The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1878-06-12

reckon and ii don't raise him
right out of the pot on the first deal
twill not be because hack gall. It
becomes me to be agreeable to the
old deadbeat anyhow, because Mrs.
Sanscript said if | made good i'm.
preston on him she wouldn't insist
on new seal-skin sacque this winter,
and sealskin sacques don't grow on
trees. There goes the bell. Iii bet
ten red ones that's him"
Sanscript coaxed his ruffied hair
with few strokes from his hands,
cleared his throat, pulled down his
vest, walked out into the hall, and
opened the door A pale, cadaver-
ous-Iooking young man, with long
hair, watering eyes, high cheek-bones
large mouth, Roman nose, and clad in
a suit of shiny black bowed and
smiled at the master of the house
most benignly. Under his arm he
carried large book, which Sanscript
thought, of course, was the Bible, or
some work on theology. GraspiEg
the visitor by the hand, John yanked
him into the hallway with cordial in
tent, and continuing to shake and
squeeze, said:
"My dear sir, this is indeed a
pleasure; we've been expecting you;
come right into the parlor."
With bewilderment written all
over his face the Young man tacitly
followed
"Have this chair by the fire. Give
rue your hat. Mrs. Sanscript is dish
ing the Cruel now. l smell it, don't
your"
The young man shifted the air and
his face lighted up with the express
sion of hungry and expectant stom-
ach.
"That most prominent odor-the
one nearest you-is the stuffin' for
the duck. You like stuffed ducks,
don't you"
am very fond of duck" ventured
the young man, as he drew his coat
sieve across his watering mouth.
| "That's bully, thought you liked
duck. Them's what the children OF
Israel fed on when they went down
into Turkey, if recollect rightly"
Sanscript reconnoitered from the
corner Of his off eye for the effect OF
his first theological shot. Yon see
he wasn't quite sure he had hit the
bulls eye. But the young man
v appears that Secretary Sc i,tiis 1ad ss ST. p
"Hadr we not better transact a
little business before dinner, Mr..
Sanscript?"
/ Oh-ah-certalnly, to be sure.
How stupid in me now. / never
thought about it that you always
have prayers first; Shall ] call in
Mrs. Sanscript, or can't you and me
do it alone /? The old woman can't
l,handiIy leave off her cooking, and, if
she should get tangled in that long
Eprayer Of hern, everything would
burn into a cracklin'."
i Excuse me-" stammered the
young man, as he flushed and took on
wild, dazed sort of look Excuse
me, sir, but never said prayer in
my life. y
| What-never said--oh, you're a
Joking.
| upon my word Pm not, much as
I'm ashamed to own it.
| Sanscript stroked his chin and
struggled hard to collect his scattered
thoughts, and mentally observed:
"Well, hears HI of a preacher.
| Never prays Wonder what church
he belongs to "
al thought may be yon'd like to sub
SCRIBE" mildly continued the young
man.
| Subscribe Oh yes, to be sure /!
Why cert E"
| Then to himself
"The mercenary villain He strikes
me fora flyer before the dust settles. ="
| Then aloud
This is for II eathen, suppose. !"
! beg pardonl"
TO send some one into Hottentot
to save souls that are hopelessly lost"
Il don't exactly catch your mean
ing"
+" For the missionary fund, / sup
pose"
Which missionary fund ?"
How should | know--any of 'em,
/ guess. You ought to know"
Perhaps - but will you subscriber"
"Why cert. How much is it ?"
Seven dollars.
! Sanscript went down into his peck.