The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1905-10-10

ne'er.dos we'll who In pitied and con.
dcmned In the same breath. In the
village OF Glenvillc Jim Peters WIS
the man. IIc was constitutionaliy
lazy. was topper from head 10 heel.
aud his wife aud two children often
wanted for clothes and food. Mr.. Pc
ter. had been struggled with on No.
mcrous occasions. Women had given
him tongue lashings. and men had hint.
cd at tar and feathers lie had been
induced to Sign the temperance pledge
ON twenty different occasions. only 20
break II each time anybody offered him
a drink. and he had been provided with
work many times over. only 10 show
his general laxIncns.
One day when the womans 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 80 ahead. and she pro.
cceded to ~ over the old beaten track
dim signed the pledge. agreed 10 stop
I chewing plug, tobacco and 60 TO work.
and he oven expressed sn anxiety to
get religion" and become In time q
deacon Of the church. His good resolu.
tions carried him along for two weeks.
and then he fell down. and he fell hard;
not only that. but he boasted around
that Aunt Hanna was an easy person
20 deal with.
The good woman lived about q mile
out OF the village. having u farm OF
her own and enjoying the life OF
spinster. and one morning she got up.
60 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 tho hired man
told his news he added that Jim ought
90 be arrested aud his house searched
FOR the plunder.
We must not accuse any one with.
out evidence" replied Aunt Hannah.
1T may hn been Jim Peters or II
may have been dog. I'm rather OF
the opinion that Il was a dog. and ]
would suggest that you get out the old
bear trap and set II In front Of the
smokehouse tonight. n dog steals
meat once he will twice. won't her
!, That's what I have heard" observed
the hired man a. be 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 20 do
When the man backslh she was re-
buked and criticised on all sides. and.
although she seemed TO take II In good
part, she felt something Of q spirit OF
revenge.
The bear trap was oiled and set. but
n was 4 week before any game ap-
peared. II was the hired man again
who brought her news. An he came
into tho kitchen with the milk pals
hs observed laconicaiiy:
We'll, Mrs. Davis, we have caught
the dog"
Il see." che reptisd after q look from
the winSew.
tits q dog that looks exactly like
Jim Peters"
"Yesi I'll 70 out after breakfast
and have a closer hook. wish you
would cut me three or four switches
from a peach tree before you go TO
work. II you hear the dog bowling.
! you needn't stop boelng 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. q pail Of water
and a dipper In her hands.
Good morning. Mr.. Peters," she ga
iuted when abe had come TO halt"
II was looking for my jaekknife
here last night. and | walked into this
old trap" he said by way Of expla.
nation.
"Yes, I see. Is Mrs. Peters wellr'
about the same as usual"
"And the chlldrenT'
"Hang II, why don't you call Joe up |
and tell him 10 get me out OF this
This Internal trap has about cut my |
log OF. II twas anybody but you I'd
have the law on 'ein. Who knows how |
long I'll be laid up with this legr'
"Mr. Peters," said Aunt Hannah In
very sober tones, do you remember
your promises TO meY"
'uow am ] going to keep promises
when all the town b agin' mel You
are agin' me. too, or you wouldn't have
sst this trap for me-"
you have been coaxsd, bnbed.
pssaded with and fairly bousht but
you still loaf around and set drunk.
II is time that some other plan vas
resorted to. Drink thiA"
She handed him q tipper a wstsr,
and be drank about half Of IL H
vas about to pour the rest On tho
ground when she SAID:
n know II has q styanss taste 70 you,
but you'll have 10 Get used to a. Don't