The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1905-11-03
SAVING
JIM PETERS
BY Mary Donaldson
Copyright, 1906, by X. b. Mcclure
BY Mary Donaldson

dCmned in the same breath. In the
village of Glenville Jim Peters was
the man. He was constitutionally
lazy, was II topper from head to heel,
and his wife and two children often
wanted for clothes and food. Mr.. Pc
tiers had been struggled with on nu-
mcrous occasions. Women had given
him tongue lashings. and men had hint
ed at tar and feathers. He had been
induced to sign the temperance pledge
on twenty different occasions. only to
break it each time anybody offered him
a drink, and he had been provided with
work many times over only to show
his general laZiness.
One day when the Woman's Mission
society was holding its monthly meet
ing Aunt Hanna Davis brought up Jim
Peters case anew and declared that
something should be done. She was
given license to so ahead, and she pro-
ceedcd to SO over the old beaten track.
Jim signed the pledge, agreed to stop
chewing plug tobacco and go to work,
and he even. expressed an anxiety to
get religion" and become in time
deacon of the church. His good resolu-
tons carried him along for two weeks,
and then he fell down, and he fell hard;
not only that, but he boosted around
that Aunt Hanna was an easy person
to deal with.
The good woman lived about mile
out of the village, having. farm Of
her own and enjoying the life Of
spinster, and one morning she got up,
to be told by the hired man that some
body had robbed the smokehouse over
night. Jim Peters was the only per-
son for ten miles around who could be
suspected, and when the hired man
told his news he added that Jim ought
to be arrested and his house searched
for the plumber
I'VE must not accuse any one with
out evidence" replied Aunt Hannah.
1T may have been Jim Peters or it
may have been a dog. I'm rather Of
the opinion that it was a dog, and l
would suggest that you get out the old
bear trap and set it in front Of the
SmokehouSe tonight. If q dog steals
meat once he will twice, won't he"
That's what have heard" observed
the hired man as he started for the
barn to hunt for the old trap.
Aunt Hannah had started in to re-
form Jim Peters in earnest mood, and
she Dragged that she would accom-
pliSh what others had failed to do.
When the man backslid she was re
buked and criticised on all sides, and,
although she seemed to take 1t in good
part, she felt something Of spirit Of
revenge.
The bear trap was oiled and set. but
it was week before any game ap-
pearcd 1t was the hired man again
who brought her news. As he came
into the kitchen with the milk pals
he observed laconically:
We'll, Mrs. Davis, we have caught
the dog"
Il see," she replied after look from
the window.
Its dog that looks exactly like
Jim Peters"
YES? I'll go out after breakfast
and have a closer look. ! wish you
would cut me three or four switches
from peach tree before you go to
work. If you hear the dog bowling,
you needn't stop hoeing corn on that
account"
The woman fingered over her break
fast as long as she could. and when
she finally donned her sunbonnet and
wandered out to the smokehouse she
had several switches. a pail Of water
and dipper in her hands.
Good morning, Mr.. Peters," she sa-
mted when she had come to a halt"
Il was looking for my jackknife
here last night, and l walked into this
Old trap" he said by way of expla-
nation.
Yes, SEE. Is Mrs. Peters wellT'
About the same as usual"
And the children?"
! Hang it, why don't you call. Joe up
and tell him to get me out Of this?
This internal trap has about cut my
leg off. IF twas anybody but you I'd
have the law ON 'em. Who knows how
long I'll be laid up with this leg?'
Mr.. Peters," said Aunt Hannah In
very sober tones, do you remember
your promises to me-"
How am l going to keep promises
when all the town is agln' me? You
are aSin' me, too, or you wouldn't have
set this trap for me-"
You have been coaxed, bribed,
pleaded with and fairly bought, but
you still loaf around and get drunk.
1t is time that some other plan was
reSorted to. Drink this"
She handed him Il dipper of water,
and he drank about half Of 1t. He
was about to pour the rest on the
ground when she said:
Il know it has strange taste to you,
but you'll have to get used to it. Don't
waste drop. Here-have some more"
I've had a-plenty."
Aunt Hannah picked up one Of the
switches and proceeded to lay it over
Jim's shoulders in vigorous manner.
As it was summer and he had only =
ragged cotton shirt across his back he
was speedily reminded of his boyhood
days. He reached for the dipper ans
downeG quart Of water. and then
said:
Il say, ! want this trap taken of.
Do you think I'm a man of wood OF
Iron? When l tell folks that Aunt
Hannah Davis is pizen mean huff to
set bear traps for innocent persons
you'll he hauled up in law"
Eve heard on good authority, Mr..
Peters, that you lick your wife"
IF | do she needs it."
-'Well, well see how a licking goes
in your case. Wen try one anyhow
as an experiment"
III boiler and raise the hull coun-
tyw
Then the whole county will be here
to see"
Aunt Hannah picked out the longest
switch, dampened her hand to keep
her hold good, and then began the
experiment" Only the third blow
had fallen when Peters began to yell,
but inO pause was made until he had
received the thrashing of his life. The
woman had the will and the muscle,
and the sprOut from the peach tree was
supple and lasting. Whom about thirty
blows had been administered Aunt
Hannah paused.
You see how it works." she said,
land you don't seem to like it. VIII
you ever whip your wife again."
Il won't promise till YOU let me out