The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1879-09-02
Slut Sto,v.
Deacon Grinders Experiment.

Deacon GrlnderS Experiment.
81 hope the children hsven't been any
trouble to you, Miss Peck r said Dea-
con Grinder, as his one-horse chaise
drew up on the green in front of Miss
Philena Peck's house.
Miss Peck hurried out all smiles, to
greet the portly widower.
"The little darlings!" cried she,efuse-
lly. "Trouble, indeed! Why, deacon,
how you talk! It's "a positive pleasure
to have 'em here. should like to keep
them q week."
The deacon smiled and shook his
head.s ~ xu 81, 3;
THAT would be q little too much,''
said he. "Come children, jump into the
wagon." ,"
And the three apple-cheeked little
Grinders girls and boy-were
kissed and hugged and lifted into the
wagon by the beaming spinster.
81 shall be so lonely when they are
gone" she said. ~ do SO dote on chit.
dren! Rene mber, darlings, that the
gooseberries will be ripe next week, and
your own Peck will.be only too happy
to see you again"
The. widow Clapp came hurrying out
as the chaise ratified by, with tin pail
| in her hand.
"Dear me, Deacon Grinder" said she,
"you ARE always. in such! a hurry. Dc
stop minute, can't you? Here'sa pail
of our new honey in the comb. I know
the darliugs wiiizlike it on their bread
and butter of an evening. sWhen are
they going to- spend the day with me !
| declare, Josie is growing A. perfect
beauty.!''. lt''1"
aTat, tut, Mrs clapp r,said the dea-
con, bis face shining all over with salts.
faction. Handsome is that handsome
does, That's my motto, oan or,
aAnd nobody can't do handsomer thar
my little Joe,'' said Mrs. s.lClappa "And
there's Tommy grown as handsome as
you. Drop into tea some evening this
week." 49,.
The deacon had hardly guidedlbis old
horse around the corner of the village
green when Miss Barbara Bowyer trip
ped out Of the millinery store. q,
II do hope you'll excuse me, Deacon
tGripder,,''i said she, with all the pretty
confusion which naturally belongs to q
maiden of six-and thirty summers, shut
l was so edited with your be-yu.tiful re.
marks in prayer meeting Monday night,
| that / couldn't help setting myself to
work to think what / could do for you.
And here's q tcnlIar I've stitched for
Tommy, and Q handkerchief I've EN-.
broidered Tor josie, and doll I've taken
the liberty to dress for Dorothy. 0,
don't thank me, pray. 1t amt nothing
compared with the peace of mind / got
a listening TO your precious remarks J"
But Naomi Poole, sitting at her needle
work by the old red farmhouse window.
had only smile and 9 nod for the party
as they drove BY fss'Ess
"Pa," said Josie, who was shrewd,
sallo w-faced child of eleven, "don't Miss
Pool love Us as we'll as Miss Peck and
Miss Clapp and Miss Barbara Bowyer p
IL hope so, nv child" said the benign
deacon. "But why do you ask the ques-
tionr'e s&A F4Y
because she never gives US anything
said Josie. a - 81 &.N3
"She is poor. child-she is poor" said
The deacon. sBut ! am sure you all have
her good wishes" vs. @A!4a
I'D rather have honey" said Tom
nv. TT fW TFTWw gEFa Ty
"Apd gooseberries and dolls,' added
little Dorothy. sEslsks SseA
But when the deacon sat alone BY bis
hearthstone that evening, his sister, Miss
u Mahala Ann Grinder, expressed herself
ON the subject with great plainness and
perpiscacity.
"If you've really made up your mind
to marry again, Joshua" said She
" think it would add TO my domestic
felicity." said the deacon serenely.
ssIn that case, "Ssaid Miss Mahala Ann,
i do hope you'll make . sensible choice,
and not allow YOURSELF to be imposed
upon by a pack Of selfish widows and
Escheming old maids, -,
sSister,' said the deacon, mildly, you
sre severe y s:sp, t'se 'ss
fNo, ain't," said Mahala Ann. "If
you wasn't we'll to do in the world, and
hadn't nice home and farm, and mon
81 at interest, they wouldn't none Of
them look twice at you."
NDo you think so2" said the deacon,
and he pondered the question long and
earnestly in his own mind. "Upon the
whole" said he, bringing down bis palm
upon the table, II amt sofry those in
vestments of mine in the Nariposa sill
yer mining company have proved fail
nfe.p
ssWhat do you mean ?" said Mahala
Ann, curiously eyeing him over the top
nf her spectacies.
But the deacon only shook bis head
and smiled.
eTime will show" said he; "time will
show.n
The news that Deacon Grinder was
ruined In Mariposa silver mining stock
few like wildfire through the peaceful
community OF Fitchville -Four Corners.
sWelI," said Miss Philena Peck, 81
am beat 2
ale never had no judgment in money
matters" said the widow Clapp..
s'Tve thought all along that he was
living too FAST" said Barbara Bowyer.
aThose poor little children, what is to
become of them P said Naomi Pool, visit
|fnlly.s
+ The next day the deacon made his ap-
spesrance at Miss Peck's homestead, pale
and rather shabby, with child in each
hand and one following him.
sMiss Peck" said he, 81 suppose you
have heard the news?"
.Yes," said Miss Peck, looking vine
gar and tack nails. "If it's your failure
you mean."
ri th;,t, ~ /,o;nr 70 Ho1ifornso - ooi3