Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1875-09-17
DEACON RANKIN'S DAUGHTER,

CTS dreadful curious that ministers
sons and deacons' daughters should al
ways be greater trials than other folks
children I wouldn't have believed when
Sylvy was child that she would have
grown up to be such thorn in your. side,
Sister Sarah. But you'll have to bear it,
as the Lords will, and trust that she'll be
brought some time to see the error of her
ways"
Aunt Dorcas rocked vigorously, and
made her knitting-needles click with
will, as she always did when she talked of
Syl's shortcomings. Syl, who was in the
kitchen making preparations for dinner,
heard every word through the halfOpen
door-as it was very likely that Aunt
Dorcas meant that she should; and Syl
sighed heavily, for Aunt Dorcas was a
power in the family, and now that she had
taken sides against her Syl foresaw
greater trials in the future than she had
yet encountered.
Syl's trouble was that oldest and most
common among maidens-the course of
her true love would not be persuaded to
run smooth. Its current was ruff1ed in the
most common way, too, by her fathers
stern 7displeasure and her mothers cease
less fretting and coaxing.
Years before, when they were both little
more than children, she and VIII Everett
had fallen in love with each other and the
love had grown and strengthened as they
grew to manhood and womanhood. But
alas! Will was poor, being only a clerk in
the one dry-goods store that Plympton-
vile boosted. He had his mother and lit
tie sister to support, too, and, as Plymp-
tonville people declared, had enough on
his hands without thinking of marrying
Deacon Rankin did not object to him
because he was poor o MOI the deacon
was not so worldly as Understanding to
his own statement. In other respects
Will did not come up to his idea of what
his son-in-law should be. He belonged to
secret society and the deacon abOminated
secret societies. Silas Daggett, the pro-
prietor of the dry goods store, agreed with
him perfectly; he even had serious doubts
as to the propriety of keeping the young
man in his store, and used to go to the
deacon's house to ask his advice and talk
the matter over two or three evenings in
a week when he first came to Plimpton-
vile and opened the store.
Will smoked, too. Silas Daggett did
not smoke. He shook his head sadly over
that shortcoming of Will's and told the
deacon of great deal of good advice and
warning thrown away upon the head
strong young man.
Will dressed too we'll, also; he was
running himself by extravaganza. Mr..
Silas Daggett was of the opinion that
fully half Of his salary was spent in that
way Countless other accusations of a
like nature were brought against poor
Will, and from twice a week Silas Dag
gets visits increased to every night, and
finally it became evident that his visits
were intended for Syl, and the delight of
Deacon Rankin and his wife knew no
bounds.
But Syl, ungrateful, unreasonable girl!
frowned upon the suit of Mr.. Daggett;
she even went SO far as to leave the room
when he called, and she had been caught
| walking with VIII Everett after her
father had forbidden her speaking to the
misguided young man.
| Now matters were at their very worst !;
Silas Daggett had proposed, and her
father declared that she should marry
him. All her tears and entreaties had
availed nothing, and at last she had got
her spirit up, and stoutly declared that
she would never marry him. Aunt Dor
cas- was sent for in haste il. anybody
could conquer Syl's rebellious spirit she
| COulIl buG even AunU 1OTCetS Idllcu tlC
| utmost concession that could be obtained
from Syl was promise that she would
never marry Will without her fathers
consent She would not promise not to
see or speak to Will, as they tried to make
| her.
Silas Daggett was established in the
deacons house as a boarder, that he might
have all possible opportunity for prose
cutting his suit, and Syl was tormented be-
yond endurance.
The clicking of Aunt Dorcas' needles
went on, and Aunt Dorcas' sharp voice
Kept company with it, ringing over the
changes upon Syl's ingratitude and hard
ness OF heart. Syl began to think she
/ should go wild listening to it.
Her patience gave out at last. She shut
the pantrysdoor forcibly-very forcibly, ]
4 might as well own that she slammed is
for Syl was not an angel by any meant
She hardly dared to go out to put the bis
cults she had made into the oven, for she
felt so angry that she was not at all sure
that she should not say something imperti