The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1909-09-24
THE Man WHO SWORE.
ex NJ. QUAD.

copyright. 1909. by Associated Literary
Press.l
When it became known in the VII
lage that George White and Edith
Smith were engaged to be married al
most everybody said that 1t was
good match. George was what they
termed model young man, who had
just started In the grocery business,
and Edith was schoolteacher and
liked by oil. The pair were congrat-
ulated on oil sides, and there was but
one doubling Thomas. That was
Edith's Uncle John, who was at the
home on visit. When she asked him
for his opinion he waited moment
before putting the query:
docs this young man OF yours
swear?''
mo. Of course not! He never ut
tered an oath in his lifew was the
somewhat indignant reply.
"When he gets mad does he kick
thingsY'
'But he doesn't get mad.'
III he woke up some morning to
ind the gate open and a hog In the
garden would he scramble for club
and try to kill that hog7"
II don't think 30. think he would
drive the animal out without making
any fuss about It."
.:Then don't marry him."
"Why. Uncle John, how you talk!'
"Don't marry him. My dear. I am
sixty-flve years old. have been OBJ
serving human nature for the last fifty
years. There are heaps Of good men
IN this world. but they are men not
made Of putty. Things vex 'em.- 9th
or things make 'em mad. They swear.
They kick. They break things. Some
times they fight"
"And such men drive their wives
from home." commented the niece
''such men don't do anything Of the
sort. It's the other kind. They don't
swear at their wives, but at the wealth
er, at hogs and oxen, at the ak dying
OF the handle. at a barrel OF cider roll
Ing over 'em as they are getting It
down cellar. It's the smooth. placid
man who does the harm. Find him
and you'll find nagger. Find him
and you'll find a sneerer, husband
that can cut and .humiliate and smile
ut the same time"
"Uncle John, you've got 1t all wrong.
You are one Of the best men in the
world. and never heard you swear"
Neither did your Aunt Mary. Least
wise. I never swore ut her. And yet I
swore. Lord. gal. there have been
times when made the shingles In the
barn fairly smoke. I've been so mad
that wanted to do murder. but swear
Ing saved me from It. Ten minutes Of
ripping things up the back quieted me
down. One time hid $500 in cash In
the pocket of an old coat. Along came
tramp. and your aunt gave him the
garment. didn't know 1t for week.
Did chop her mp with the ak? Nc. l
went out behind the barn and jumped
up and down and swore; pounded
the barn: dug up the sile; broke
limbs OF pear tree. In half an hour
was back In the house kissing Marys
tears away and telling her DOT TO
mind" .s.f ~. =
Tho marriage took paace, ind stx
months later there was q separation.
The husband could and did gibe and
sneer and find, fault and do It as plac-
idly US a goose pond. He never lost
his temper. and his face wore a smile.
but he made home a sort Of hell. The
young wife went TO the village where
Uncle John lived, while the husband
remained ut home. People said 1t was
her fault-all but the uncle. He said:
II told you 3d. Its only separation
thus far. and there's hopes you may
get together again. Let me run things
this time" a;1i
Edith secured a place in the telephone
Office. and almost the first voice she
heard over the wire after being in
charge was that Of her husband. He
also recognized hers. but they treated
each other as strangers. ..
One day the "Hello, centralr' was
followed by the announcement:
"Say, Edith. people here are saying
that we ought to make up
"YesY
'.They say it's too bad that we
couldn't get along better.'
"YesY'
"They say. I ought to- be the arst one
to make advances, and 90 I'm going to
tell You that I wish you'd come back =
''Who Is this speakingT'
"Why, George, Of course"
And you want me to come backf
sYes."
"Have you learned to swear yetr
What q question: No. OF course
notr
..Then we-wodt talk furthe. COCO.
by"
Hs WAS hurt and 10 waited weea
before calling her up again 70 ask;
"Well, Edith. what do jon thinkr
"can you swear yetr'
-But what has that got to do with
Everything. When you can swear
ding axes and break down trees IN
talk to you. want yen to make your
self all over"
This time he. waited two weeks
Then the message came:
Edith, listen TO this: -l-l-
- ,--- r
.Yes. DEAR
.And to the way I'm breaking boxe,