The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1909-06-15
Prudence and
Zobed.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
BY M. QUAD.

copyright. 1903. by II. c. McClure.l
Prudence Smith aud Zabed Winters
met at spelling school aud were i'm
pressed with each other. Zabed would
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 infor-
nation that Prudence Smith was
knockkneed and woyld never be able
to stand at washthb or run up and
down the cellar stairs. The young man
was at once impressed He ceased to
spark Prudence on Sunday nights and
assure her that he longed to jump
over precipices for her sake, and OF
course she resented 1t. She went about
with her chin in the air and asked for
no explanations, and so relations were
strained for many long months. Then
Zabeds mother found out what was
the matter with him and set him
right. The widow had lied. Zahed
made 1t up with the girl. The doves
came back again and turtled, new
date was set for the marriage, and
Farmer Smith reached out his horny
hand for shake and said;
"Zabed, gol durn your buttons, you're
glttin' the real thing, aud you ortel
be tue happlest man in Woodchucl
county"
Zabed was for about two weeks
Then Deacon Gray, who was n widow
er and wanted Prudence for his SECOND
wife, gave up some information abou
Zabed When he had sworn her to thu
most awful secrecy he confessed tha
the young man had live frog In hi
stomach and would probably 20 ma,
within two years and cut the throat o
his wife If he had one. The frog ha'
Jumped down Zabed's throat one da.
when he was drinking from the hors
pond, and, though thousands OF In
ducements had been held out to him
nothing could prevail upon him {
jump out
Well, where is the young girl, n
matter how her heart tunks with love
who Is going to marry young ma
with live and growing frog in hi
stomach? She can't be found. Sh
wasn't found In this case. Prudenc
Smith cooled off ON Zabed Winters
and he went about with his chin 4
the air and was too proud to ask 70
an explanation. 1t was year befor
one came. Then lightning rod ma
. stayed overnight at Smiths, and afte
supper he got TO talking about frogs
, Seeing he was posted on the subJec
, Prudence made bold to ask him If h
, had ever heard of frog taking up II
. side quarters, and he answered tina
, such thing was absolutely imposs
BILE and beyond belief. Iabed Winter
had probably swallowed a small tis
, and the fish might be growing, but
left alone he could In time be tlshe
l for and caught. That settled the fro
question, aud Zabed was invited
come around and make up. He got
hustle on him, and the turtledoy'
sang soft aud low, new date was a
pointed, and Farmer Smith stoppe
!, chopping wood long enough to eXter
hand and say:
"Zabed, you gol burned idiot, don
y you know when you've got goo
{ thing? Don't fool around any more"
y Zabed didn't want TO, but before
: had been decided which minist
should marry them old Mrs. SnyG
struck his trail. She was too old
marry, but not too old to utter war
Ing for the benefit of young M
who had put IN day hoeing her 81
den and refused to take pay for
She told him right straight out tn
V Prudence Smith snored like stea
). engine, that she had six toes on h
y right foot and only four on. her le
:. that she had had ST. Vitus' dance VIII
" baby and that II was sure to col
back on her some day. 1t might not
a year after marriage that Fab
y would come up from the cornh'
some afternoon and find her danci
! al around the aooryard. and kicking