The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1879-10-10


Home would discover that some one in
the kitchen knew how TO cook, and that
when they retired to n clean neat room
and good bed they would have nothing
but their own thoughts or dreams for
company during the night. The guest
could see with half an eye that Mrs.
Mears run the machine. Although Mr..
Mears was always consulted on all mat
tiers. his opinion never made any change
in the affairs of the house. The old
gentleman seemed to be used to this
state of things and did not kick up a
row, as some men do, but simply held
himself above all small matters. Mr.
Mears had not for years done anything
to support his family, except to deal in
religious books, and owing to the de-
graded literary taste of the natives, his
business always kept him in debt, except
when Mrs. Mears kindly made "A dOna-
ton TO quiet the publishers. Had he
lived years ago, he might have been
considered a righteous man, but in
this hardened age he was only called at
best Brother Mears, and by some of the
more depraved people he was often
spoken of as religious dead beat.
Brother Mears had never succeeded
in anything during his life, except in
getting the town named after himself,
and tins he surely had right to do,
for he was the first settler there; but, to
tell the truth, had he been a single man
the town would never have been named
Mearston. Everybody liked Mrs. Mears.
She was an Industrious business woman,
and, unlike many other women situated
in the same way, she respected her hus-
band, and everybody thought the more
of her for doing what they could not do
themselves.
Brother Mears had two hobbies that
he rode necessarily. One was the belief
that the devil would soon have full control
over the world, and the other was the
fear that Miss Mears would marry some
one who belonged 10 the world. Yes,
just as the reader expected, there is a
young woman in the story. Who could
tell yarn that would interest any one
without getting young girl to help
him out? The old folks are very useful
and, to tell the truth, we could not get
along without them; but we cannot gel
them to fall in love with any one, and il
we could our readers would fall out with
us. Miss Mears was not particularly dis
bedient, but as fast as her father selected
suitable husbands for her she gave them
the "grand bounce" declaring that she
never intended to marry at all. But
Brother Mears, soft as he was in other
about this time two railroads, which
competed with each other fifteen miles
from Mearston, entered into Il pool con-
tract, and the road which passed through
would be a splendid point to ship stock
from. They accordingly began to erect
stock-yards and fit up the depot Bust
ness woke up so in Mearston that the
Justice of the peace, who was storekeepeI
postmaster, express agent, agent for
three insurance and one sewing machine
companies, found himself so crowded
with business that he sent for nephew
who came on about the time the railroad
company sent young man rs agent t.
Mearston. The two young men en-
gagged room and boarded at the Home
and were soon fast friends. BrOthe
Mears was considerably agitated owe
the event. He did not like the style o
of the young men. They were intelli
gent and social, but whenever he trieC
to converse on spiritual matters they in
variably found some excuse to part com
pany with him. In little while tn
young men got IN the habit of coming
in late to meals, and Brother Near
thought this was for the sake of getting
to talk to Minnie, and he determined t.
break the thing up. No matter how lat
they came, Brother Mears always appear
ed at the table with them. This worries
well enough for a day or two, and theI
the young men began TO get in an hOu
apart, so that the old gentleman found Ii
|
tract too much attention with his appo
tite. He soon found that Minnie's col
, versational qualities, which had Away
been so dormant in the presence of youn
ministers, were being developed to al
alarming extent In the presence of tn
: two young men. He concluded to wal
on the table himself, but after splitting
dish ofsOup all over his Sunday clOthe
, and making numerous ridiculous hluI
ders, Mrs. Mears discharged him and r,
! instated Minnie, and again the youn
men were in fair way to get the bette
e of him.
ION Sunday morning Brother Meal
; found book in the young mems room
which on examination he found to /
| Tom Paine's" age of Reason" He marcl
ell down stairs with the book in his han
and found both the young men IN IL
I setting room.
? "Who does tins book belong toy L
= demanded.
at is Mr.. Kings" said the railroa
!, agent. Il borrowed it of him this NOR
5 ing; but you can read it to-day. An
: time will do me. He can have it, can
he, Dick ~
] Certainly, certainly" said Dick.
G Brother Mears stood SPECIFICS wit
e Indignation. He had never in all his Ii
1 been so deeply insulted. AS soon as !
! recovered himself he put the book in Il
: owners lap, and went straight to MI
Mears, and after telling her what he hs
found and how he had been insulted, 1
4 demanded that the two candidates e
=. perdition should at once be turned out
k the house. This Mrs. Mears refused
: do, and TOR the first time in their liv,