The Forrest City times., 1903-12-11

ffI IFS eomin' the signs Is all right.
 and it's surely eomin'. We'll all e~ in eternity by this time tomorrow and the world. al least our part Of it. Will be all toggled to pieces. This is Cur last day on earth. and we'd ought 10 reflect onto the future state" Mrs. Potter creaked dismaIly back and forth in her wooden rocker. as sh 2 gazed with lack-lus1er eyes at some half-grown chickens that were con- tentedly scratching before the open door.
 Wal, I dunno" replied her husband eheerfuily, as he combed his scanty locks before the small looking glass.
 praps we'll be here quite a spell yet Them prophet chaps don't know it all" Mir. Potter was a cheerful soul, though his wife regarded his pres tnt optimism as nothing short of rank sin. But he did not believe that any serious cataclysm was impending. so he sat down to supper with his wonted good spirits
 For prophet had arisen at Shutters Cornerstone of those lank, sad eyed. ignorant beings who are given to dreams and visions, and who exert an unaccountable influence over the minds of country folk. This particular seer had been afflicted with a dolefully real istic dream, in which he had seen the Corners" and the surrounding eoun- try swallowed up by a great earth quake. Then an angel had appeared 10 him in his sleep. and had told hin. that II was an all-wool vision. and that the things which he had seen would surely come to pass, on the 27th day of the coming month. at exactly eight o'clock in the morning The destruc- tion was to be complete. and after that date the world would know Shutter Corners no more. The prophet. 1t was said. had eaten heartily of fresh pork and fried onions on the eve of the dream, which circumstance may have had some connection with the vision. '' though this is mere conjecture.
 From the time of the vision. the prophet had done nothing but wander about the little hamlet, "warnin' the inhabitants, many of whom. greatly 10 their discredit. believed the lanky one. and were accordingly much de- pressed. These believers were fo. leaving the place at once, but as none seemed to know just how far the earth Quake's destruction might extend. they changed their minds and concluded to die at home. Besides. it was right in harvesting time. and with a faint hope that there might be some mistake in regard to the coming of the advertised calamity, these superstitious folk con- tinued to gather in their crops. though the work was done in a perfunctory manner. Mir. Potter and his son, John. were quite unaffected by the prevailing gloom and the cheerfulness and en- trgy with which these two worked at gathering in the harvest surprised and annoyed the followers of the prophet, and caused the dyspeptic soothsayer to acclaim loudly against the worthy farmers "ongodliness." But Mrs Pot ter was the only utterly hopeless one in the place. She looked forward with absolute certainty 10 the coming of the earthquake on scheduled time. the 27th day of August. al eight o'clock It eas now the evening of the 2sth.
 Mir. Potter sat down at the table and began peeling boiled potato. Anx- iety for the morrow had not impaired kis appetite.
 Come. Sairy,' he said. cheerfully. -set up and hev some supper. Come and heV cup of tea and some of these poached aigs. They're real good, the Kay you cook em.' MT Potter had always been indulgent with his wife. and now. though he was thoroughly sisgusted al her taking so strongly to the popular delusion. he tried to cheer her and to divert her mind from the expected catastrophe
 Wal" said Mrs. Potter. coming Eearily to the table. T s'pose I may IS we'll set down with you, though I zint no stomach for eatin'. Mir Gar Ter says everybody ought to be pray m. and preparin' for the end"
 Dang Jabe Garner" exclaimed her husband. in a burst of just indigna- non. Hes dunn nuisance. and ought 90 be drove out of the Corners. If Ae'd pay little more attention to his business, and try to raise something xn that weedy farm of hisn, or do bet Ter work at plasterin', when he tackles xAat business, he wouldn't hev quite e many pesky dreams. He's a plum