The Cairo bulletin., 1909-09-21
JONAS BIRTHDAY
PRESENT

| May Gardnef, In determined man
ner. Just think. He'll be thirty,
five years old and has never had one
except when he was little boy. al.
most too young TO remember" she
added, sympathetically.
Did he say that?" asked Jennis
Deering, with curious blush.
Eyes, he told Uncle John so -
said May quickly, "and. when Uncle
repeated 1t to me just decided that
he should have present this year.
sure"
"Oh, girls!" broke In Sallie Green.
with ringing laugh. i've thought
OF the very thing! Let's give Jonas
wife for his birthday present. He
has everything else that he needs.
and you know he Ia altogether too
timid to ever secure wife without
some assistance"
Won't he resist IT." asked tho
girls, timidly, but May checked them
imperiously.
Certainly not, II she is the right
ONE What man would! The only
thing is to see that she Is In every
way worthy of him, for Jonas is
really a splendid fellow, even II he
Is bashful. Jonas shall have wife
for his birthday, that much is set
tied. Now who shall she be, and how
will we present herr"
The three girls sat for a momen.
In silence; then suddenly May was
struck with bright idea. The other
girls stared at her in GREATNESS
Amusement when she told them what
it was.
Here we are, getting older aad
older every day, and not man In ths
village that Is manageable except
Jonas. Now we all like him, you
know we do; but, IL we wait for him
to propose. Well all die old maids.
and that would be awful. All Jonas
needs is a little encouragement, and
no one will ever know that we used
our influence for each other!"
And, finally, her reasoning pre-
possibly by the aid OF tender
sentiment existing toward Jonas In
the hearts of both the blushing maid
ems
II say Jonas, you'd oughter be
of marryin,'" said Uncle
John" Gardner, shortly after the i'm
portant agreement between the three
young ladies'.
II s'posc So" said Jonas absently,
with a little blush.
Pears to me you'd better be
oofin' around" continued the old
farmer as indifferently as possible.
Your thirty-tifth birthday is comm
and you've ben half your life with
nut a wife. Must be sort o. DESC
ate fer We, I'm thinkin.
"Whatll l dor" asked Jonas.
ASK one of these pretty girls
Is he glanced slyly at Jonas.
Which one'll ask2 queried Jonas.
ASK 'em ALL" said the old far
ner, with roar OF laughter. He
lad evidently thought OF something
hat was exceedingly funny.
John Gardner, be you out of your
ead?" said Jonas, half angrily.
But the farmers words burned In
lis brain long after he had parted
nth his friend and neighbor.
And that evening he put on his
est suit and went over to call on
ennie Deering.
An hour before midnight they
'ere sitting alone in the kitchen. for
be old folks had gone to bed In 4
lost accommodating manner.
Did you know my birthday was
ext week, Jennie?" said Jonas, sud
emily. He was sitting as near her
S he dared when he asked the Ques-
on.
Suddenly Jennie giggled in a most
naccOuntable way.
do you want birthday present.
onas?" she asked, with q fit OF
Lughter that bordered on Mysteries
II want a wife, he said, boldly
nd then blushed as red as q poppy.
That's what ! meant" said Jen-
Ie, still lowering on Mysteries. do
ou want wife for birthday pre-
,nt?"
Jennie was desperately In earnest,
] we'll as Jonas. She had to fulfill
sr part toward securing the COM
nation wife and present.
May Gardner or Salty Green
ould marry you, am sure. They
e both nice girls, and you're bound
} like them!" She blurted out the
ords in the most astonishing way.
Id then finished by bursting into a
of crying.
But don't want sallie Green OK
ay Gardner! / want you or no.
,dy. for my wife," Jonas said
avely.
The sight Of her tears had mads
m bold, and he was holding her
lnds now in the tenderest fashion.
And before 12o'clock she was his
omised wife, and when he left he's
ere was only one cloud upon her
Ippfness. THE girls will be aw-
lily mad" she sail ever and over.
'ut. anyhow, have kept my pro.
ise--I am going to give Jonas
Re for hIs birthday"