Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1906-02-21
SAVING
I'M PETERS
BY Mary Donaldson
Copyright, 1905, by r. B. Mcclure
By Mary Donaldson

dpmncd III tne same preuth. III lhe
,.flfoge of Chenille Jim Peters was
+ba man He was constitutionally
lazy was a topper from head to heel.
and his wife and two children often
wanted for clothes and food. Mr.. Pc
tors had been struggled with on nu-
,narous occasions. Women had given
him tongue lashings, and men had hint
ad at tar and feathers. He had been
induced to sign the temperance pledge
ON twenty different occasions, only to
hreak it each time anybody offered him
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 go ahead, and she pro-
ceeded to 60 over the old beaten track.
lin 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 Il
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 boosted around
that Aunt Hanna was an easy person
to deal with
The good woman lived about a 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 II
may have been dog. I'm rather of
the opinion that it was dog, and |
would suggest that you get out the old
bear trap and set it in front of .he
smolehouse tonight. II 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 70 hunt for the old trap.
Aunt Hannah had started in TO re
form Jim Peters in earnest mood, and
r 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 it in good
part, she felt something of spirit of
revenge
Z The bear trap was oiled and set. but
! 1t was a week before any game APP
peared 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
last as long as she could. and when
she finally donned her sunbonnet and
wandered out to the smokehouse she
mad several switches, pail of water
and dipper in her hands.
Good morning, Mr.. Peters" she sa-
iuted when she had come TO halt"
i was looking for my jackknife
here last night, and l walked into this
old trap" he said by way of expla-
nation.
Yes, sed 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?
Ihis Internal trap has about cut my
leg off. II twas anybody but you I'd
nave the law on 'em. Who knows how
iohg III be laid up with this legT
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 agin' me? You
are agin' 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.
II Is time that some other plan was
lesorted to. Drink this"
she handed him n dipper of water,
ana he drank about half of it, He
was about to pour the rest on the
ground when she said:
know it has strange taste to you,
Out youll have to get used TO it. Don't