Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1910-11-11

her extended hand. We'll, well,
Jimmy" she answers. "How've you
been getting along? It's quite a con-
siderable time since you paid me
visit A month, isn't it?"
at be, Mrs. Shark" he answers.
"I've a-had the wust corn on the fiat
O. me left foot as ever a mortal cud
experience. II have made it difficult
for me to walk.
Jimmy" says Mrs. Shark, chang
ing the conversation and pointing to
small cupboard standing on a ma
hogany table. Tell me, what is that?"
Jim Creak surveys 1t for moment
with wondering eyes, and says: 1t
,pears to me TO be new furnitur'
article for holdin' cups an saucers."
'7Nfong, Jimmy" answers Mrs.
Shark. Its a medicine chest"
Medicine chest. ma'am!" he says.
BLOW my whistle. will say that |
didn't have no sich tomfoolery aboard
my ship when were a-goin to sea-
Ketch me a-coddlin' o my crew! NO
ma'am. II so be as wun O. the ands
was took queer, sez to him: Where
be the pain? Be it above the belt or
below the belt? II so be he sed it
were below the belt, | gives him a
hemmetic II so be he sed it be above
the belt. I gives him a dose O. Hepsom
SORTS. Ketch me a-turnin' my ship
inter blessed druggists shop! Not
me, ma'am!"
"But, Jimmy" answers Mrs. Shark,
81 keep other things in it besides
medicine" She quietly unlocks the
door Of the medicine chest and with
draws from within a decanter OF very
old brandy. I'm going to cheer you
I'D. Jimmy" she says. as she fills
small wineglass and hands it to him.
"Thankee. Mrs. Shark. My best
wishes for your health an happiness,
ma'am." says Jim Creak before he
drinks II. Mrs. Shark insists on filling
the wineglass again, and he exclaims,
We'll. will have another wun,
thankee. a'am," to her generous re-
quest.
I'm allowing Betsy two weeks va
cation this year, Jimmy She's such
good girl" says Mrs. Shark, after
they have been engaged in conversa-
ton on different subjects for half an
hour.
"She be, ma'am," answers jim
Creak. in a thoughtful mood. Then,
after few seconds Of silence, he says
loudly: "Waycashun. My blessed
bones. Mrs. Snark-two weeks way
cashun congratulates you on sich
generous motives. An likewise am |
nleased to hear O. Miss Betsys ex-
ceptional good forum, for she's, as
you say, a downrighter good young
womun." Here Jim Creak swings his
wooden leg straight in front OF him
self preparatory TO rising, refusing
Mrs. Sharks kind offer to stay for
dinner. She accompanies him to the
door and repeatedly warns him to be
careful descending the long flight OF
stone steps. When Jim Creak arrives
safely on the sidewalk he returns and
SAYS. 81 viii say, Mrs. Shark, that
them flowers o. yourn are a pictur' o
delight to the weary eye. I've a-trav-
eled through nearly every street In
this ere graf city, an blow my whis-
tie II I've ever seed sich handsome
lot O. g'ranrums an fuchas anywhere.
They be a credit to you, ma'am. they
be-"
That's very pretty compliment
| Jimmy" answers Mrs. Shark, smiling
"Come again soon, Jimmy" she says,
waving her hand to him as he lifts bis
hat in salutation to her and begins
his difficult journey home. Poor OLD
Jimmy" she exclaims, heaving a
sigh as she looks pathetically after
his retreating figure. "Ah! to think
that my poor, dear Johns with the
angelsl" she says. "And I'm the only
friend Jimmy has in all the world!
She enters the house sadly. Betsy
who has been intently watching from
the window, withdraws her head after
being an interested and unobseryed
snectator OF Jim's departure. NC
SOUND disturbs the quiet OF the peace
full street except the resounding thuo
NJ lin Creaks wooden leg on the
stone sidewalk.-New York Tribune