Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-09-02
The Woman Who Never
Stops TaIkinu

The Woman Who Never Stops Taking oII1h
elects TO spend one OF these long, hot after
Moons on nay front porch. and in my delight
tul society" Now, please don't think I'm
throwing bouquets al myself-l'm merely quot
ing, ana that my society should prOye delight
ful to this particular individual Is not a mat
ter for surprise. l assure you. The " oman " no
Never Stops Talking doesn't judge OF the de-
STABILITY Of a companion by ordinary stand
ards. No. indeed. she has decided standards
or her own, and the less tongue one happens
10 possess the more intelligence, according TO
her way Of thinking-always excepting herself,
Of course.
seldom gets in any ones way has. l think.
caused TO be victimiEed-er-er-I mean
favored with her visits, rather oftener than
any OF my neighbors. They all rejoice and
guy me about this marked Partially. but
care not / think can stand IT better than
most OF them, for l have learned 70 play Of
on this gsrrulous neighbor OF mine. Having
long ago found out that II is useless TO try
to get in a word edgewsys, and that stten-
tive expression, an occasional smile, m
awful sorry look when her tone takes on the
tragic element. answers all her requirements
in a good listener have learned TO simulate
varied expressions OF interest with my fingers
busy with buttonholes, and my mind rioting
Hypocritical1 l felt a little guilty myself
the first time / tried it, but frequent after
Moons spent in the society Of The Woman Who
ones conscience. when has listened for
the eleventh time 10 the three and half hours
long account Of how Johnny had the lockjaw
(almostl. one is prepared 10 begin the hearing
OF the dozenfh round with a somewhat blunted
sense Of politeness
The account Of this nezr-tragedy began on
the afternoon when dear, frolicksome johnny
chasing Mr.. Spencer's calf round and round
the old back lot stepped on a horrid, rusty
nall which. OF course, had been placed there
with malicious intent by Mr. Spencer himself
for the express purpose Of waylaying and stab
bling poor Johnny's unsuspcctlng foot. There
wasn't doubt OF IL in the world. Hadn't
he said Johnny ought 90 be killed: Of course
he had. Mary Lizzie Jones had heard him say
it-hesrd him with her own ears that time
Johnny trew a bail and accidentally smashed
the big glass door in Mr. Spencers front hall.
And a who'd talk that way about a poor
Innocent child would do anything-yes. any
thing. OF course. IL plain as daylight to
any impartial judge that Mr.. Spenver. afraiG
20 come out openlS and shoot poor Johnny. had
surreptitiously placed the nail In the old back
lot right where the dear child would be most
likely 10 step on IL while chasing the calf.
Everybody knew that he hsted Johnny, anyway
had hated him from the very first day he
set eyes the child; and for no other reason
than that Johnny-mischievous little monkey that
be was-in q spirit Of pure fun. threw Mr..
SpenceT's cat in the well just to see II she
could climb the rope like the monkey did at
the circus.
why. it's perfectly natural for boys to try
to get up a circus % their own after having
visited one. snd Johnny is no exception TO the
rule. why. h. even Insisted that his father
should walk the clothes line like the rope
walker at the circus, and / declare a mummy
would have died laughing ct the falls and
bruises that man got. for Johnny just wouldn [
let him off till he finally became convinced
that IL no use 20 insist any lOnger-Lis
father simply could not walk the clothes line
50 they compromised the garden fence.
Johnny Is firm. there's getting round him
when he gets IL into his head that he
wants anything. Charles tried 10 resist once
when Johnny wanted him 10 get down on his
al-fOurs like bear and trot round the room
: with him-but law. IL didn't do mite Of
good Johnny flung himself on the FLOR
screamed. kicked and blttcd his head till we
both got scared he'd hurt himself read bad.
. snd Charles has never tried to argue with him
since. I'm afraid that is one reason why
Charles stays up town like he does-Johnuy
L. cps him 50 busy when he's at home-thougk
Il does seem like would be willing 70
nut Himself out a little for the sake OF giving
his boy pleasure. The poor child gets lone
some. Somehow the other boys in this neighbor-
hood are not congenial plsyfellows for our
Johnny. They just can't understand how firm