The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-12-21

F THE genesis of Jacob Car grease. the villagers knew
 nothing Of his exodus. none
 was In ignorance. In the sum NJ msr of 'ss he made his ap-
 psarance in smalltown. Tn the fall of the same year, he made his departure.
 Much was the speculation as to whence he came, and runors of all sorts were rife as to his sncestpy and his former station in life. The old women of Small town diagnosed Jacob by his propensity for drink. The old men judged him by his ability to pick cotton. There was criticism from the first and praise from the latter, The girls were indifferent. The young men envied his capacity for work and his ease in ioafing, as we'll as his art in imbibing. He possessed their concealed admiration. The children, without regard to sex. gave him their unstinted affection. because he could tell the most interesting fairy tales and by his eioquence end seeming sincerity in narration mako of the staid old town pump a thing to be feared and shunned when old Sol had gone te rest and only the stars stood sentinel
 When he sat in his cabin door and wove
 
 terie of ordinarily boisterous youngsters. the old women opined that that air Jake Cargrease haint no business putin such foolishncss in the heads of them inner cont brats." The old men knew that the Smailtown small boys fear of ghosts always became ossified whom he reached the age where he had to get up before daylight to milk. and they replied that there was no harm being done.
 Be 1t not understood that all the fe- males of smaiitown had set their seal ot disapprobation or absolute disinterest was notable.
 All the period of her existence Miss Charity Jones had resided in the village. She knew the pedigree of every person within the confines of the place as well as every person therein knew hers, which knowledge was as definite and as certain as that possessed by the wise men that the earth revoives on it's axis. Endowed with some brains and a lot of energy. Miss Charity eked out an existence by teaching the little school during the reg ular term and making dresses all the year round. All her immediate kin were dead, and those further removed did not pos sess her sympathy nor her love. In her little cottage late at night might be ob- served a light. and had one the temerity to approach and peer within. he would have seen the old maid busy with needle in an endeavor to complete some garment before tired nature exerted itself and compelled her to seek her couch.
 It was the boast of Miss Charity Jones th& the citadel of her heart had never been captured, There were those who said that 1t had never been stormed. Even in villages there may be found the uncharitable.
 When Jacob eargrease one morn met Miss Charity coming from the town pumne with a bucket of water in each hand and offered to relieve her of the burden, there were those who saw and heard, and there was new subject for comment for the housewives before noon
 Did you know that Jake Cargrease is courtin' Charity7" asked Mrs. Dobhins of Mrs Colewart. as they met at the village store that day.
 'Yas. I hear he be- was the answer.
 Wall, I hope Charity won't be silly enough to pay any attention to that old toper."
 Y dunno about that Toper or no top ger, good wood chopper is handy orny- mint in the winter time, and first class blow hand Is sorter useful in the sum mer," was Mrs. Colewart's answer.
 For fifteen years Miss Charity Jones had been carrying water from the pump to her home without assistance. and the fact that some one had offered to help her was sufficient cause for gossip.
 The next day when Jacob appeared at the town pump at the hour when 1t was the wont of Miss Charity Jones to i'll her pails. there was fresh cause for talk among the ghde house wives Each sue cessive day the full paiis were borne to the home of Miss Jones by the brazen Jacob, and finally the people of smalltown became accustomed to the performance, and no longer was 1t favorite topic of conversation at the sewing circle or the quilting bee.
 When one morn Jasper Hillyer spied Jacob Cargrease chopping wood In the rear of the domicile of Miss Charity Jones and happened to casually mention the fact to his mother, a new morsel was placed under the tongue of Mother Gossip.
 James Johnston one afternoon late pass ed by the house of Miss Charity Jones, --------