Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 257, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 31 October 1911 — JONAS BIRTHDAY PRESENT [ARTICLE]

JONAS BIRTHDAY PRESENT

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* * , ~ I . ** of Hie SfSipJfWi' a wife for his birthday present! He has everything else that he needs, and you know he is altogether too timid to ever secure a wife without some assistance!” .“Won’t he resist itf’S asked tho girls, timidly, but May checked them one! What man would! The only thing is to see that she is in every way worthy of him, for Jonas 1b really a splendid fellow, even if he Is bashful. Jonas shall have a wife for his birthday, that much is settled! Now who shall she be, and how will we present her?” This three girls sat for a moment In silence; then suddenly May wa» struck with a bright idea. The other girls stared at her in breathless amazement when she told them what It was.

Here we are, getting older and older every day, and not a man in the village that Is marriageable except Jonas. Now we all like him, you know we do; but, if we wait for him to propose, we’ll all die old maids, and that wouM be awful. All Jonas needs is a little encouragement, and no' one will ever know that we used our influence for each other!" ' And, finally, her reasoning prevailed, possibly by the aid of a tender Mntlment existing toward Jonas in the hearts of both the blushing maid, ens.

“I say Jonas, you’d oughter be thlnkin’ of marryin,’ ” said Uncle John” Gardner, shortly after the important agreement between the three young ladles. “I s'pose so,” said Jonas absently, with a little blush. “ ‘Pears to me you’d better be lookin’ around,” continued, the old farmer as indifferently as possible. "Your thirty-fifth birthday is cornin’ and you’ve be’n half your life without a wife. Must be sort o’ desolate fer ye, I’m thinkin,’ ” “What’ll I do?” asked Jonas, sheepishly. “Ask - one of these pretty girls as he glanced slyly at Jonas. Which one’ll I ask? queried Jonas* “Ask ’em alfl” said the old farmer, with a roar of laughter. He hpd evidently thought of something that was exceedingly funny. “John Gardner, be you oat of your head?” said Jouaw, half angrily. But the farmer’s words Jmrned In his brain long after, he had parted with his friend and neighbor. And that evening he put on his beet suit and went over to call bn Jennie Deerlng. An hour before midnight they were Sitting alone in the kitchen, for the old folks had gone to bed in a most accommodating manner. “Did you know my birthday was next week, Jennie?” said Jonas, suddenly.' He was sitting as near her as he dared when he asked the question. Suddenly Jennie giggled In a mo.it unaccountable way. “Do you want a birthday present, Jonas?” she asked, with a fit of laughter that bordered on hysterica. “I want a wife!” he said, boldly, and then blushed as red sis a poppy. "That's what I mean!" said Jennie, still hovering on hysterics. “Do you want a wife for a birthday present?” ; v, ••• Jennie was desperately In earnest, as well as Jonas. She had to fulfill her part toward securing the combination wife end present.

“May Gardner or Sally Green would marry you, lam sore. They are both alee girls, and you're bound to like them!" She blurted out tha words la the moat astonishing way. and then finished by bursting into a fit ot crying. *- “But I don't went Sallie Green or May Gardner! I want you or no--body. tor my wife!” Jonas said hflTMly ' The sight ot her tears had made hWrbold, and t he holding liar promised* tvlfe.*ox4°when*be test h£ Hmm was only one cloud upon her happlaMS. - “Tb« girls will be aw_ma*» . • a m SSK T mVlriL toil t T tmifTTi nft - give ?oni a !.. 1 < - 1 r tk M mM **Dhd’th# - Mmec VavV ■braid. 7 ■ tJrSr '■£ zst*