The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1880-07-29

the Lord SO wills it, altho' / admit,
deacon, that its pleNSauter to have some
one to keep our company"
"Thats Jest it; ye hev hit the nail
squar' on the head It's pleasanter to
have company in our sojourn on this
mortal earth"
The deacon seized his chair with both
hands, and bya circuitous line of hitch.
ing placed it within three feet Of Miss
Keziah's table. You're forehanded
woman, Miss Keziah; I'm man of
prominence and influence i'll the commu-
nifty; it seems to me that it would be
good thing if we would walk hand-in-
hand thro this vale of tears. Providence
seems to pint its finger that way" The
deacon was thinking at that very mo-
ment of the money he would save by
thrifty manager, like Miss Keziah, i'll
the place OF his inefficient, wasteful
hired woman.
Miss Kezah was dumbfounded. She
dropped her knitting, and the ball of
yarn rolled across the floor. Mercy"
she finally gasped.
"ull make We first-rate husband.
and yell make me good wife We've
been members of the same church for
thirty year or more, and we've been
members of the spiritooal family, we'll
now be members Of the same human
family"
Miss Keziah Strengthened herself up
in her high.backed chair and drew in her
chin, while her voice rang out shrill and
clear. 81 rather guess it'll take two to
make that bargain.
A second look at her aged admirer,
who was edging up to her with n sheep
ish simper, eXasperated the old woman
beyond control.
'Ihe old fool !'' she said wrathfully.
The color came into the deacon's thin
cheeks, and he started to his feet, look
ing anXiously toward the door, as if med
itating hasty retreat. But the yarn
was wound around his boots and he was
forced to remain.
Miss kcziah likewise arose, and fold
ing her hands primly in front of her, re-
marked grimly: "When you first began
your talking | hadn't the least idea what
you were driving at. | thought you
were limiting about Betsey Hill, and
wanted to take me into your confidence.
l never dreamed that you meant me.
Why, | supposed every one in town knew
that wouldn't give up my freedom for
the best man living. Betsey Hill is
pious, likely woman; she'll make good
home for you and she needs home her
self"
The deacon was completely withered
and Miss Keziah continued: "If you'll
step around little livelier, deacon, and
pick up the stones on your lots and put
them into good fences, and NOV down
those ptsky weeks, there's no earthly
reason why yom farm shouldn't look as
well as mine. If I've said anything to
hurt your feelings, deacon, | hope you'll
overlook it. Why, you are all tangled
up in that yarn; I'll untangle it."
The delay of unwinding the yarn from
the dcacon's feet gave Miss Keziah
chance for further remark: zone word
more, deacon; have you heard about the
Western lands?'
The deacon wished he was anywhere
out Of the range of those merciless black
eyes,
"I-think I've heerd tell suthin' about
'em. he replied necldy.
II thought so! [ thought sol" ex-
claimed Miss Kezah, savagely. "Well,
deacon, those lands rightfully belong to
my niece, Mary; | only hold them as her
Guardian"
The deacon began to look upon his re-
lection as Il blessing in disguise, for with
ont the Western lands Miss Keziah's at
fractions seemed tame compared with
those of mild, blue-eyrd, buXom Widow
Hill. 81 can trust to We never to men
ton this?' he asked, timidly.
II shall not mention it. Now, follow
my advice, deacon; make sure of Betsey
Hill before another week goes by You
have my good wishes. See to this ut
once"
Thank ye; thank ye; 1 don't mind if
/ dew"
The good woman followed her crest
fallen visitor to the door. As sudden
gust of cold night air put out the light,
she said; "The air is swapping tonight;
have frost, ch, deacon?'
And the discounted deacon felt that
he had been nippcd by something sharper
than Il frost