Smyrna times., 1880-01-07
Deacon Grinders Experiment.


81 hope the children haven't been any
trouble to you, Miss Peck" said Deacon
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!i cried she, effu.
sively. "Troubls, indeed Why Deacon,
how you talk It's positive pleasure to
have EN- here. | should like to keep
them a week."
That would be little too much," said
he. Come, children, jump into the
wagon"
And the three applecheeked little Grind
ers-two girls and bey-were kissed and
Rugged, and lifted into the wagon by the
bsaming spinster.
"l shall be so lonely when they are
gone" she said. 81 do so dote on chill.
dren Remember, darlings, that the goose.
berries will be rire next week, and that
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.
OedI DedCOu SdIu sue,
'you are always, in hurry. Do stop a
moment, can't you? Here's pail of our
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? de-
clare, Josie is growing perfect beauty!'
Tut, tut, Mrs. Clapp," said the deacon,
smiling all over with satisfaction. Hand
1o hat hnn Il
motto"
my little joe" said Mrs. Capp. "And
never was, and Dolly the very picture of
you; drop in to tea some evening this
week"
The deacon had hardly guided his old
horse around the corner of the village
green when Miss Barbara Bowyer tripped
out of the millinery store.
|" do hope you will excuse me, Deacon
Grinder" said she, with all the pretty con.
fusion which naturally belongs to maiden
of six and thirty summers, "but was SO
edited with your be-yutiful remarks in
prayer meeting, Monday night, that
couldn't help setting myself to work to
| think what | could do for you. And here's
collar I've stitched for dear Tommy, and q
handkerchief I've embroidered for Josie
and doll as I've took the liberty to dress
for Dorothy. Oh, don't thank me, pray
1t amt nothin' compared with the peace o
mind | got listening to your precious re
marks"
But Naomi Pool, sitting at her needle
work, by the old red farm house window
had only smile and a nod for the party a.
they drove by.
Pa" said Josie, who was a shrewd
sallow-facsd child of eleven, don't Mis-
Poole love us as well as Miss Peck, and Mrs
Clapp, and Miss Barbara Bowyer?"
II hope SO, my child" said the benigr
deacon. why do you ask the question p
Because she never gives us anything,
said Josie.
"Shs is poor, my child-she is poor,
said the deacon. "But | am sure you al
have her good wishes"
I'D rather have honey" said Tommy.
And goossbsrriss and dolls" added
little Dorothy.
But when the deacon sat alone by hi
hearthstons that evening, bis sister, Mahala
Ann Grinder, expressed herself on tn,
subject with great plainness and perspicac
ity.
If you've really made up your mind t.
marry Joshua'-said she.
81 think it wsuld add to nv domesti,
felicity" said the deacon, serenely.
In that case" said Miss Mahala Ann
81 do hope you'll make a sensible choice
and not allow yourself to be imposed upor
by pack of selfish widows and schsminI
old maids"
SISTER" said the deacon, mildly, "yot
are severe"
"No, AMT" said she. "If you WASH
well to do in the world, and hadn't mic,
home and farm, and money at interest
they wouldn't none of them look twice a
you"
DO you think SOP" said the deacon
and he pondered the question long anC
earnestly in his own mind. Upon tn,
whole" said he, bringing down his palm
upon the table, 81 amt sorry that thos
investments of mine in the Mariposa Silye
Company have proved a failure"
"What doyou mean p said Mahala Ann
curiously cycling him over the top of he
spsctacles.
But the deacon only shook his head anc
SMILED.
Time will show" said he, thine will
show.
The news that Deacon Grinder wa
wrecked in Mariposa Silver Mining stoc!
flew like wildfire through the peaceful com
Munity at Fitchville Four Corners.
WE'LL" said Miss Philena Peck, al an
beatr"
He never had no judgment in none
Matters" said the widow Clapp.
} I've thought all along that he wa
living too FAST" said Barbara Bower.
"Thoss poor little children, what vii
become Of them?' said Naomi Poole, wis
fully.
The next day the deacon made his ar
psarance at Miss Peck's homestead, pal
, and rather shabby, with a child in eac
hand, and one following him.
Miss Peck" said he, suppose YOU baV
: heard the newsH
YES" said she, looking vinegar an
tack, nails. eff it's your failure as 20
mean"
IL think of going to California" said tn
deacon, ito see what can do, and if, i
the neantiss, you could be induced [
give my children a home"
"Oh, dear, no" said Miss Peck. "
" never could control that pack of children
dare say you could find some half orpha
v asylum or some place Of that sort, by il
curing around little"
Miss Peek sat sovsry upright, and glare
SO frlghtfully out Of her light blue ey
at the deacon, that ne was fain to beat
retreat as soon as possible.
He knocked next at the widow Clapr
door. A slipshod servant-maid opened i
G Is Mrs. Clapp at homer" he ased.
A head was thrust over the stair raiir
and the widows shrill voice cried out:
L Al - n