Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-11-11
CONFINED from first page. l

t1cie Oh tne deacon IN all the Sunday magnl-
ficence of whit shirt and shiny black broad
CLOTH well. never.' she calculated,
and then. feeling that her reception had
been hardly hospitabIc. she lowered the
lamp and said kindly:
Come in, deacon-come in.''
Thank We, thank ye; don't mind if
dew.''
Take a seat, Deacon
Thank ye; don't mind if dew
The deacon surveyed the attractive
room, which, with its CHEEKY fire and COM
Portable cushioned chairs. seemed yerita-
BILE paradise in comparison with his unti-
dy ill-kept home. He placed his hat on
the floor beside his chair. displaying his
mighty gray Ircks ingeniously plasfered
over the top ofhis head 30 as to cover as
much Of the bald surface as possible Then
there was long pause.
Anything going ON deacon" asked
Miss keziah, resuming her knitting. She
was greatly puzzled to account for those
Sunday clothes.
'.Nothin' within the range Of nv obser-
walton. There won't be much agoin' on
now till lection time; things'Il be pretty
lively them
WANT to buy any hay this year?' inquire
ed Miss Keziah. milne is extra good this
season. My hired man says it's the best
harvest yield in town.
81 rather guess III hev' enough to car
ry me thro' the winter III don't | shall
know where to come for hay a. is hay. |
declare your farm does beat al, I feel
kindo' rugged like when think the best
farm in town is managed by woman"
Miss keziah smiled graciously, and the
deacon drew his chair little nearer the
hostess. ut must be great load for We
TO carry alone. Such large farm IS tre-
men-jous responsibility for a lone woman =
''Oh. don't mind it; it keeps me prop
er busy"
The deacon hitched his chair along
few inches farther. "Yc'd oughter Ilev' a
brother or cousin, or some relative like, to
share the burden with ye''
"My shoulders are plenty strong re-
turned Miss keziah good naturedly I'm
glad to show folks that there are women
who are good for something besides giddy-
gaddying and tattling."
''Yis. yis," answered the deacon. eve
can all testify to your valley and worth.
You're real honor to your sex. You're
you're bright and shinin beacon light
To the trifln' and vain-mnted woninn of
the world; - and the speaker waved his
hand ut the conclusion Of this little orator.
zeal flourish.
Then hitch. hitch. hitch went the chair
Miss keziahward. Don't you feel sort o.
onelv at spel-?" he asked insinuaiingly
Miss keziah glanced suspiciorsy at
the rapidly advancing chair She dropped
her knitting. and went to the fire and
piled up the blazing sticks of wood.
Then she came back to the fable ana set
her chair on the farther side of it. thus
putting barrier between her and her Wis
itor. I'm never lonely, deacon; plenty
of work to do is the best medicine for lone
lness,"
But woman is a tender. dependent
creatur' Woman's a vine There the dea-
con took up his weekly praver-meetinC
dEawl and needs suthin' to cling to when
the troublous. desolatn' waves and winds
of affliction and sorror roll over her
Stuff and nonsense exclaimed Miss
keziah. with n contemptuous sniff. II
shouldn't have expected that man of
your sense. deacon. would repeat such sill
ly trash. | have no patience with the
peopl, who are always talking as fa wo-
men couldn't stand alone, and needed
propping up like rag doll that hadn't
any backbone. I'm no vine-or such
creeping, helpless. thing can tell you
| can stand alone rs we'll as anybody i'll
the Lord so wills it. altho' | admit. dea-
con. that il Is pleasanter to have some one
Ia keep us company
That's Jest it We hey hit the nail squar'
on the head It's pleasanter to have COM
pany in our soiourn on this mortal earth
Tho 1aaapp -ntvn1 he HI, al.
hands. and by circuitous line of hitch
ing. placed it within three feet of Miss Ke-
ziah's table. Your re Il forehanded wo-
man. Miss keziah I'm man of promi- |
nence and influence in the community; it |
seems 10 me that 1t would he a good thing
II we would walk hand-in. hand thro' this
vale Of tears, Providence seems to pint
its finger that way" The deacon was
thinking ut that very moment of the mon
ey he would save by 4 thrifty manager
like Miss keziah. in the place of his inefli-
cient. wasteful hired woman.
Miss keziah was dumbfounded She
dropped her knitting. and the ball of yarn
rolled across the floor. Mercy" she fl
nally gasped
.Fll make We n iirst-rate husband. and
yell make good wife. We've been
iHVuhptiS W tHt s,tiue tnufcn Tor thirty
year or more. aud we've been members
of the spirtooal family; Wen now bc
members of the same human family"
Miss keziah Strengthened herself up in
her high-back chair and drew in her chin.
while her voice rang out loud and clear
81 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 old woman beyond
control.
1.-The old fool - she said wrathfully.
The color came into the deacon's thin
cheeks. and he started to his feet. looking
anxious1y toward the door, as il meditat-
ing a hasty retreat. But the yarn was
wound around his boots, and he was forced
to remain.
Mss keziah likewise arose. 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 We're limiting
about Betsey Hill. and wanted to take me
into your confidence. | never dreamed
that YOU meant me. Why | supposed
every man in town knew that would not
give up my freedom for the best man liv-
ing. Betsey Hill is pious. likely woman