlH |
the man spoken to started and said:
II didn't remark We are waiting
for you 10 remark You see we didn't
catch your name when you came in.
und as you're a stranger IN these parts
and we're all acquainted 1t gives us
the advantage Of you"
Spoke like a oracle" said one Of the
company. yes, we would kinder like
TO know who you Je."
my name is Simon, friend" said
the stranger in high, ialsetto voice.
Il reckon that name Is kind Of strange
to you round here"
Simon Friend" repeated the other
laboring under an absurd misappre-
hension, that's a right good name
Mr.. Friend. An what might your bust
ness be-"
Same as yours" replied the squeaky
voice, Eat least jest at present. / reck-
on were all in the same business here"
"Tryin' to be smart" suggested a
voice.
Don't have to try" responded Mr..
Friend, as the stranger had been ride
ulously named. Il see you're all
a-guessin'. I'm guessln' you're farm
er an you're a blacksmith an you're
tn undertaken There amt nary doe
tor nor lawyer present.
Blamed If the critter isn't right"
said the one he had dubbed a farmer.
Now, then, how's your blzness; same's
ours?"
"Ain't we all loain"
But we are just putin in spare
time. What do you do when you
work."
Il don't work" responded Simon, as
if he were announcing a welcome
truth; did you never hear this scrip
ter? The lame and the lazy are allus
provided for"
What famed ye?" asked the store
keeper, taking an active part in the
conversation for the first time.
Rheumatic. Have it turrible in my
right leg. Can't sleep nights nor work
| Gays. IurIlDle.
give got bottle of patent medicine
that's warranted to cure the rheumat-
les" said the storekeeper, casting his
eye over a top shelf; you kin have it if
you'll climb for it-there's a step lad
der around somewhere"
But Simon shook his head. 81 can't
climb, eff l could l wouldn't need med
ecin.
One, Of the men volunteered to get the
bottle which Simon took without any
show of interest But as he dropped it
into mis- coat pocket he took from the
same receptacle a small object which
resembled bit Of rough wood which
he put to his lips and presently the
place was filed with strains Of music
that charmed the listeners with their
sweetness. Every man there got a
scolding for being out so late that
night, and when the advent of the
lame stranger and his wonderful power
of entertaining was offered in apology,
then all the women fell on the absent
Simon tooth and nail They called him
a lazy vagabond and threatened to
make the town too hot to hold him.
But it was not a week before they were
trying to get a peep at him, and tor
menting their husbands to bring him
home so the children could hear him
play, and commencing him for keeping
them away from the tavern. But Simon
was so shy of women that none could
get neaR him, by which sign they knew
him for an old bachelor.
1t soon became apparent that Evans
vile without its Simon would be Ham
let without its Dane From being the
poor, pinched object that had drifted
in among them he waxed fat and meta
phorically kicked" Nothing was toe
good for him and his lameness anC
rheumatic pains made him a pathetic
burden. But he entertained the whole
village-at least the male part of it
He told stories that every grandfather
had known in his youth as If they haC
happened to him. changing them jus
enough to make them fit in. He played
all the old airs and many of the new
ones on his mouth organ, which h
( made to initiate every known musica
instrument. And as a reward he live
in clover. True, his apartment" wa
over a stable, but it was warm ant
comfortable, and if his food did no
come to him he shut himself up an
sulked until the best of everything eat
able was provided. A whole year b
lived there like a nabob, and the
two calamities happened. The first on
was personal-Simon fell and broke hi
|, leg. He would not be moved from tn
= walk where a runaway team ha