The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1879-03-21
And draw them all along, and flow
To join the brimming river,
For men may come and men may go,
hut | 90 on foFpVprn

dy, couple of maiden ladies of an uncertain
age, but only owning to thirty-fyeand thirty
six years. BetwiXt them they managed to
oversee all the business of the neighborhood
and as their house had no front yard but
pushed out almost even with the sidewalk, it
gave the greater facilities for knowing all that
was going on.
Miss Hardy CHANGED to be sweeping her
front steps as we passed, and SISTER Ann
stood in the door listening to the answers to
the questions which came thick and fast
Where are you going, Dolly, and who is
that strange gentleman? Is il some one you
knew before you lost your fortune ?" she ask
ed in shrill whisper, with her long neck cram
ed forward for an answer.
| Fall into line, both of YOU" Numbered the
Fool-Catcher There are only two kinds of
forks who mind other peoples business; one
kind haven't any business of their own, and
the other kind haven't any mind"
A little farther on, Mrs. Sharp was down on
her knees with a cloth diligently scrubbing
off the threshold after the rain. The Fool
Catcher stepped into the yard, and softly
touched her shoulder. She started up and
looked at him tierceIy, ooh you can't go in, "
! said she, 'the steps are Just cleaned and the
floor mopped, and wouldn't have them mud
died for anything, You will find Mr.. Sharp
down at the store, or in the postotlice"
Il am Fool-Catcher," he responded curt
ly, get your shawl and come with me-
You are the woman who keeps her house
so painfully neat that her husband and
children are virtually turned out of DOORS |
saw them before | came here Mr.. Sharp was
| playing cards in the store, and Willie was
| taking drink at a saloon. There was need
enough for me to come for you, | should
| think"
So we started along, the Fool-catcher and
myself the Misses Hardy and Mrs. Sharp
who went along grumbling and complaining
| that he had no business to call for her
There wasn't speck of dust in the whole
| house, and you might search ii with a candle
| from cellar to garnet But now the house
| wasn't locked, and the children could get in
when they chose, and track the floors and
move the chairs, and disarrange things gen
orally. Oh, it was dreadful"
just us we turned the corner, whom should
we meet but the Hon. Mr.. Swell He was
not large man naturally, but lie grew per-
| ceptibly large as he sweled out with impor-
lance when the Fool Catcher halted the queer
| little procession in front of him.
"Mr. Swell, presume" said the Fool Catch
or, politely.
Yes, my name is Swell" and with that he
pulled out larger and larger, and his broad
| eXpansc of shirt bosom seemed to visbly
widen before us. II have n very extensive
| acquaintance throughout the country and
State but cannot remember ever seeing you
before
"Ah, perhaps not; but you were sure to
meet me sooner or later. | am called the Fool
Catcher. Fall into the ranks"
"What-me," said the honorable gentleman.
"There is some mistake Do you know that
| have held high offices in both town and
State? Are you are aware that my father
was lawyer and my brother Judge? My
family connections are such that the common
people look up to me with wonder Am do
ing great deal for religion also. run the
church here entirely
The Fool-Catcher looked at him inquiring-
Not financially sir; others pay the money
and manage it,"
"No more time for argument" said the
Fool Catcher, you are just the man want.
Talk OF the ability of your relatives 1t is as
if mushroom should hold up its head and
aspire to honor because wheat grew on one
side OF ii and an apple tree on the other 1t
would not change the nature of the thing at
all. 1t might do for mushroom sauce if gath
eredin season, but it could never make bread
You may head the procession, you are worthy
of the place"
During the harangue Mr. S had shrunk to
d
thrust little forward, and his lower jaw drop
ped in wonder
Meanwhile the Fool Catcher had not been
idle A couple of youny ladies whose rude
ways and unseemy manners had made them
the talk OF the village for months, was quiet
ly motioned to their place among us, and
dandy fell in on his own accord to keep them
company.
So we started on once more, the dandy,
the two young ladies', the Misses Hardy Mrs
Sharp and myself led by the swell, who had
not yet thought to close his mouth, and the
absence of a few front teeth rendered the cx-
preston of his face quite striking.
Our next call was made at the prctentous
mansion of Mr.. belong, and we could hear
the "tnkle of ivory keys" before a resound-
ing peal of bell brought the maid to the door
in hurry. What passed within the house
we could not hear, but presently Mrs. DeLong
with her daughters Miss Isabelle and Miss Ar
aminta, two young ladies very much be-
tlounced and berouged. Mrs. belong was
saying
why, my dear Mr. Fool Catcher, you can't
possibly mean me. | have brought up my
daughters in the very best manner Both of
them were educated in dear delightful Paris
They sing divinely and their tastes are cx-
quisitc. They would never thing of wearing
anything made in the country. They would
considerit quite quite vulgar to dose, wouldn't
you, Araminta ~
Law, yes, mother"
look of disgust crept over the Fool Catch
er's face ms he replied:
with all your daughters accomplishments,
madam, can they make a loaf of bread or cook
a dinner? Can they do the first bit of plain
sewing or in any degree add to the comfort
of home or the good of humanity? Wasp
wasted and lily.tingered, they are to be pit
led more than blamed, but you, madam, are
responsible. Ioumay walk beside Mr. Swell,
if you please"
"Ah," exclaimed that gentleman, "yonder
is a man who always votes for me for every
office He will tell you it is an outrage COM
pelling me to remain here and will have YOU
arrested tomorrow
whats that? ?" said the Fool Catcher, "If
he has followed you so long, he shall follow
still. Fall in."
The man obeyed, and Mr.. Swell col
lapsed again, and his lower jaw dropped as
usual.
Our procession had grown rapidly larger
in the last few minutes A moderate tlrinker
or two, couple of farmers who had lived
beyond their means, Il half dozen village loaf
ers, with pompous young clergyman who
left the care of souls to dabble in politics,
made altogether grotesque looking assem-
bly,.
Straight through the town we went, climb
| ing the hill at its farthest extremity.
| No one seemed to have any power or re-
slstance, although Mrs. Sharp was crying,
and the Misses belong gathered their cost
y dresses closely around them least the should
be contaminated by any plebeian touch
once over the brow of that hill, and Sweet
| Fern was lost to us, forever.
| How longed for home and mamma and
Pruel 1t seemed as if | could here mammals
voice calling from distance, and could hear
a faint echo of Prue's singing | listened in
| 1eQtlX lQlinm To nnIcl, tlAa c1.IlI,l