New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-06-19

1T said, VIII you marry meT and a lot o.
things about how lonesome he wuz much
he could get a postal card" answered the
boy
Even his father paused abruptly at this.
"Silas. you telling the TRUTH asked the
man sternly.
Sure I am" the boy retorted. IF you don't
believe it. ask Stubby Nesmith. 7 showed the
card TO him"
Proposed TO his fourth wife postal card.
and Amanda Perkins not under the sod a year.
exclaimed his mother. Then her instincts re-
turned.
who was It addressed to?" she demanded.
ungrammatic, but eager.
Dunno the name" said Silas. Y forget. 1t
wuz somebody in the faith cure home IN Boston.
guess It wuz woman he added. wnking at
his father.
Mrs. Noses Parker carried the dishes into the
kitchen. and then. going out on the side porch,
again called excitedly TO her neghbor
"Clarissa Jones" she said. You was right
Parson Tucker has proposed again"
"Of course I was right" said Mrs. Jones. II
knew I was last night when saw him drivin'
home IN a hack"
Il thought that was rheumatic" said Mrs
Parker
Rheumatic nuthinr" his neighbor retorted.
The parson don't take hack only when he's
gon to get married again. I s'pose he feels %
cents more important when he thinks he can
stiu get woman to marry him He'll hire
hack again when he brings no. home. and
that's the last ride she'll get till she goes on
long visit 10 Amanda Perkins"
But he hadn't proposed TO her last night"
said Mrs. Parker triumphantly.
That don't make any difference" Mrs. Jones
retorted. He knew he was sure OF her, any
way. he wouldn't have proposed at all. The
parson puts his trust in the Lord, but he does
his best TO find out first what, the Lords going
10 do How do you know. though. that he hadn't
proposed 10 her yesterday DID he send Silas
TO do It for him this mornin'?"
Not exactly; he gave Silas a postal card 10
mail" said Mrs. Parker
Her neighbor emitted a shriu peal of laugh
ter.
You don't mean TO say he proposed on a
postal card?' she demanded, her ample sides
shaking.
That's Just what he did," said the other.
"Stuflngunter!" said Mrs. Jones who is
she?'
"A nurse or somebody in the faith cure home
in Boston," Mrs. Parker answered
She'll have him, then" said the other woman.
emphatically. but still laughing. DID he send
one OF those postals with e second card 10 be
torn off for the answer
Il forgot TO ask Sias that" said Mrs. Parker.
Il will now" drawing her head back into the
kitchen.
Mrs Jones's lip curled. whats the use OF
maxim Joke to some follls?' she said 10 her
self. THE parson must have wanted to spread
the news to the hull town, giving that postal TO
Mrs. Moses Parker's boy TO mail" she added.
And when Mrs. Parker again put her head out
Of the window her neighbor had disappeared.
The next day Parson Tucker purchased twelve
hens from Mrs Amos Emerson. and Parson San
born smiled knowingly. On the morning of the
second day, again clad in his rusty best, he plod-
ded down the road toward the railroad station.
Mrs Moses Parker stood on her neighbours side
porch, with cup in her hands. as he passed
by, having crossed the yards 10 borrow some
molasses. There goes the parson to Boston,
she said.
Jones, as she emerged with a stone jar and
filed the cup carefully wiping the lingering
drops off the nose Of the jug with her finger and
licking the finger clean in turn
And that evening the parson did return;
moreover, he again drove by in hack. From
behind the curtains OF every house in the
reighborhood curious eyes him sitting erect
within, and beside him a woman, stout and at
least forty, but too obscured by the dimness
to disclose further characteristics. The next
morning at o'clock the parson came out on the
high bank before his house. his daily
custom. and lifted up his deep bass voice in
hymn. But above his bass heard the
usual sound Of a strong soprano, carrying the
air with unfailing precision. If none too much
sweetness, and prcclaiming to the wondering
neghbors the delights of Zion.
Mrs. CIarissa Jones, who was inhaIng the
first freshness Of the morning from her side
steps. listened intently. mo. 4 can keep the
key. which more than poor Amanda ever
could" she reflected. And she sings as IL she
liked il, which was more than Amanda ever did
I guess the psrson has found his affinity"
Just at that moment Mrs. Moses Parker
emerged from around the corner OF her house
her hair still in curl papers.
My land. but No. can sing!' she exclaimed.
/ excitedly
/ How do you know" asked Mrs. Jones' .'You
| amt got enough to tell Yankee Doodle.
from old Hundred"
Well anyway, she sings loud enough said