The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1881-10-13
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-
garded the "Innual county fair" over
aud above the surrounding towns hav-
lug shone conspicuous win an elaborate
"harvest festival" for their church-and
vet surviving, now cast about for other
worlds to conquer before settling down
for the winter.
"Our minister needs new coat, said
Miss Mirandy Stebbins, rattling her
kuitting-needles in huge delight at first
producing an idea; ''he does, most
dretful 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 unbIeached cotton and red flannel,
also carried on admirably the war with
their tongues-and then proceeded
"An' I say it's q cryin' shame to see him
git up in that pulpit another Sunday
with that old coat on. Somethin' must
done. Im awful glad 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'
folks gifts 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. can 1 shall do my best to git
the parson one," she added, the best
rye. bread premium, which Miss Mirandy
l.. f,1iI,r oorria1 Nff 1,afnro bor
very eyes at the county fair, urging her
on.
81 shall begin q subscription right
straight of, this very minute" cried
Miss Mirandy, with great determine
tion, and starting from her chair, ignor.
ing her rival completely. Chow much
will you give, Mrs. Bassett?" she asked,
going into the center of the group to at
tack the $50 q1are's wife" .....--
"An' 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
eight as the bark of tree" '1ll 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.
can I'll join you with another five,"
spoke up the Squares wife," looking
past Miss Mirandy to the stout little
figure with flaming checks. "Now, then.
Mrs. Bisbee, that's good start, I'm
sure"
There was no show now for the spin
ster's side. since, for various reasons of
her own, the "Square's wife" had gone
over to her rival. So she stalked back
to her rocking chair grimly, took up her
knitting work, aud watched, as best she
might, the subscriptions grow enthusi.
astically under other hands than her
own.
At last, as the laughter and excite
nent progressed On all sides, she was
utterly unable to bear it another mo-
ment longer, and jumping up, she mum
bled something about "must be home"
and fiounced out of the room.
fr"I'm glad she gone," said the
Squares wife," as the door closed
after the retreating form of the spinster;
"I am sick to death of havin' you
always come to pe for subscriptions |;
an sho never gives the first cent her
self"
"She wouldn't see the need OF the
parsons coat, if she had to open that
pocketbook of hern," said a tall, square