The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1867-11-23
aaistellanp.
THE DEACON.s REvENaE.
ny N. NARCRLLINA BRArTIR.

-" tresOyterlan church, when they elected
him to I'LL the Office of deacon.
So. too, thoughthis wife, whom some 30 wears
OF constant association clearly entitled to an
opinion on the point.
he more consorious among his neighbors
would sometimes venture to hint that, if the
deacon had fault, it was to be found in his ex-
IRENE fondness for his daughter--a little girl of
10 andithe only child vouohsafed to the pious
couple after many years of wedlock.
In truth, she was the earthly idol of their
household. va |'
1T WAS amusing to witness the happy but I'M
accustomed fathers attempts to entertain the lit
lie creature, when she began to stretch forth her
Tiny arms and inarticuately welcome his APP
1roach.
Nor was it less interesting, years advanced,
10 see him leading her to school, carrying her
'linner-pal and satchel carefully as gallant
carries his lady's shawl and mingling his gray
Jocks with her golden curls he stopped to kiss
her at the gate.
One day, heavy cloud settled over the far.
mer's quiet hearth. m a.
His Cherry would never moro come running
and skipping to bear him company in his daily
walks. l. .,,-.-t.,.,,,.
Never more would she follow her mother about
The household task, graceful and frolicsome rs
ler own pet kittens. ~ Z =
In the darkened upper chamber, her face almost
as white rs the snowy curtains of her little bed
che lay, moaning with pain.
She had fallen from the swing, and. sustained
severe fracture of the hip.
The good old doctor had exerted his utmost
ekill, but Cherry must pass the. remainder of her
days an almost helpless cripple
1t was well for Deacon Woods, in his great
affection, that the Almighty arm on which he
had heretofore leaned continued to sustain him
the voice heard by the prophet and martyr in
their hours of trial, spoke consolation to his
bleeding heart.
After tedious confinement Cherry was able
to walk little, with the aid of crutch. \
1t was saddening to look into her pale, patient
face, and large eyes, mournfully tender but
often, on the Sabbath, when her clear tones
ewelled triumphant from the village choir, a. il
her spirit rose with them in thankful, yea, Joy.
Jul alteration, we felt that our pity was not only
misplaced but almost sacrilegiOus.
Farmer Woods, her father, had long owned a
house and piece Of land next to Simon Gray's
Tenant after tenant had occupied them, but
the stay of each had been only transient
One and all alleged the same reason for NOV.
Ing.
They could not bear with such neighbor as
old Simon. He was noted miser, who had a
passion for buying up choice tracts of land and
adding them to his already large possessions.
He had long since fixed his eyes on this farm of
Deacon Woods and had repeatedly offered him
u liberal price for it. But the deacon was strong.
]y attached to those particular acres, which in.
cluded some Of the best grazing land in the
county. So - ~.
The house, too, was endeared to him "A being
the birthplace of his mother, and he designed It
for his Cherry's future home.
So he refused all Simon Gray's tempting Of.
tcrs; 80 much to the latters discontinue that he
swore he would make the old fool repent his
Obstinacy, and would wear out his patience yet
saint though he might be-"
Some half dozen tenants had successively re-.
tired fromthe contest with old Simons system.
attic and ingeniously varied processes Of annoy.
Rnce, when Deacon Woods. who could not Afford
to let the place remain unoccupied, resolved to
take the field in person. = IHbf
lie let out his own homestead and went to live
as a neighbor to his avowed and applicable enc
my
Many were the friendly warnings he received
when his intentions became known.
Sell the place. I would il it were mine,r
Roid old Mr. Woodruff to him. "Old Simon and
Old Nick are twin brothers, and you ran do moth
ing with them" 't
- think know OF weapon that can master
them BOTH" waa deacon Woods only reply.
The village gossips all shook their heads when
the deacon's household was seen to be in motion.
IF he don't fall from his grace, guess it
won't be because he has not been sorely tried"
whispered Charles Egan to Mr.. Woodruff. who
ed: t--A
- Poor man at his time of life tool"
The morning after the deacon was fairly cs-
tablished in his troubled domain he arose ouito
early.
His first look out of doors revealed a state of
things peculiarly irritating to the agricultural
mind.
Some fenco-rails were down, and old Simon's
COWS, three in number, were placdly grazing in
his turnip patch.
lis first impulse was to rush out upon the in.
fruders and summarily impound them; but he
checked himself by strong effort, took down his
family bible. and deliberately opened it in search
of a text for the mornings devotions. He read
g BE not overcome of evil but overcome evil
with good"
face, as he gently drove out the tresspassing ami.
mails and replaced the bars previous TO summon.
ing the family to prayers.
For several successive mornings the offence
was repeated, and each time with the same re-
suit. tn ,'
Then the deacon called on old Simon, and in tho
most friendly manner directed his attention TO
The circumstance.
The cows did not intrude again ; but the beau.
ty OF the deacon's front yard was much defaced
by large heaps of garbage, which were regularly
Hung from the adjoining premises. His fruit
trees, Also were nightly despoiled, until he was
obliged to keep strict watch upon them.
Numerous other petty dcpredations and annoy.
nnccs succeeded, somewhat to the injury of the
dencons property, ard not little to the disturb.
nnce of his quiet and decorous household /: but
If tlp object of this contriver was TO inAame the
good mans temper, he seemed in danger Of s,p.
nal failure.
Mr.. Woods gave up remontratnu with hi. III,