Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1880-08-12

u
offer like a hungry trou, at worm. She
has go, the money, and hev 90, the prom
inencc and influence that's pint not to be
overlooked; and deacons isn't TO be had ev-
cry day. Put her money and my influence
together. and rayther guess we'll stand
abou, top o. the heap in New Bethany"
Miss keza was sitting by the table knit
ting as usual. She had just begun to mar
row for the toe Of the stocking. when step
sounded. on the walk. She threw down the
stocking and opened tn. door. and. holding
the lamp high above her head. her eyes
rested on the amazing spectacle of the dcs-
con in all the SUNDAY magnitcenoc Of white
shirt and shiny black bro7dcloth. well
never,- she calculated. and then feeling
that her reception had been hardly hospiia-
bic, she lowered the lamp and said kindly
Come in deacon, come in.
Thank We. thank We; don't mind il |
dew"
Take Il seat. deacon"
THANK We don't mind If ! dew"
The deacon surveyed the attractive room.
which. with its oheery fire and comfortable
cushioned chairs. seemed veritahle para
disc in comparison with his un;ify ill-kepi
home lie placed his Ia, on the floor beside
his chair. displaying his scani gray lock. IN
genicusly plastered over the top Of his head
so a. TO cover as much Of the bald sur
face % possible. Then there was long
pause.
Anything going on. deacon ," asked Mis-.
kczla .rcsuming her knitting. She was great
~ puzElcd TO accoun; for those SUNDAY
clothes.
Nothing within the range OF my obseF-
,a.ion. There won't bc much agoin' on noe
till lection time ;hinssll be pretty lively
then
Wan; TO buy any hay this YEAR p chirpcd
Miss kcria- mime is extra good this season.
NV hired man SAYS is the heaviest yield ID
town"
Il ray,hcr guess I'll hev enough TO carry
me through the winter. II don't shall
Know wherr to come for hay as j. hay. |
declare your farm doc. beat all feel Kind
o. riggcl like when think the best farm in
town !, managed hv woman"
Ms. heEia smiled graciouSly and the dea-
con drew his chair li-;lr nearer his host
ess lit must be great load FOR We 10
carry alone Such large farm is a trr-
mcn-lous responsibility for lone woman"
oh. don; mind il; !; keeps me proper
busy"
The deacon hi,ehed his chair along a rev
inches further Ned ough;cr hcy a brother
or COUSIN. or some relative like TO share the
burden with We
My shoulders arr plenty strong, returned
Miss kesia, good na,uredly I'm glad 10
show folks iha: thcrr are women Who are
good for something beside. giidy saddying
and ta,tiing"
"ii.. ,is. answered the deacon. Ne can
all testify 10 your ,ally and worth. YOU'RE
really honor TO your sex You 'rr-, Oh 'rc
I bright and shiuin' beacon light 10 the tn
fin and ,ain minded women cf the world i"
and the speaker waved his hand al the con
clu.iou Of this li,;lc oraiorjca. flourish.
Then htch. hitch. hitch went the chair
TOW ard Miss kesia. "Dou't ye feel sort o
lionel, a; spells. he asked, iusiuua;,nsly
Nj. hczia glanced suspiciou,ly At the
rapidly al anring chair. She dropped her
knitting and wen; 10 the FIRE and piled Up
the blazing sticks Of wood Then she came
back to the table and set her chair on the
farther side Of II, thus putting a barrier bc-
tween her aud her visitor. "l'm never lone
~. deacon plenty to do is the best mcdi-
cine for loneliness"
but wuman's tender. dependent crea-
ture woman's vine, and needs su,hin' To
cling 10 when the truubous. desola,in'
waves and winds az atflIction and sorrer roll
over her"
STUFF and nonsense =" exclaimed Miss
kexia with oon,emptuous sniff. Il should
MT have expected tha, 4 man OF your sense,
deacon. would repeat such silly trash.
have no patience with the people " ho are
always talking ~ II 4 woman couldn't stand
alone, and needed propping up, like a rag
doll that hadn't any back bone. I'm no vine
no such creeping. helpless thing, can tell
YOU. can stand alone as well as anybody II
the Lord so wills il, although admit. dea-
con. that it, plelsan'er 10 have some one
to keep YOU company"
That's jest it We hav' hit the nail squar'
on the head II is pleasanter TO hcy' com
pany in our sojourn on this mortal earth"
The deacon seized his chair with both
hand, and by circuitous line Of hitching
placed II within three feet Of Miss kezia's
table; "lou're forehanded woman. Miss
kezia; I'm man Of prominence and intiu-
ence in the community; It seems 10 me that
i, would be a good thing If We could walk
hand in hand thro' this vale Of tears. Prov
idence seems 10 pint its finger that way"
The deacon was thinking al that very mo-
men, Of the money he would save by putting
a thrifty manager like Miss Kezia in the
place of his inefficient, and was,eful hired
woman.
Miss Kezia was dumbfounded. She drop
ped her knitting. and the ball of yarn rolled
across the floor. Mercy" She finally
gasped.
IN make We first-raie husband and yell
make me a good wife. We've been mem
ber. of the same church for thirty wears or
more, and we've been members Of the spir-
itooal family. we'll now be members of the
same human family"
Miss Kezia Strengthened herself up in her
high back chair and drew in her chin, while
her voice rang out shrill and clear: Il
rather guess it will take two TO make that
bargain"
A second look at her aged admirer, who
was edging up TO her with sheepish sim
per, exasperated the woman beyond con-
troll. THE old fool ~ she said, wrathfully.
The color came into the deacons thin
cheeks, and he started TO his feet, looking
anxiously toward the door, as If meditating
hasty retreat. But the yarn was wound
around his boots and he was forced to re-
main.
Miss kezia likewise rose, and folding her
hands primly in front of her. remarked,
grimly: when you first began your talk
ing | hadn't the least idea what you were
driving at. thought you were limiting
about Betsy Hill. and wanted to take me in
to your confidence. | 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. Betsy Hill
is pious, likely woman; she'll make good
home for you, and she needs home her
self"
The deacon looked completely withered,
and Miss Kexia 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 some of those
pesky weeds, there's no earthly reason why
your farm shouldn't look as well as mine. II
I've said anything to hurt your feelings,
deacon. hope you'll overlook it Why you
are all twisted up in that yarn; I'll untangle
it."
The delay in unwinding the yarn from the
deacon's feet gave Miss Kezia chance for
further remark: "One word more, dea-
con; have you heard about those western
lands?"