Morgan County democrat. (Versailles, Mo.) 1900-1906, 1903-12-04
her and to divert her mind from the
expected catastrophe.

woo w. w NhS tuOi', o pooS . hos
| as well set down with you, though l
amt no stomach for eatin'. Mr.. Gar
ner says everybody ought to be pray
in, and preparin' for the end"
Dang Jabe Garner" exclaimed her
husband, in a burst of just indigna-
ton. Hes a dun nuisance. and ought
to be drove out of the Corners. Ii
he'd pay a little more attention to his
business, and try to raise something
on that weedy farm of hisn, or do bet
ter work at plasterin', when he tackles
that business, he wouldn't hev quite
SO many pesky dreams. He's a plum
fraud" Mr.. Potter savagely speared
another potato from the dish. and be-
gan fiercely cutting it up with its skin
on.
20 Silas,' said Mrs. Potter, with a
reproachful look at her husband, how
can you speak SO onrespectful of Mr..
Garner? He says he's a real prophet,
app'inted by God, and that the angel
told him to warn his ncighbors, SO
that they could repent of their sins.
Besides, he proves all he says by reve-
lation. He's q pious man. Mr.. Gar
rer is, and don't want his friends to be
hurled into eternity %onprepared. But
we won't quarrel about anything when
we're so closte to the end of or days"
Course we won't" cheerfully assent
cd her husband. well jest eat a
good hearty supper, and not worry
about the future. Where's John?
Didn't he come in a spell ago."
NJ. .t I,,aa ."t 80 L1 l,Nar
door, her brows contracting with an
%noyance.
Il declare she exclaimed with as
perity, the earthquake for the moment
forgotten, 'if there amt the boy
John was 29) over to Rogers again,
spoonin' with that shif'less Mary. The
idea Of his being so sot on a girl that
reads Shakespeare, and can't make
good salt risin' bread, let alone hop
east! But John shan't never marry
the mink so longs I'm on earth"
(Which won't be long. 'cordin' to
your tell, mother" said Mr.. Potter,
helping himself to another generous
dish of apple sauce. Still, we may
not move out quite so sudden, after all;
and you know that you promised John
to give your consent to his marryins
Mary, II the world want swallowed uT
on the 9th"
Mrs. Potter said nothing. but gazed
scornfully in the direction Of the Rog.
crs cottage. Johns love for Mary
Rogers had been a sore trial to his
mother. Not that the good womaT
did not want her son to marry; it was
simply because she did not like the
} girl. Any OF the other m~arriageablt
maidens of the place would have beer
satisfactory to her as a daughtcr-in
) law, but Mary Rogers-never. She
, didn't like Mary simply because she
} was unlike the other girls, the diff,
ference being merely that Mary haC
the energy to get a little education
: Mary was a pleasant, modest girl, ant
did not parade her knowledge o
, grammar and scch stuff" rs Mrs
Potter contemporary put it. 1t l.
said that some good generally come!
| from the. greatest disaster, and since
the PRONUNCIATION Of the dire
'prophecy," the good woman had beer
| able to CLEAN one atom Of comfort
the earthquake would prevent John
t marriage TO an "cducatcd' girl. Learn
ing Is seldom popular in the rural dis
/ tricts.
, and Mary's certainly n good girl,
) resumed Mr.. Potter. "If I'm an
( Judge, she's the most energetic girl il
: the place. II she don't care for dance
: and such, where's the harm? Pr'ap
cha snY', ,fnl inCt lln van n.tnriopr..
housekcepers, but she'll learn. Sh'
and John could get along first rate,
know. | do hope Jabe Gamers mad
= some mistake in his cal'lations." Mr.
7 POttcr's whimsical smile was lost OF
: his wife, who was intently watchin,
= her son as he slowly came up the stree
: from the Rogers cottage.
> There won't be no mistake" re
turned Mrs. Potter. ut does seen
strange that some people will refus,
to heed the warnin's of INSPIRED
l prophets" She gave a sniff, and jus
then John entered the kitchen an,
! took his place at the table.
! Pass up your cup, John" said hi
: mother, and have some tea. It.
! about cold. and sc Is the meat and tn
potatoes. But | don't s'pose 1t mat
, ters." she said. relapsing into her for
mer apathetic condition, for the thingi
Of earth is almost passed away, ant
I VIC won't need no more food"
! mot TIL tomorrow morning, ma,
. replied John, cheerfully, not til to
morrow morning. Then we'll have
: good breakfast, such as you Away
get"
, His mother gaze him q DOL of min