The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1910-02-25
Prudence and
ZCbed.
BY NJ QUAD.

j y
!, some whispers she impaired the infor
nation that Prudence Smith wa.
, 'knockkneed and would never be abl,
TO stand at washtub or run up anu
down the cellar stairs The young mar
was at once impressed He ceased q
spark Prudence on Sunday nights and
assure her that he louged 10 jumr
over precipices for her sake. and Of
course she resented II. She went about
; with her chin in the air and asked for
no explanations. and so relations were
strained for many long months Then
Zabed's mother found out what was
the matter with him and set him
right. The widow had lied. Zabed
made It up with the girl. The doves
came back again and turtlod, new
date was set for the marriage. and
Farmer Smith reached out his horny
hand for a shake and said:
"Zabed, col duru your buttons. you're
gittln the real thing. and you ortcr
be the hAppiest man ia Woodchuck
county"
Zabed was for about two weeks
Then Deacon Gray who was a widow
or and wanted Prudence for his second
wife. gave up some information about
Zahed When he he'd sworn her 10 the
most awful secrecy he confessed that
the young man had a live frog in his
stomach and would probably 20 mad
I xt-fth fra a.
his wife il he had one The frog had
/ jumped down Zahed's throat one day
when he was drinking from the horse
I pond. and though thousands Of in
! ducements had been held out TO 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 10 marry young man
with live and growing frog in his
stomach? she can't be found. She
wasn't found in this case. Prudence
Smith cooled OF on Zabed Winters.
and he went about with his chin in
the air and was too proud 10 ask for
an explanation. IL was year before
One came Then A lightning rod man 4
stayed overnight az Smiths. and after 4
supper he got TO talking about frogs.
Seeing he was posted on the subje : 4
Prudence made bold 10 ask him II he
had ever heard Of frog talking up in
side quarters. and hp answered that /
such thing vHs absolutely muOssi- !
bic and beyond lgll T Zabed Winters I
bad probably sw I'D %Ngli nsl !
and tile fish mighi Ne ~uw < tut II
left alone he could iu time bo fshcd
for and caught That sr.f'nl The frog
question. ard Zahcd v- inired to
come arorrd ard riatc up lie got a
hustle GA him. and 'hc turtlpd,ves
sang soft aud low. new d1fr was AZ
pointed. and Farmer Smith stopped
chopping wood long enough to extend
n hand and say.
"Zabed- you gol burned idiot don't
You know when you've got a good
thing: Don't fool around any more"
Zabed didn't want 10. 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 warm
Ing for the benefit OF a young man
who had put in a day hoeing her gar
den and refused TO take pay for IL.
She told him right straight out that
Prudence Smith snored like a steam
engine. that she had six toes on her =
right foot and only four on her left.
that she had had St yitus' dance when
baby and that IL was sure 10 come
back on her some day. II might not be
year after marriage that Zabed
would come up from the cornfield
some afternoon and find her dancing
all around the dooryard and kicking as
high as n fence. That settled Zabed
lie wanted Prudence. but he didn't
want dancing dervish More cold
ness. more strained relations. II was
full year before old Mrs. Snyder was
proved liar. and II took three months
longer 10 make up and set another
date. Things had run smoothly to
within fortnight Of the date when n
TN peddler came along and bought n
sheepskin Of Zabed and then told him
that Prudence Smith was deaf In the
right ear, nearsightcd I'm both eyes and
would be tongue tied before she was
two years older. Zabed hadn't noticed
The deafness or blindness. but he be-
Iieved In tin peddlers and at once grew
frieid. Result. another year lost
Fate was stu I'm the game. however
and when everybody, including the
two principals. had made up their
minds that there would be no marriage
'he came loa1ng around to do her
iuty. Farmer Smith and his daughter =
we're In the village one day buying
'alico and brown sugar when Zabcd :.
Winters appeared. lie had eggs 10 sell
or hickory shifting. The lovers were
brought face 10 face. but they didn't
peak. They thought Of frogs and st
titus dance and Six tocd feet and
we're turning away when Father
smith reached out one hand for his
laughter and the other for zabed and
aid
SAY, are You two col burned idiotsY'