Morgan County democrat. (Versailles, Mo.) 1900-1906, 1903-12-04
the blue sky there were no Indications

were mcnullS u nhyTdCk, SeciillnB pOt
at all depressed by any fear Of coming
disaster. At breakfast time they en-
tered the kitchen. but no meal was in
sight. Mrs. Potter was feverishly pc
rusing her Bible. She implored her
husband and her son to think on;G
eternity, and to remain near her" They
promised to do both, and said that they
were not going farther away than tho
barn.
Never mind the breakfast, John"
said Mr.. Potter; W can take a bite
by and by, and the wheat won't take
any harm if we let 1t go this forenoon.
We must look after your mother. She
is all played out with the hard work
of the summer, and that's the reason
she's took up SO strong with that fool
prophets idea. But faint nothin'; her
nerves Is jest unstrung. I'll take her
on a trip to Niagry, this fall, or my
name amt Silas Potter. She don't see
nothing but the humdrum things of the
country, and that must be wearin' on
q oma When she gifts over this no.
ton, we mustn't never say anything to
her about t."
But Mrs. Potter could not rest easy
and neglect the breakfast, even if the
world We're to be %conyulsed at eight
o'clock sharp. The habits of years Of
punctuality were strong within her,
and the thoughts that the men folks"
were going without their breakfasts
were too much for her. Though it was
10Y half-past seven, a fun hour later
than the usual breakfast time, she set
about getting the morning meal, fully
persuaded, however, that it would
never be eaten. She went about her
work in a 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 it upon
a bench by the door, then started on
his way to the injured hayrack.
Crash! crash! br-r-r-rap! Mr.. Pot
ter, half 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 Jabc Garner right after all, and
had the diSintegration of the world be-
gun? Yet there had been no shock,
and the cattle in a field close by were
browsing c~Ontentedly, evincing no
signs of fear. With a few rapid
strides, Mr.. Potter reached the kitchen
door, John hurrying after.
Upon the floor sat Mrs. Potter, a pic
ture of helpless, hopeless woe. Her
appearance was enough to bring laugh
ter from "A craven image. In her lap
was a goOdly supply of fried potatoes,
her clothes were dripping with milk.
while numerous strips and ~trianglcs of
wall paper lent additional decoration
TO her garments. Her eyes were full
Of dust, which she was vainly cndcav-
oring to remove with a corner Of her
milk-soakcd apron. From the table
ran thin streams of syrup, gravy and
pepper sauce. The dishes were in a
state Of chaos, most of them being
broken. Utter ruin seemed to pcryade
the kitchen.
IT'S a-comin', It's a-comin'!" walled
Mrs. Potter. THE earth is bcln' 8wal-
Tered up, and the heavens rolled to-
fcthcr like a scroll. The Lord have
mercy on rs all, OUCH" The terrified
woman had placed her hand upon a 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.c f that shif'less Jabe Gar
ner's poor work. Look at the ccilln'
Bout seven ION Of plastcr'S fell off.
It's a mercy you want squashcd fiat.
He helped his wife to her feet, and
as she at last got the dust from her
eyes. and behcld 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. n little ~ncrvously, per-
haps, at the clock, and said, Good
land! Silas, 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 n bushel basket.
My, don't wish't that Garner was here
now" She gazed at the wreckage
about her in a manner hat 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 al ex-
cellent one, Notwithstanding its late
ness. Mrs. Potter was almost AZ ac-
tive and cheerful as before the blight
ing prophecy" came to town. No
reference was made to the earthquake,
oaaI. xana milan IAL nl..lar rouannI,al