The bee. (Earlington, Ky.) 1889-19??, 1908-07-23
POOR JOHN
POUCHER
certain sIsne That wade Him
Pool ~.

bhrswd look =. the psrlor carpet and.
dragging himself Into the sitting
room, sank into HIS easy chair with
a shock that shook the house.
What's the matter. joint" cried
Mrs. Poucher. running in. you
aren't sick, are your
He turned to her a patient look OF
suffering and tried to smile
Tired" he sasped, at last Tired!
Oh, let me alone; let me alone!" He
tried to pull his hand away, but he
seemed to have no more strength
than baby, and when he found that
he couldn't release his hand he
turned his face to the wall like a poor
stricken creature that wishes to suf-
fer In secret.
You work too hard" cried Mrs.
Poucher. You'll kill yourself! All,
John, you shouldn't work so hardl
You should let the others at the ONCE
do some of it, You mustn't do your
own work and theirs, tool"
They impose upon you. joint" con-
tinued Mrs. Poucher, still lamenting.
You're too good-natured Let them
work. Let them see how they like it!
All those men. and you doing all the
work 1t isn't fairl Poor Johnl" she
murmured. Poor old joint"
And the back Of his head took upon
itself certain satisfied appearance.
and as his breathing grew less labored
Mrs Poucher ran to put his slippers
on the stove to warm. and when she
ran back Johns face was no longer
turned to the wall, but he was staring
straight before him with the unseeing
! eyes of exhaustion And wish to say
that Mrs. Poucher worked over him.
ard petted him, and made much of
MIN, and lamented over him; yes, and
took his shoes off and ministered unto
him, and coaxed him to sit at the
/ when at last he began to make few
remarks-speaking slowly and choos-
ing his words with difiiculty--the good
woman almost wept with Joy and be-
came quite garrulous in her happi-
ness.
"Oh, john" she said. 1--WE done
such lot to-day. There's always so
much to do on the first day of spring
house-cleaning, you know, and-what's
the matter, John? Oh, dear, is 1t com.
ing on AGAIN."
1T will pass over" sighed
John Don't worry"
It's too bad you're so tired said
Mrs. Poucher. deep in meditation and
not noticing him for a moment: Il
was counting on getting the parlor
carpet up to-night-Johnl"
! She noticed him then, all right. and
j when she had got him back in his easy
4 chair 1t was with dificulty that he
restrained her from running for the
doctor .---A'~,tSA-/A3
! mo Z. no - ;" he said.
Never =. mind -e.ss i see
that the people down. the
street, .s.,y had a colored man
l.. 49,, CHS voice was very weak and
abe had. TO lean over him to catch bis
words) taking up their car
pots .. this morning ..1
Il wonder II we could get hiEa," she
eagerly cried. va rs ~,
81 IN soc about It in the morning
l.a.T. II I'm able :" he sighed.
ana no closed his eyes a. though the
effort had been too much for him.
'John." she said. will you have a
little more TO eRtG"
ut would choke mel" he gaspsd,
"Oh, dearl" she cried. And made
such beautiful lemon pie this after
hnoopI Left all my house-cieaning and
made 1t special"
Il -. l feel 30 hollow" said
John, in . faint voice. 81 ~. <. /
never felt IKE this before" F
"Will you have another slice OF
beeft" she asked. rcae -1
John shook his head. but kept his
eyes on her with a dumb pleading
look that said: "Catechise me further
along these same lines. beg"
Another spoonful Of potAtOes?"
John shook his head, but continued
to look.
Another cup OF ooffee?" 's'
mo" breathed John. "If you only
had something a little sour
She hustled into the pantry and
John treated himself TO private
smirk and made ready his mouth for
pie She hustled back. carefully car
rying a spoon In her hand.
Nov hold your head back and open
your mouth, she said.
What whatl =" be-
gan John. feebly. trying to keep her
away with his knees.
tits q spoonful OF vinegar"
She beamsd. "Just the thing. Nice
and sour Come. now!"
TITS too sour" shuddered John.
Shall put a little water in it?"
TT II isn't nlling enough
He fell back. his eyes closed and his
lips moved. Hastily drinking the vine
Sar herself. In order not TO spill It,
Mrs. Poucher leaned over him and