The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1903-12-04

o'clock sharp. The habits OF years IL
punctuality were strong within her.
and the thoughts that the men folks"
were going without their breakfasts
were too much for her. Though II was
now half-past seven. full hour later
than the usual breakfast time. she set
about getting the morning meal. fully
persuaded. however. that IL would
never be eaten. She went about her
work in dazed. weary manner, ever
and anon glancing furtively at the lit.
tie clock, which licked merrily ON. all
careless Of the lapse OF time.
Mr.. Potter carried an armful of green
corn into the kitchen. and laid IL upon
bench by the door. then started on
his way to the injured hayrack.
Crash! crash! br-r-r-rap. Mr. Pot
ter, lalf way to the barn. turned quick
ly at the thunderous noise, and looked
toward the house. A thick dust was
issuing from the kitchen door. and
from out the cloud came a woman's
cries and lamentations. Heavens!
Was Jabe Garner right after all, and
had the disintegration of the world be-
gun? Yet there had been no shock.
and the cattle in field close by were
browsing contentedly, evincing no
signs of fear. With few rapid
strides, Mr. Potter reached the kitchen
door. John hurrying after.
Upon the floor sat Mrs. Potter. pic
ttv NJ l,1n
appearance was enough TO bring laugh
ter from craven image. In her lap
was goodly supply of fried potatoes,
her clothes were dripping with milk.
while numerous strips and triangles of
wall paper lent additional decoration
to her garments. Her eyes were full
OF dust. which she was vainly endeav-
oring TO remove with a corner of her
milk-soaked apron. From the table
ran thin streams Of syrup, gravy and
pepper sauce. The dishes were In Z
state Of chaos, most of them being
broken. Utter ruin seemed to pervade
the kitchen.
Its a-comin'. It's a-comin'.' walled
Mrs. Potter. THE earth is bein' swal-
Tered up. and the heavens rolled to-
gether like a scroll, The Lord have
mercy on us all, Ouch," The terrified
woman had placed her hand upon hot
frying pan that lay at her side.
Come, Sairy." said her husband.
trying to suppress his laughter, get
up. This amt no earthquake; it's
Jest some of that shif'less Jabe Gar
ner's poor work. Look at the ceilin'.
Bout seven ton of plaster's fell OF.
It's a mercy you want squashed fiat"
He helped his wife to her feet, and
as she at last got the dust from her
eyes, and beheld the condition Of her
kitchen, a change came over her. The
fear of being suddenly launched into
another world passed away and she
again beheld things in their true light
She glanced, a little nervously. per-
haps, at the clock. apd said, Good
land, Siias. don't stand there as il
you was made Of wood. Get to work
and help me clean up this muss. John
you get the shovel and bushel basket
Ny, don't wish't that Garner was here
now" She Eazed az the wreckagt
about her in manner that BODIED nc
good TO the visionary Jabe.
1t was ten o'clock before breakfast
was served in the Potter kitchen that
August day, but the meal was IN ex.
celent one, Notwithstanding its late
ness. Mrs. Potter was almost as ac-
tive and cheerful as before the blight
ing prophecy" came TO town. No
reference was made to the earthquake
save once, when John slyly remarked
Ma. don't you notice that it's con-
siderably past eight o'clock?"
His mother made no reply, but mere
~ passed him the cookies
John and Mary were married in De-
tober and moved into a pretty cottage
Just across the street from the elder
Potters' home. Mrs. Potter. her nerves
once more in a perfectly normal state,
found much to admire in her daugh-
ter-in-law; and often declared that "a
an all-around sensible woman Johns
wife was shining example. She said
the young lady's equal didn't live in
Shutters Corners and that when John
took a fancy to Mary Rogers, he
showed excellent judgment-Orange
Judd Farmer.