Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1881-01-12
From Harper's Monthly for December.l
MRS. FLINTS MARRIED EX-
PERIENCE.

Now the deacon had clear field
and appeared in the arena of Bassett
in the character of an injured and for
saken husband. His prayers at meet
ing were longer and more eloquent
than ever, and the church, sympathiz-
ing with his sorrows-the male men,
bers especially deprecating Mrs.
Flint's example, lest it should some
time be followed by their own wives
unanimously agreed to withdraw their
fellowship from Mrs. Flint; proceed
ing in kind, if not in degree, like the
anathema of the papacy The poor
old woman quivered under the blow,
impaired to her parson Roberts, awful
in the dignity of his Office and new
wig But the parson was human, and
the meek grief of the woman, set off
Mab's blazing Indignation, worked up
ON his honest soul, and caused him to
doubt a little the church's wisdom.
Nab had followed him across the door
yard to the gate in order to "free her
mind"
Il want to know what you wanted
that poor woman to do, Parson Roberts.
She was dyin' by inchis for want of
vittels fit to eat, and the care most
folks would give a sick OK Do you
think, now, honest, she'd ought to
have staid with that old wretch p
Speak not evil Of dignities, young
woman. Amasy Flint is deacon of
Bassett church ; it does not become
you so to revile him.
This glittering generality did not
daunt Nab moment.
L don't care if be was deacon in the
New Jerusalem, or minister either; if
he was the angel Gabriel, and acted
the way he did act, ! shouldn't have
no faith in his piety, nor no patience
with his prayers
Parson Roberts glared at her over
his spectacles with pious horror.
What what! what = be sternly
cried. Who be you that set in judg-
ment on your elders and betters p
Pm one that's seen him where you
haven't, anyway, nor your church
members. Pve lived to his house, and
| know him like book
Was it possible, the parson thought,
that Brother Flint might have been in
fauIt-just little !? But he was faith
full to his dogmas and his education.
DO not excuse the woman's sin.
She has left her lawful husband,
threatened to swear the peace against
a Christian man whom she was bound
by human and divine law to obey, and
caused scandal and disturbance in
the fold of Christ. Is this little mat
ter, you daughter Of BelialY
Nab aughed-laughed in the par
sons face, in full front of his majestic
wig, his awful spectacles, his gold
headed cane uplifted in the heat of ar
gument. He could not see that she
was little hysterical he grew red
with ungodIy rage; but Nab did not
care pin.
You amt fool, Parson Roberts,
she said undauntedly. You've got
eyes in your head, aud you'd know, if
you'd use 'em, that Aunt Flint is q
weak sister anyway. She wouldn't
turn no sooner'n the least turn that
ever was but they will turn, if you
tread right on them. And whatever
you say, you know jest as well do
that Amasy Flint drove her into leav-
in him, and drove her with a whip Of
scorpions, as the Bible tells about.
Woman, do you mean to say | lie !"
thundered the parson.
We'll, yes, if you don't tell the
truth returned NAB, completely at
bay now. An audible chuckle betray-
ed some listener, and the parson, turn
ing round beheld old Ierael silently
unloading wheelbarrow-load Of pota-
toes at the corner Of the fence, and
wondered in his soul how long the man
had been there, but considered it the
better part Of valor to leave the scene
now that it had ceased to be tete a.
tete; 80 he waved his hand at Nab
with gloomy scowl, and went his
way.
Land o. liberty = calculated the old
man, drawing the back Of his hand
across his mouth TO smother laugh,
didn't you give him jesse swan
your the gall for free fight, now.
He's heerd the fac's in the case If he
never did aforc. OF all things what
be you a-cryin' for now, eh? For
Nab, u real woman had flung her
apron over her face, and was sobbing
violently. Uncle Israel gently tried
TO pull the check screen away, but she
held on TO it.
Let me cry she said Il amt sor-
ry; Pm mad, and Pve got to cry 1t
out.
We'll, said Israel, returning to his
potatoes, and slowly shaking his head,
'women-folks air the beatercd don't
know nothing about them, and Pm
five and sixty-year old come Friday.
Lordy there amt no riddles or Chinee
puzzles to compare with 'em. Pve he'd
wife an lost n wife, praise the Lord I!
but / never was sure % her. even.
wouldn't no more try it agin than I'd
slip down into bee tree, for there's
full az much stings AZ honey TO 'em.
and take an everidge, | guess there's
more
Whether or not the parsons silent
idea coincided with those Israel ex-
pressed is not 70" the ignorant chroni-
cler TO say, but it is certain that his
candid and generous soul was 40 far
moved by Mab's TRADE, however he
denied and dcfed il during his deliv-
cry that the next day he resolved TO
call in u council Of his ncighboring
brethren to discuss the matter, and in
dorse or reprobate the action Of his
own church.
So he wrote TO the Reverend Ami
Dobbins, oi Dorset, ana the IL verend
Samuel Jehoram Hill, Of Bassington,
better known Az Father Hill, and in
compliance with his request they re-
tx.1 Ia