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

hev as good luck as set out to hev."
notwithstanding these lamentable
failures, the round, comfortable visage
of Mrs. Deacon Highly presented q
series of rippling smiles that threat
ened to eclipse every feature of her ex-
pressive face, while she smoothed her
fat hands complacently together.
ooh, well, you can talk, +" said little
Mrs. Bisbee, energetically, and begin
ming to count up her list of subscrip-
tions to the parsons new coat, "but we
all know, as well as the next one, what
your cookin' is. Fifteen, twenty, twenty
one, no, twenty-two-Mrs. Spencer
Higginson's makes twenty-two-twenty-
FIVE, twenty-eight, thirty, thirty one
thirty-one and O quarter. Oh, dear
what pity 'twarn't just thirty-two."
"I'll make it up" said the Squares
wife," quickly, enjoying the distinction
of being the only woman in the room
to whom a dollar or two more or less
didn't make matter worth moments
consideration. Now, then, thirty-two
dollars ought to git first-rate article.
Wheren we buy it p? that's the ques-
ton"
Hereupon ensued lively discussion,
the deacon's wife favoring employing
the village tailor, and, as he was second
cousin to her husband, family reasons
might have something to do with her
opinion. Some of the ladies falling in
with her, the idea would soon have
been carried, but for the warlike, de-
termined attitude of the other party,
who decidedly favored the ccat being
made out of town.
"Twill be lots more Stylish" said
Mrs. Bassett, the "Square's wife," with
an undeniable air that took immensely.
"I shan't approve in the least its being
done here. When we give anything,
let's give good one. How should we
feel to see the parson mp in the pulpit
with anything but the best onl''
The view of the parson from his high
perch dispensing spiritual things, with
anything less than town-made coat
adjoining his person, was sight that
even in imagination so filed the circle
with disfavor that the whole roomful in
body went over Immediately to the
side of the "Square's wife" ALI but
Mrs. Deacon Highly. She remained
firm, while the round visage heightened
ominously, and the little eyes snapped.
can If you think 'Biah Williams
would make any but good coat, you're
much mistaken" she cried, with indig-
nation. ct must take back my sub
scription then, for the deacon never'd
hear to my given his second cousin on
his mothers side sech an insult, eff the
parson never saw coat" And, all her
feathers ruffied, she sat straight up, and
glared at them all.
Now it never would do to offend
Deacon Highly in oil the world; every
body saw that at a glance; so, with many
sidelong looks at each other, each lady
began to cast about how she might
gracefully wriggle back on to the other
side without arousing,the wrath of the
Squares wife,"
81 s'pose we had orter employ oul
own church people," said little Mrs.
Bisbee, thoughtfully, seeing no one
else was willing to take it up. cam,
besides" she added, brightly, "p'r'aps,
seein' it's for the parson, 'Biah Williams
may do it considerable cheaper. So
we'll save good deal"
81 don't know whether he will OF
not" said the deacon's wife, sturdily.
"I amt in ''Biah's business, an amt
a-goin' to say what don't know nothin
about But do say, if the job is taken
away from him, an he a church mem.
ber in good an regular standin', to give
it out down in the city, why, the deacon
III be so mad he won't git over it in one
spell, can tell you"
+" Yes, I do think" said little Mrs
Bisbee, refectively, and giving q swift
comprehensive look at the "Sqaure's
wife" at the same time that she ad
ministered, under the big table where
the work was being cut out, an admoni
tory pinch on that lady's toes, tina
probably 'Biah Williams won't charge
near so much. We don't know, you
know, but probably he won't. An
then, besides, 'twould look rather queel
to hev us go outside, you know, to gi
some one else to do the work. They't
think the First church in Buzzyille
had quarreled, maybe )" and she fin
ished up with laugh.
$50 they would, so they would,
cried every lady present, delighted t.
find that some one else had done then
the good service of whirling them owe
safely. ave wouldn't go out of Buzz
vile for anythin' an 'Biah William
is jest the one to do it," they added, de
termined to do nothing by halves.
So oil having been poured upon tn
troubled waters of Mrs. Deacon Highly
spirit, she considered her husband
family honor to be thoroughly vindi
Gated, and resuming her former joll,
expression, she set aOout preparing t
pass around the fragrant tea and th
abundance of good cheer that accom-
panied it and committee of three
Mrs. Squire Bassett, Mrs. Bisbee, and
in compliment to her relationship t
the aforesaid 'Biah Williams, Mrs
; Deacon Higby-was unanimously az
pointed to confer with the tailor an
order the coat.
Feeling quite sure at this point tha