The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1903-06-18
Jonas Wilkins Birthday
Present.
A SHORT STORY.
By L. W. s.

Certainly Jonas must have birth
day present! Now the question IS,
what shall it be?" said black-eyed May
Just think! He'll be 35 years old, and
has never had one, except when he
was a little boy, almost too y'ooiing to
cen en- es EN- she added, sympathetic
cally. NM M T'-'e ~ a,,
ri he say that?" asked Jennie
Deering, with curious blush. 49,
Eyes, he told Uncle John So" said
Mary, quickly, "and, when Uncle re-
peated it to me, just decided that he
should have present this year, sure"
Lets send him something that is
useful! An old bachelor needs SO many
things that he would never think Of
buying himself. We could send him
a clock" said Jennie, but again May
frowned upon the sensible suggestion.
mo, indeed! That won't do. Jonas
has no end Of clocks and needs no
more. Let's give him something that
he would never dream of getting for
himself
''Oh, girls!" broke in Sallie Green,
with ringing laugh. ''I've though of
the very thing! Let's give Jonas a
wife for his birthday present! He has
everything else that he needs, and you
know he is altogether too timid to
ever secure wife without some as
sistance!" -.a.s.,,l-. =. ~ =
'" Won't he resent it?" asked the
girls, timidly, but May checked them
impeliously.
Certainly not, If she is the right
one! What man would? The only
thing is to see that she is in every
way worthy of him, for Jonas is really
a splendid fellow, even if he is bash
full. Jonas shall have wife for his
birthday, that much is settled! Now,
who shall she be, and how will we
present herr" - u
G. The t ti.- s girls sat for moment IN
silence; then suddenly May was struck
with bright idea. The other girls
stared at her in breathless amazement
when she told them what it was.
why, May Gardner, you must be
crazy" they cried simultaneously.
"Not a bit Of it." said May stoutly.
''Now, see here, girls, be sensible. Here
we are, getting older and older every
day, and not man in the village that
is manageable except Jonas. Now, we
all like him, you know we do; but, if
we wait for him to propose, we'll all
die old maids, and that would be aw-
full. All Jonas needs is a little en-
couragement, and no one will ever
know that we used our influence for
each other!"
And, finally, her reasoning prevailed,
possibly by the aid of tender senti-
ment existing toward Jonas in the
hearts of both the blushing maidens.
II say, Jonas, you'd oughter be
thinkin' of marryin'," said Uncle
John" Gardner, shortly after the i'm
portant agreement between the three
young ladies.
Il s'pose So" said Jonas, absently
with little blush.
"'Pears to me you'd better be look
In around" continued the old farmer
as indifferently as possible. "Your
35th birthday is comm and you've
ben half your life without a wife
Must be sort o. desolate fer We, I'm
thinkin'."
That's So" said Jonas, little
mournfully. There amt much fun a
settin' alone o. evenin's, but I'm used
to it," he added, despondently.
"Pshaw! There amt no sech thing as
gittin' used tew it! 1t amt nat'ral!'
said Uncle John, stoutly.
''What'll do?" asked Jonas. sheep.
ishly.
ASK one of these pretty girls around
here to marry you-sort of a birthda,
present to yourself, don't you know.
The old man chuckled as he glanced
slyly at Jonas.
They wouldn't have me-" said To
mas, with decided shake of his head
There's three of EN- that would"-
began the old farmer, but checked him
self abruptly. He had come very nea
betrayng his pretty niece's secret
"Just you ask EN-" he finished abrupt
ly, but with an encouraging smile.
Which one'H | ask?" queried Jonas
ASK 'em ALL" said the old farmer