The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1909-05-14
Prudence and
Zobed.
BY NJ. QUAD.

have married her If the Widow Pen
rose hadn't mixed in. She wanted the
young man for herself. and in awe
some whispers she impaired the infur-
nation that Prudence Smith Was
knockkneed and would never be able
90 stand nc washtub or run up and
down the cellar stairs. The young man
was at once impressed. lie ceased 10
spark Prudence on sunday nights and
assure her that he longed To jump
over precipices for her sake. and 80
course she resented It, She went about
with her chin in the air and asked for
strained for Eiany long moetLs Then
Zabed'S mother found out What was
the matter with him and set him
right. The widow had LEA 2shed
made 1t NJ with the girl IL doves
came back a-ain ana turtled, Il new
date WAS set for the marriage. and
Farmer Smith reached out his horny
hand for shake and said:
"Zabed. col durn your buttons. you're
gittin' the real thing. and you orter
be the happiest man in Woodchuck
county"
Zabed was for about two weeks
Then Deacon Gray. who was widow
or and wanted Prudence for his second
wife. gave up some information about
Zabed. When he had sworn her TO the
most awful secrecy he confessed thar
the young man had a live frog IN his
stomach ana would probably 20 mad
within two years and cut the throat Of
his wife IL he had one. The frog had
jumped down Iabed's throat one day
when he was drinking from the horse
pond. and though thousands Of in
ducements had been held out 10 him.
nothing could prevail upon him 10
jump out.
Well. where is the young girl. no
matter how her heart turks with love.
who is going to marry a young man
with a live and growing frog in his
stomach. She can't be fOnnd She
wasn't found in this case Prudence
Smith cooled of on Zabed Winters.
and he went about with his chin in
the air ind was too proud TO ask for
an explanation. II was year before
one came. Then a lightning rod man
stayed overnight at Smiths. and after
supper he got TO talking about frogs.
Seeing be was posted ON the sulje =
Prudence made bold to ask him IL he
had ever heard Of frog taking up in
side quarters. and he answered that
such a thing was absolutely impossi-
bic and beyond belief Zabed Winters
had probably swallowed a small FISH
and the fish might be growing. but II
left alone he could in time bc fished
for and caught. That settled the frog
question. and Zabed was invited 10
come around and make up. He got a
hustle on him. and the turtledoves
sang soft and low, new date was APP
pointed. and Farmer Smith stopped
chonping wood long enough to extend
hand and say:
"Zabed you col burned IDIOT. don't
you know when you've got n good
thing? Don't fool around any more"
Zabed didn't want to. but before IL
had been decided which minister
should marry them old Mrs snyder
struck his trail She was too old 10
marry. but not too old to utter a warn
ing for the benefit II young man
who had put in day hoeing her gar 4
den and refused 10 take pay for IT, I
She told him right straight OUT that \
Prudence Smith snored like steam I
engine. that she had SIX toes on her .
right foot and only four on her left. 4
that she had had St Nitus' dance when I
n baby and that II was sure 20 come !
back on her some day. 1t might not Toe I
year after marriage that Zabcd
would come up from the cornfeld
some afternoon and find her dancing 4
all around the dooryard and kicking Is 4
high as fence. That settled Zabed \
lie wanted Prudence. but be didn't 4
want a dancing dervish. More cold 4
ness. more strained relations. u was 4
full year before old Mrs Snyder was
proved a liar. and 1t took thsee months !
longer to make up and ~ anoths.
date. Things had run srWotlSy -
within fortnight Of the date wkSn .
pin peddler came along and oo9Sht n \
sheepskin II Zabed and then toih him \
that Prudence Smith was deaf in the
right ear. nearsightcd in both eyes and
would be tongue tied before she wns
two years older. Zabcd hadn't noticed
the deafness or blindness. but he be-
lieved i'm tin peddlers and al once grew
frigid Result. another year lost.
Fate was still In the game, however.
and when everybody, including the
two principals. had made up their
minds that there would he no marriage
she came loafing around 10 do her
duty. Farmer Smith and his daughter
were in the village one day buying
calico and brown sugar when Zabed
Winters appeared. lie had eggs 10 sell
for hickory shirting The lovers were
brought face TO face. hut they didn't
speak. They thought Of frogs and st.
Nitus' dance and six toed feet and
were turning away when Father