The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1903-12-04
The Earthquake at
Shutters Corners.
By A 1. HERMILYA.

Is rs comm; the signs is all right,
and it's surely comm. Wen all
be in eternity by this time tomorrow,
and the world, at least our part Of it.
will be all joggled TO pieces. This is
our last day on earth, and we'd ought
10 reflect onto the future state" Mrs.
Potter creaked dismally back and
forth in her wooden rocker, as she
gazed with lack-luster eyes at some
halfgrown chickens that were con-
sentedly scratching before the open
door.
Wal dunno" replied her husband
cheerfuIly, as he combed his scanty
locks before the small looking glass,
'p'r'ap we'll be here quite spell
yet. Them prophet chaps don't know
1t ALL" Mr.. Potter was a cheerful
soul, though his wife regarded his pres
ent 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 dolefulIy real
istic dream. in which he had seen the
Corners and the surrounding coun-
try swallowed up by a great earth
quake, Then an angel had appeared
10 him in his sleep. and had told him
that il was an all-wool vision. and that
the things which he had seen would
surely come to pass, on the 9th day
OF the coming month. at exactly eight
o'clock In the morning. The destruc-
ton was 10 be complete, and after that
date the world would know Shutters
Corners no more. The prophet. II was
said. had eaten heartily OF fresh pork
and fried onions on the eve OF the
dream, which circumstance may have
bad 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
TO their discredit, believed the lanky
one. and We're accordingly much de-
dressed. These believers were for
leaving the place at once, but as none
seemed TO know just how far the earth
ouake's destruction might extend. they
changed their minds and concluded to
die at home. Besides, IL was right in
harvesting time. and with 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. Mr.. Potter and his son. John.
we're quite unaffected by the prevailing
gloom: and the cheerfulness and en-
ergy with which these two worked at
gathering in the harvest surprised and
annoyed the followers of the prophet.
and caused the dyspeptio soothsayer to
declaim 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 to the coming OF the
earthquake on scheduled time, the 9TH
day of August, at eight o'clock. II
was now the evening Of the 26th.
Mr.. Potter sat down at the table and
began peeling a boiled potato. Anx-
iety for the morrow had not impaired
his appetite.
Come. Sairy,' he said, cheerfully
"set up and hev some supper. Come
end hev a cup of tea and some of these
poached aigs They're real good. th1
way YOU cook EN-" Mr.. Potter had
always been indulgent with his vile
and now, though he was thoroughly
disguised at her taking so strongly &c
the popular delusion, he tried TO cheer
her and to divert her mind from the
expected catastrophe.
wal" said Mrs. Potter. coming
YEARLY to the table, Il spose may
as well set down with you. though
amt no stomach for eatin'. Mr.. Gar
ner says everybody ought to be pray
in. and prcparin' for the end
Dang Jabe Garner!" exclaimed heI
husband. in a burst o. just indigna-
ton. Hes a DUN nuisance, and ough'
10 be drove out Of the Corners. II
he'd pay a little more attention 70 his
business. and try to raise something
On that wccdy farm OF hisn. or DO bet
ter work al plasterin' when nc i7ckle'
that business. he wouldn't hey quite
80 many pesky dreams. Hes piuu