Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1881-03-19

"Guess we'd better push on" said the
deacon to himself, "Git up, Sally. Seen
anything of boy along here? A me-
dunn sized bOy?" asked the deacon of che
first man he met.
What sort Of a lOOkin' bOy?" asked the
man, taking his pipe out of his mouth.
Really, the deacon didn't know. He
couldn't swear to it, but he b'lieved the
little chap had red comforter round
his neck, and he knew he had a pair OF
skates.
mo, amt seen no SIGH One." The
pipe went back and the deacon drove on
Medium sized boys had apparently
never been abroad in such force as on
the day, but the differentia, skates and
a red comforter, were a stumbling block
At length, after vain inquiries, the dea.
con drew up before the pOstOffice, hoping
that at this social center he might gain
some information.
The postmaster, who was busily sharp
ening pencil in the service of his cOun-
try, welcomed him cordially.
show are you, deacon, how are you:
What brings you round tonight"
The deacon was explaining his GRAND
which began to wear solemn aspect
when suddenly there came most surpris-
ing sounds from above their heads
such stamping and clapping as the dea-
con had not heard for many lection
day.
what on EARTH" he began.
I'm the hall up above. minstrel show,
the postmaster tersely explained. "GOing
to shut up shop myself and go up. Say
deacon, You come along tOO,-Pll stand
treat. It'll do you good. I saw whole
gang of boys going up. Shouldn't won
der bit if you found your chap among
them. Come along"
The deacon looked very grave.
Il shouldn't like to be seen there" he
said. IL don't make practice of giving
my cOuntenance to such things. They
don't tend much to the glory of God, ac-
cOrding to my way of thinking"
did you say he had red cOmfOrter?"
II saw boy in a red comforter gOin' I'D
them stairs not half an hour ago."
''You did? l don't know them but /
ought to"
'You certainly ought ter, deacon.
Come on up."
Before the deacon had time to think.
he was seated with his hat between his
knees, in the crowded aisle of the little
hall above. He first glanced nervOusly
about to see who was there to see him, and
then cast look over the audience for The
object Of his search. Not red comforter
was to be Seen-Only dark blue one
dangling over the back of settee. The
audience was made up for the most part
of factory girls with their beauX, while
the front rows were well filled with a
kicking and squirming company of boys
The deacon fidgeted about, but con-
cluded that it wouldn't do to go out in
the middle Of 'piece,' and as long as
he was there he might as we'll see what
the thing was like. The rOllickine
darkey song was more than the good
man could withstand. The grim cor
ners of his mouth broke down, he even
turned his more reliable ear toward the
ungOdly music, with as rapt an express
sion of cOuntenance as if he were listen
ing to the dOxOlOgy. When, finally, the
song concluded with an exceedingly
rapid and intricate clog dance, and
when the dancer gave prOdigOuS leap
into the air as grand finale, then the
! audience could no longer contain itself
/ it stamped, it clapped, it whistled, il
yelled. The deacon clapped both hands
upon his knees, and rocked backed and
fOrt1, witf.I- declare fort, if that fell
ler's legs don't beat alll''@>
The applause was long and loud, but
longest and lOudest of all was that from
the front seat. These youngsters leap
ed upon the bench, danced I'D and
down, and waved whatever article OF
dress they could detach. Conspicuous
among them was prancing boy of me-
dunn size, who fOurished a blue COM
fOrter over his head, and shouted above
the din: do it againl Do it again.
The deacon looked that way. "GOod
Lord" he cried. IF faint that young
scamp Pm afterp'
Before our hero went to bed that night
Aunt Judith beckOned to him to follow
hersintO the pantry. o.
"Well, l don't know but.Pm glad, on
the whole, you weren't drowned, sir
But I'd like to know what you meant by
giving your mother such dreadful
scare. Poor wOmanlI don't know but
she'll have Fl of sickness. Yes, you
didn't think; but folks have got to think
in this world. or 'twOuld be pretty place
to live in. Not that | felt much afraid
you were drowned; l never thought you
was one of the drowning kind. You're a
naughty boy and l hope you're sorry
Here's dOughnut that ought to have
gone into the cake box. l guess you might
as we'll have it, to save it from drying up
There. off to bed with you, now"