Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1915-08-19
NEW VOL. 50-No. 33.
Why Jotham Missed The Muster.

1
the gathering in the general store OF Dill
mouth. Caleb Peaslee. resplendent in
holiday garb, hailed him cheerfully.
"Hoss amt sick, is he, lothian ?" in
uuired Mr.. Peaslee, with solicitude. 81
didn't see you in Bangor today, 10 the
fremen's muster. thought you always
lotted on goin' to that"
"My hoss's all right. iur's ! know"
replied lothian soberly. al jest shifted
my mind bout goin' at the last minute"
He turned TO the storekeeper. "You GOT
four. five wooden boxes, mebbe a foot
n half square?" he asked. "lf you
have, guess I'd like to trade with you
for 'em."
"Your folks are all right, amt they 2"
persisted Caleb with concern. "Mis
Libby, now"
There amt nobody sick" interrupted
Lothian, with unusual tartness. GOOD
land Can'ta man stay TO home and
tend TO his work 'thout bein' pestered TO
death bout it?"
Caleb looked at his friend in hurt Won
der. al d'know's you've got any call to
take that stand with me, Jotham, jest on
count OF a neighborly question or So"
he observed stiffly. "a amt cal'latin' to
pry-"
Jotham held up toil-worn hand, and
a blush of contrition colored his face.
'T'm 'shamed OF myself, Caleb," he said
apologeticaIy. THAT want no way to
answer a neighbor but ben so Short
tempered and mean all day that there's
ben scurcely any livin' with me. Bein's
| was so short with you. guess IFS right
| | sh'd tell you what the matter is.
"l'd ben lookin' forad TO goin' TO The
muster for month and over and my wife
Knew has." he paused moment,
with a WY smile, glancing sidewise at
Caleb the while. al guess mebbe
month ago she begun topester and badger
me TO get her some nests ready, so she
cd set some hens. Course intended to
do il, but you know now It's, Caleb-one
thing and mother KEEP putin il off, and
didn't do il at ali. This mornin' made
myself ready and hanessed the old hoss,
cal'latin' to hook into the buggy and pick
I'D Nate Parsons on the road.
"Wal, started round 10 the wagon
house with the hoss, and when got there
my wife was standin' in the door with
her arms folded and her mouth shut tight;
YOU couldnthave stretched string cross
her face any straighter and tghter'n what
her mouth was.
"What you goin' TO do p she snapped.
"Wal, 81, 'mebbe 4 you'd get out OF
the door and give me chance, I'D hook
the hoss into the buggy and
"'Wal, you won't, she says. j got a
hen settin' on eggs in that buggy, s'she.
and you amt goin' 10 turn wheel I'LL
she matches outp
Caleb, and Mr.. Libby's tones were
very solemn" 7 hadn't had the hoss
by the bits. 10 steady me, guess I'd have
fell downl Good land = s. |, tryin' TO
get my bearin's. WAL s. |. fin'ly.
there's the two -seater, and mebbe-'
"T got two hens in that, s'she. 'one
on the frunt seat and one in the back. and
you amt goin' 10 NEEDLE with 'em, nei-
ther Here I've talked for month,
s'she, TO get you to fix up some place ior
me 10 SET them hens, and you ain't done
il, and was drove TO doin' II myself.
And I've tried she says determined like,
10 see Z couldn't teach you a lesson al
the same time, and guess mebbe I've
made out. Don't you lay a hand on
either one OF them wagons today 7 s'she,
and off she went TO The house, with her
backbone straighter'n timber spruce
"And OF COURSE" Mr.. Libby finished
sheepishy, "seein how sot she was, and
KNOWN in my soul that she was In the
right OF it, jest took the harness offn
the hoss and stayed to home. But" as
he gathered up the boxes that the store
keeper had brought forward, "lm goin'
TO see 4 | can'tprovide hens nests 'nough
so en- have buggy once in a while
without bein' Rendered by hen that
wants to bring off hatch Of chickens !"