Mansfield mirror., 1914-04-02
:...:::::...::::.::::::....:...:.:::.s.:.s..,:.
IT FINALLY CAME
BY L. A. CLAY.

II there had been occasion fol
George Shoemaker to Jump into tn,
river TO save human life he would no
have hesitated a minute.
II farmers bull had broken out o.
pasture and was on the rampag,
through the village. George Shoemak
er would have been the first to seize
him by the tail and swing him over q
fence.
II the village cooper shop had beer
found ablsze some midnight. II woult
have been George Shoemaker who
would have plunged into the fiery fur
mace TO save the kegs and firkins.
There wasn't the least doubt Of the
young mans physical courage, but
when il came TO moral courage he
was sadly lacking.
They couldn't get him to a dance, a
Sunday school excursion. a straw ride
or spelling school He would so to
circus. but he'd take a top sea,
where no girl would be to the right or
left of him. Now and then he attend
ed church. but he waited until the
congregation was seated, and then
lodged In and took a back seat.
There are lots OF men that are moral
towards so far as the other sex are
concerned. That's why there are old
bachelors. Just how they reason It is
hard TO say. In fact, they don't reason
at all. II woman is born to fear a
mouse she fears him, and that's all
there is TO It George realized his fail.
ing and had tried hard to overcome 1t,
but had arrived at the age of twenty
five and was still as bashful as a
young gosling. Then two important
things came tumbling into his life
He was chased up a tree by a mad
dog. and when he had come down
again he found himself thinking Of the
opposite sex from a new standpoint
The bashful man didn't stop to ask
himself If the scare had brought about
the change, but went right on and let
another take place. He was twenty.
five years old and ought to get mar
ried. His feet began to grow cold at
the thought, but he took a run around
the school house and came back to
hug the idea. Yes, he ought to have
a wife and home. AS the idea
broadened and enlarged he found him
self musing:
Now. there is Fanny Desbro. She
is very plain looking, but so am for
that matter. She is called a very
s'eady girl and ought to be a good
housekeeper. Dang my buttons. IL /
don't get up the courage to court
her."
1t was a month later when George
Shoemaker walked home with Fanny
Desbro from prayer meeting. He
didn't ask her consent, AMI she didn't
drive him away. He was surprised to
find himself there. and she was sur
prtsed that he had broken loose. as 1t
we're. They walked side by side for
half mile and all he said was:
Il wonder If that is the same moon
hey see in Africa
And all she said was:
II am glad there are no wolves in
Spooner county. ! should hate to be
eaten alive"
week later the baskful man stop
ped to talk with the CIR! at her
fathers gate. He wanted to talk. and
she wanted TO talk, but all ne could
think Of 70 say was:
They say that 'tater bugs are
mghty plenty this year"
And all ste could think o. to say
was.
4 hear that Deacon Jascu's dog bit
old Mrs. Rodman's GOV yesterday"
Was that George Shoemaker out
there?" Miss Fannys mother asked.
Yes"
Getting brave all at once isn't hep
Seems like it."
We'll. he's a good steady chap and
a girl might fare farther and do
worse"
He ought to marry a dumb girl to
match himself"
THAT makes me think. was read.
ing II paper the other day that a
quiet. bashful man like George was
entirely cured Of his ailment by a
sudden great shock. Perhaps he'll get
one"
One evening fortnight later
George came cOurting. That is, II
was what he called counting. He sat
IN the edge Of his chair and looked
Up at the ceiling and observed:
That doctors had found a new cure
for indigestion.
That there were more toads around
than he had ever seen before.
That some folks thought the steeple
OF the Methodist church was out of
plumb but he didn't.
That a stranger had arrived at the
village hotel and taken a room for a
week, and it was evident that a bust.
ness boom was about to set in over
the whole country
On her part Miss Fanny observed
that she had been told that the school.
house was to be repainted.
That some tramp had burned a hay.
stack for Farmer Johnson.
That a rat had run over Mrs Ray
burns bare foot and made her faint
away.