The Jennings daily record. [volume] (Jennings, La.) 1900-1903, 1902-05-30

10 you FOu0O mere!
''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, lat least jest at present. 1 reck-
on we're all in the same business here"
'Tryin' to be smart" suggested q |
voice
Don't have to try" responded Mr.. |
Friend. as the stranger had been ridic- |
ulously named. Il see you're all |
a-guessin'. I'm guessin' you're a farm
er an you're a blacksmith an you're |
tn undertaken. There amt nary dec
tor nor lawyer present"
Blamed If the critter isn't right"
said the one he had dubbed a farmer.
Now. then. how's your bizness; same's
ours?"
Amt We all Ioafin!"
But we are just putin in spare
time. What do you do when you
works''
II 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 III the
conversation for the first time.
Rheumatic. Have it turrible in my
right leg. Can't sleep nights nor work
days. Turrible''
I've got bottle of patent medicine
that's warranted to cure the rheumat-
les" said the storekeeper. casting his
eyc over 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. II can't
climb, eff I could I wouldn't need med
ecin.'
One of he men volunteered to get the
bottle which Simon took without any
show of interest. But as he dropped ii
into his coat pocket he took from the
same receptacle small object which
resembied a 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
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 en- the absent
Simon tooth and nail They called him
lazy vagabond and threatened to
make the town TOO hot to hold him.
But it was not week before they Were
trying to get 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 aud meta
phorically kicked" Nothing was too
good for him and his lameneSS and
rheumatic pains made him a pathetic
burden. But he entertained the whole
village-at least the male part of 1t.
He told stories that every grandfather
had known in his youth as if they had
happened to him, changing them just
enough to make them fit in. He played
all the old airs and many of the new
ones on his mouth organ, which he
made TO initiate every known musical
instrument. And as Il reward he lived
in clover. True, his apartment was
over a stable. but it was warm and
comforta BILE, and if his food did not
come to him he shut himself up and
sulked until the best of everything eat
able was provided. A whole year he
lived there like Il nabob. and then
two calamities happened. The first one
was personal-Simon fell and broke his
leg. He would not be moved from the
walk where Il runaway team had
thrown him until the doctor. who was
his friend and chum, came himself:
then he had everyone sent off, and,
leaning on the doctor and dragging the
broken limb. he hobbled to his lodging
near by. There the doctor assisted him
TO bed, set the broken member and
undertook such care of Simon as he
could give him in off hours. And just
at that time the women of the villa ge,
led by the doctors sister. went off on
still hunt.
SimonS room now became the piece
de resistance in the makeup of the
village. The broken leg kept the enter.
tainer in bed but offered no obstacle
to social enjoyment. Nothing was I'M
bibed stronger than soft drinks, but
convivia1ity obtained just the same.
The doctor watched the case and took
care of his patient. He told the crowd
that the broken leg was knitting finely
and almost any day Simon would be
md hon hn Loo p