Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1904-02-12

swell, in case you ever should be-
| gin, I'll tell you always to put in the
sugar first, or you'll be crossed In love.
I'm worried about that name Bas'
cOmbe, you see. Now, don't look SO
unDelieying for could tell you lot
| of cases. There was Miss Springer,
who But here's Melancthon CONF
ing from the postoffice. Seemed like
couldn't wait any longer to know
what that bad news was, and since no.
body had come to tell it, it must be I'D
a letter. / made him go earlier'n usu'
al so l could have it over with"
The old man greeted Miss Bridgeford
cordially, hung his hat on its accus'
toned hook, and prepared leiSurely
fashion to read the newspaper. His
wife watched him u moment anxious
ly, then asked:
WAS that all the mail:"
"Oh, no; bless me, no! Here's let.
ter from Annie" and he f.mbled in
several pockets.
CHANGING at Miss Bridgeford, his eyes
twinkling merrily, he said: Mother
thinks there's trouble coming. She says
her signs never fail, and she's got some
sign for this, though I've forgotten
what If / worried as much as she
does, my hair would be whittier than it
is now" and he shook the snowy locks
that surrounded his rosy face like
nimbus. Still holding the letter, he
continued: She's broke q dish this
morning, and she said, Now I've got
to break three before I'm through So
1 said, why not break the other two
right off? and went and got two old
plates and told her to smash them,
and she wouldn't. Don't you think,
Miss Bridgeford, that would be great
deal wiser than to spoil two good
ones?" But his wife was too intent
Oh the letter to heed his banter.
why, you've opened it!' she ex'
claimed, as ne gave it to her.
"Of course. 1t was addressed to me-"
he replied, with mock dignity.
"Oh, dear, l dread to read it, there
was such lot of muddy water in my
dream, and you made me look at the
new moon through glass. and Succeed
twice before | got up. Is Annie sick,
or has she lost her school?" she whim'
pered.
DO read it, Mrs. Perkins," said Miss
BridgefOrd, seeing that Mr.. Perkins
did not intend enlightening her, and
sorry to witness such q waste of ner.
vOus energy.
She scanned the lines and drew
long breath Of relief. isn't this
splendid? Just listen. Annie's been
promoted to the principalShip-a great
hOnor-better salary-and she's going
to send us two hundred dollars q year
noww
Rising to take leave with kind cor
tho ei'i loohuu dt MI.
Perkins, expecting some disdainful
reference to the "sure signs" but long
experience had taught him better. He
knew only too we'll that these refuta'
tons of their efficacy would speedily
fade from his wife's memory, and be
entirely gone by the time the next ones
came.
Mrs. Perkins chartered on as she
followed her caller out to the steps:
I'm very proud of Annie, Miss Bridge
ford. This is her third promotion. In
all her years of teaching she has never
had q bit of fault found with her work
by the superintendent and never lost
q day by sickness"
Then the force of lifelong custom
made her suddenly remember the TN"
known malignant powers that she be-
lieved must be warded off after asser-
tons of good fortune. and exclaimlng:
There, I'm Boosting" she quickly
stretched her little withered hand up
to the door frame and raped three
times on 'wood.--Youth's Companion.