The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1906-02-09

of promise. This was too much for that
worthy gentleman, and he packed up his
moyables and escaped. His hat was
found on the shore of Swift river, to-
gether with a note directed to Annie
and the widow, saying that he preferred
death to disgrace, and announcing his
intention ito shuttle Off ct cetera.
His body was never found, and two
years afterward he was seen in the flesh
full 1870 pounds of tin Chicago along
with his wife and pair of twin babies.
So, of course, he had not died when he
expected to.
A month or two after the squire's exo-
dus. John Nugent came to town to en-
gage in the very striking business of
putting up lightning rods.
Immediately the widow was seized
with terrible dread of lightning. She
had rods put on all her buildings, the
hen house included.
Mr. Nugent took room at her house.
When it thundered, she few to him for
protection. He protected her When
it did not thunder she was afraid it was
going to, and sought consolation from
him. He consoled her.
There was more lightning than usual
that summer, and Mr. Nugent had his
hands full. Altogether it was delight
full time. Everybody was happy.
August the fifth was set for the we'd
ding; but, alas; on that day of all 9TH
ers appeared at the Widow Peaslee's
door, inquiring for Tim jenkins, a freck-
led-faced woman with five children.
Mrs. Peaslee told her that she had
not the honor of Mr. Jenkins acquaint-
ance. And she called Mr. Nugent down
to protect her from the woman 8 abuse
At the first glimpse of him the woman
darted forward and seized him by the
arm.
"Oh, Timothy! you heartless, unfeel-
ing man you! to desert your affectionate
wife and all your interesting family of
children!"
And then there was fearful scene,
during which good deal of hair
changed hands, and everything was bad
ly mixed up.
And it all ended by Mrs. jenkins
marching Jenkins of, with young one
on each of his shoulders, and the others
hanging to the legs of his pantaloons,
begging for cents to buy candy.
Again the Widow Peaslee was a widow.
AT first she thought of falling sick,
like the heroines in novels when great
emergencies occur; but on second
thoughts she changed her mind, and
sought consolation in various little
proverbs about patient walters"
Scraps of poetry, also, came to re-
Ieve her mind. She thought favoraby
OF the wonderful production which be-
gins, IF at first you don't succeed, try,
try again"
Then she remembered the spider:
Three times the spider tried his web
to tie fast to the beam:
Three times to cross the main had
people tried before Columbus.
| will not give up to spiders, Spain, or
aught but death"
quoth the widow courageously, and she
bathed her eyes, for she had been cry
ing little, and prepared a plate OF
toast and jelly for old Peter Pray, who
was rich and bachelor.
But the widow Jones was before her
supporting old Peter on her arm, and
feeding him with mutton broth. Mrs,
Peaslee was too late. She gave the
toast to Jellison's dog, and went home
almost In despair.
But Providence favored her. A rail.
road was laid out in her vicinity. II
was constructed, and brought a grea:
many strangers that way. Mrs. Peaslee
took boardefs-only single men.
James Juniper was one of them.
Juniper was rock worker, and had
charge of blasting operations on
ledge little distance off.
The widow fascinated him, and in
due time they were engaged.
The day before they were to be mar
ried, blast of powder went off with
out giving any notice, and, as poor
Juniper happened at the time to bs
standing directly over it, he went UP
When he made his ascent, he had
two legs and two arms; when he de-
scelded, it was found that one of each
was missing.
The widow received him at her
house-what remained of him.
He lifted his -blackened face
at sight Of her and said, family
Hannah, be you going to give me
up? Because, if you be. | won't have
rome of them doctors a-saWing off nv
bones; but If you'll stick, then let 'em
saw and be darned."
But the widow was loyal, and James
vas raised up to life again, though
one of his legs Is wooden one, and he
has only one arm with which to hug
Mrs. Juniper.
So you see that patience and perse-
yerance always bring forth their
fruits. and when you feel inclined to