The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1881-11-02
The Parsons New Coat.

The village of Buzzville having gone
safely through the canning and pre-
serving season having with praise
worthy zeal carried off the palm as re-
gnrded the annual county fair" over
and above tho surrounding towns hav-
ing shone censpicuously in an elaborate
''harvest festival" for their church-and
yet surviving, now cast about for other
worlds to conquer before settling down
for the winter.
"Our minister needs a new coat, said
Miss Mirandy Stebbins, rattling her
knitting-needles in huge delight at first
producing an idea; che does, most
lretful bad, an that's fact Hain't
any Of you noticed how shiny it's got?"
She cast reproachful glance on all of
the circle-who, while they waged war
on unbleached cotton and red flannel,
also carried on admirably the war with
their tongues-and then proceeded :
can say it's a cryin' shame to see him
git up in that pulpit another Sunday
with that old coat on. Somethin' must
done. Pm awful glad I thought of it..
"You hain't thought of it any quick
er'n anybody else, spoke up little Mrs.
Bisbee, a stout, buxom matron, with
flaming cheeks and her black eyes
flashed volumes. "Tain't alwus talkin'
folksgits the first idea. I've ben a-think-
in OF that same thing for some time
now" she added, with avenomous snap
at The placid figure behind the rattling
needles. "An'I shall do my best to git
the parson one," she added, the best
rye. bread premium, which Miss Mirandy
had successfully carried off before her
very yes at the county fair, urging her
oa.
"I shall begin subscription right
straight off, this very minute" cried
Miss Mirandy, with great determine
tion, and starting from her chair, ignor.
ing her rival completely. "How much
will you give, Mrs Bassett?" she asked,
going into the center of the group to at
tack the "Sqnare's WIFE"
'sAn' I shall start one, with my own
name first, before ask other folks to
give" exclaimed little Mrs. Bisbee, tri-
umphantly, with an unpleasant laugh
at Miss Mirandy, who was known to be
"tight as the bark of tree" "I'll give
five dollars" she added, in loud voice,
determined to go without her new win
ter bonnet sooner than that her rival
should carry the day.
"An' I'll join you with another five, u
spoke up the Squares wife," looking
past Miss Mirandy to the stout little
figure with flaming cheeks. "Now, then,
Mrs. Bisbee, that's a good start, I'm
sure"
There was no show nowyfor the spin.
ster's side. since, for various reasons OF
her own, the Squares wife" had gone
over to her rival. So she stalked back
to her rocking. chair grimly, took up hel
knitting work, and watched, as best she
might, the subscriptions grow enthusi
astically under other hands than hel
own.
At last, as the laughter and excite
ment progressed on all sides, she We:
utterly unable to bear it another mo-
ment longer, and jumping up, she mum
bled something about "must be home,
and bounced out of the room.
"Pm glad she gone," said the
Squares wife," as the door CLOSED
after the retreating form of the spinster
81 am sick to death of havin' yoT
always come to me for subscriptions
an she never gives the first cent her
self"
"She wouldn't see the need of tn,
parsons coat, if she had to open tina
pocketbook of hern," said tall, square
built matron, who looked as if she haC
plenty of opinions of her own, ant
could express them when occasion re
quired.
"Gracious !" calculated little Mrs
Bisbee, with short laugh; "who eve
see that pocketbook anyway? neve
did, an 1 don't b'lieve any of you hav
either"
GA cents as big as a cart-wheel t
her." said the big square woman, VIII
didn't love Miss Mirandy to death
sit all runs in the family. The
wouldn't any of 'em open their mouth
. to breathe, if they didn't get somethiI
at the same time they Civ it out"
"Well, she won't put anythin' in ne
mouth this time" observed th
"Square's wife," laughing, and settlin
back comfortably. "It's the first sewiI
meetin', guess, where she's gone HON
before tea"
-" An it means somethin' to go HON
before tea from Mrs. Deacon Hlgbys
exclaimed little Mrs. Bisbee, enthus
astically, with an energetic bob of h'
black curls over at the hostess. "S
she's lost her cake an credit, too"
ST don't know" said Mrs. Deaco
Highly, deprecatingly, though she wri
gled all over with delight at the implie
praise to her suppers. "My doughnu
Amt so light as usual, an the loaf cal
amt riz quite as I'd like it. III
deacon came home last night in a chi