Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1879-12-17
DEACON GRINDERS EXPERIMENT.
BY T.. B. W.


Il hope the children haven't been any
trouble to you, Miss Peck?" said Dea-
con Grinder, as his one-horse chaise
drew up on the green in front of Miss
Philena Peck's house.
Miss Peck buried out, all smiles, to
greet the portly widower.
"The little darlingsl" cried she eff
fusively. Trouble, indeed Why,
deacon, how you talk! It's a positive
pleasure to have 'em here. I should
like to keep them week"
The deacon smiled and shook his
head.
"That would be little too much, /"
said he. Come, children, jump into the
wagon"
And the three apple-cheeked little
Grinders-two girls and a boy-were
kissed a. Rugged, and lifted into the
wagon by The beaming spinster.
g shall be SO lonely when they are
gone," she said. "I do so dote on chill
drenl Remember, darlings, that the
gooseberries will be ripe next week,
and your own Peck will be only too hap
ply to see you again."
The Widow Clapp came hurrying
out as the chaise ratified by, with a tin
pail in her hand.
}, Dear me, Deacon Grinder" said she,
"you are always in hurry. Do stop a
new honey in the comb. [ know the
darlings will like it on their bread and
butter of an evening. When are they
coming to spend the day with me? I
declare, Josie is growing a perfect
beauty!"
''Tut, tut, Mrs. Clappw said the
deacon, his face shining all over with
satisfaction. Handsome is that hand
some does. That's my motto"
"And nobody can't do handsomer
than my little Joe," said Mrs. Clapp.
"And there's Tommy grown as hand
some as you; drop in to tea some even
ing this week"
The deacon had hardly guided his
old horse around the corner of the
village green when Mrs. Barbara
Bowyer tripped out of the millinery
store.
81 do hope you'll excuse me, Deacon
Grinder" said she, with all the pretty
confusion which naturally belongs to a
maiden of six-and-thirty summers, "but
I was so edited with your be-yu-tiful
remarks in prayer-meeting Monday
night, that couldn't help setting my
self to work to think what I could do
for you. And here's collar I've stitch
ed for dear Tommy, and handkerchief
I've embroidered for Josie, and doll
I've taken the liberty to dress for
DorothJ. O., don't thank me, pray.
It amt nothing compared to the piece
OF mind got listening to precious re-
marks"
But Naomi Poole, sitting at her
needle-work, by the old red farm house
window, had only smile and nod for
the party as they drove by.
Pa" said Josie, who was shrewd,
sallow-faced child of eleven, ''don't Miss
Poole love us as well Els Miss Peck and
Mrs. Clapp and Miss Barbara Bowyer?"
II hope SO. my child" said the benign
deacon. "Why do you ask the ques-
tion?"
Because she never gives us any thing"
said Josie.
"She is poor, child-she is poor,
said the deacon. "But / am sure you
all have her good wishes
I'D rather have honey" said Tommy.
and gooseberries and dolls" added
little Dorothy.
But when the deacon sat alone by his
hearthstone that evening, his sister,
Miss Mahala Ann Grinder, expressed
herself on the subject with great plain
ness and perspicscity.
"If you've really made up your mind
tomarry again." said she
II think it would add to my domestic
felicity" said the deacon, serenely.
in that case," said Miss Mahala Ann,
II do hope you'll make sensible
choice, and not allow yourself to be i'm
posed upon by pack of selfish widows
and scheming old maids"
SISTER" said the deacon, mildly,
you are severe"
$40, ain't," said Mahala Ann. "If
you wasn't well-to-do in the world, and
hadn't nice home and farm and
.'oney at interest, they wouldn't none
of them look twice at you"
DO you think SOP" said the deacon,
and he pondered the question long and
earnestly in mis- own mind. upon the
whole" said he, bringing down his palm
upon the table, Il amt sorry that those
Investments of mine in the Mariposa
Silver Mining Company have proved a
failure"
"Wha6 do you mean?" said Miss
Mahala Ann, curiously cycling him ore,
the top of her spectacles.
But the deacon only shook his cad
and smiled.