The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-09-19

II wrote 10 her that she needn't be
the least bit surprised to have me
walk in on her any day, for I had
stood il and stood it until could
stand il no longer"
Just what she had stood was a puz-
hammering her with his fists nor
pounding her with a sIed-stake, and
only three days previously he had
given her thirty-eight cents to buy a
pair Of stockings His first thought
was TO ask for an explanation; his sec
ond was 70 keep quiet and let her ex-
plain when she got ready. She was
ready in about half a minute
Last Tuesday, when You were
meudinE the fence behind the barn,
and while Mrs Johnson was picking
currants on her side OF the fence, you
hit your thumb with the hammer
when you went to hammer IN a nail
Mrs. johnson heard you draw IN your
breath She saw you jump up and
down She saw you throw the ham
mer as far as you could Then she
Notwithstanding she heard you
talk TO yourself For a long time she
would not tell me what you said
had 10 let her have the camphor bot
tie 10 smell Of while she was telling.
Mrs Johnson has seen pirates, horse
thieves. robbers and murderers, but
none OF them talked the way you did.
Cold chiIls went over her. Her blood
turned TO water She was SO faint
that she fell down and spilled a whole
pan OF currants."
The deacon began TO get slightly in
terested- He had hit his thumb with
the hammer. and the thumb was then
IN a rag. but he did not think it good
policy 70 break in on a story.
Samuel. you jumped up and down
and saidi Then you sucked
your thumb and said !.
Then you danced around and said
Then you kicked the
fence and yelled Don't
deny IT. for Mrs. Johnson is a woman
who never lies Yes. you did all that,
and then you came into the house as
humble as a cat and looking as inno-
cent as rabbit and asked me to do
up your thumb"
The deacon looked for tears and
sobs at this juncture, but TO his sur
prise none came. It was evident that
Mrs. Dolby had her emotions under
control. He was trying to recOllect
Just what he did say on the occasion
referred to, and a long minute of 81
lence had passed, when the further re-
mark came:
Twice in my life when have been
pounding at nails I have hit my
thumb with the hammer. I know how
IL hurt I know how it felt. I think 1
could almost forgive you for jumping
around and saying things, even
though you are deacon, but there
are other things. SamueHthere are
other things. One day last week you
sold a hog TO Mr. Boyer. You had to
drive II to his house. You started IN
the morning just after family prayers
was busy putting away the preserves
down cellar when you went. and I
knew nothing OF what happened IN
I'll yesterday. Then the widow Green
dropped in TO borrow my four-pound
1at-iron- She had just put a patch on
her sons trousers and wanted heavy
ron to press IL with She was going
away without saying anything about
you when all at once she paused and
turned pale. I thought IT was her
heart, and I made her sit down and
smell the camphor bottle. When she
had smiled and suuffed and was bet
Ter she began 70 cry. and pretty soon
she told me how sorry she was that I
vas the wife Of pirate. Yes Samuel
pfrat@meaning you"
Deacon Dolby ought to have given
start OF surprise and at least drawn
- his legs or let a word or two es-
cape him. but he sat there like a
stone: and II he smiled the darkness
hid it He had sold and delivered a
hog only a few days ago. but il SEEM
ID centuries when he looked back to
L II there had been any particular
Incident connected with ii memory
had not retained the particulars. He
waited for Mrs Dolby to enIighten /
aim. and he didn't have 10 wait long
When you had got that hog as far /
Is Mrs Green's" said Mrs Dolby, ''he |
oolted on you He tried TO pass you /
and come back home. You hit him on 4
the nose and turned him into her gate.
and then YOU took after him. You
-an him around her yard three times. 4
and every jump You uttered a yell and 4
swear-word- You knew that Mrs
Young was there but you didn't care /
/ bit You knew that she had heart 1
disease. and that the doctor had warn 4
ID her son ~ TO swear at her. but you 4
iidn't care GThether she dropped dead 4
IT not YcE. bumped that hog You
-stied h;<r- You whacked him You /
7SRlly Fet him out Of the yard and 4
he last Mrs Green saw of you you
vas running him I'D the road and i
Ealing him all sorts of names. Samuel Il
III Z