The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1879-09-04
DEACON GRINDERS EXPERIMENT.
BY e. B. W.

y
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 eff
fusively. Trouble, indeedl Why,
deacon, how you talk! It's 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 boy-were
kissed and hugged, and lifted into the
wagon by the beaming spinster.
"I 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
py 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 a hurry. Do stop a
minute, can't you? Here's pail of our
new honey in the comb. I know the
darlings will like it on their bread and
butter of an evening. When are they
coming to spend the day with me?
declare, Josie is growing a perfect
beautyl"
"Tut, tut, Mrs. Clappl" 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 handsomel
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. Barbars
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 o
maiden of six-and-thirtv summers. "bui
I was SO edited with your be-yu-tiful
remarks in prayer-meeting Monday
night, that I couldn't help setting my.
self to work to think what could dc
for you. And here's collar I've stitch
ed for dear Tommy, and handkerchief
I've embroidered for Josie, and dol
I've taken the liberty to dress fol
Dorothy. o, don't thank me, pray
It aint nothing compared to the piece
of mind got listening to precious re
marks"
But Naomi Poole, sitting at hel
needle-work, by the old red farmhouse
window, had only smile and nod fol
the party as they drove by.
"Pa," said Josie, who was shrewd
sallow-faced child of eleven, "don't Mis-
Poole love us as we'll as Miss Peck ant
Mrs. Clapp and Miss Barbara Bowyer?' p
81 hope so, my child" said the benigr
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 I am sure you
all have hor good wishes"
"Pd rather have honey" said Tommy
@And gooseberries and dolls" added
little Dorothy.
But when the deacon sat alone by hi
hearthstone that evening, his sister
Miss Mahala Ann Grinder, expressed
herself on the subject with great plain
ness and perspicacity.
"If you've really made up your mint
to marry again" said She
II think it would add to my domesti,
felicity" said the deacon, serenely.
"In that case," said Miss Mahala Ann
Il do hope you'll make a sensible
choice, and not allow yourself to be i'm
posed upor by pack of selfish widow
and scheming old maids"
Sister," said the deacon, mildly
"you are severe"
"No, I ain't," said Mahala Ann. II
you wasn't well-to-do in the world, ant
hadn't nice home and farm ant
money at interest, they wouldn't non,
of them look twice at you"
"Do you think SOP" said the deacon
and he pondered the question long ant
earnestly in his own mind. upon tn,
whole" said he, bringing down his pain
upon the table, II amt sorry that thos
investments of mine in the Maripos
Silver Mining Company have proved
failure"
what do you mean?" said Mis-
Mahala Ann, curiously cycling him owe
the top of her spectacles.
But the deacon only shook his heat
and smiled.
"Time will show" said he, slime vii
show"
The news that Deacon Grinder wa
wrecked in Mariposa silver mining
stock flew like wildfre through tn
peaceful community at Fitchville Fou
Corners.
WELL" said Miss Philena Peck, I"
am beat"