The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1882-05-03
THAT GREEN SILK

Mrs. Deacon Lewis and Mrs, Davis.
tho postmistress, were conferring to.
gether in mysterious whispers as they
leaned over their mutual backyard
fence. Said Mrs. Deacon Lewis:
''Seein' is believin' or else I should
say jest as you do, that it couldn't be
true; but Jest stepped into Miss
Badgers to see what she'd charge to fix
over my black Alpaca want in any
hurry tor the alpaca, but kind of got
an idea that there was somethln' in the
wind and thought meb be Icould find
out what it was there-and there 1 saw
it with my own two eyes, all over plat
ms and ruffiin's that it seemed a burnin'
shame TO cut up good thick silk into,
and fixed up in the back so't couldn't
have the heart to set down on it, And
Miss Badger, for all she's so close
mouthed, she up and told me who it
belonged to, and saws I, 'You don't say
so and SAYS she, Yes. I do and then
she pursed her lips up kind of pro
vokin', as If she could tell great deal
more il she was a mind to. But Fv,
got wit enough to put two and two to-
gether, ii folks is close .mouthed, and
says ], right out-for there amt nothin'
sly about me- says I, Then Cordilly
Brewster is a-goin' TO get married. And
Miss Badger she never denied it,"
Well, it does beat ALL" said Mrs
Davis. "This has been a singular year.
what with the comet and the terrible
Happenings all round; and now CoIdilly
Brewster settin' up to have a green silk
dress. when she hasn't worn anything
but bombazR and alpaca and her one
old black silk for nigh upon twenty
years. It's enough to upset anybody's
ideas altogether, and make 'em think
the worlds comm to an end. Though
can't say that such extravaganza looks
much like the millennium"
MIS-. Deacon Lewis shook her head in
solemn censure.
A good black silk would have been
much more suitable and becomin' to a
woman most forty years old, to say
nothin' Of the wear and the maxim over,
and for minister's wife"
You don't say that she's goin' to
marry the minister" exclaimed Mrs.
Davis
Why, suppose so, of course. Who
can it be if it isn't the minister?'
:" never saw any sign of their
keepin' company. Parson Greeley is
too speritual to marry q woman that
crimps her front hair with hot slate
pencils; and she never put more than
three eggs into those custards that she
carried to the donation party. 1 should
think more likely twas somebody that
she picked up when she was down to
vic oh 10.
that used to keep company with her
when they was young, and has kind o.
been doin' it, off and on, ever sence."
"Oh, she wouldn't have John Par
menter, even if he had spunk enough
to ask her, which he haint. He is a
good fellow, John is, but he'll never set
the world aire, and he's been runnin'
down hill terribly lately; has had to
mortgage his farm, they do say"
"Cordilly's money would come in
just right, then; but, as you say, don't
suppose she would have him. It's likely
that's what's made John turn out so
poorly, her not havin' him. But 1 can't
really believe it's the minister. There's
Sammy; let's ask him."
Sammy Greeley, the minister's young
est hopeful, who was engaged in "shin
ming up" neighboring telegraph pole
with the ambitious design of attaching
his Kite to the wire, descended some
what reluctantly to the earth and
obeyed Mrs. D4yis' heckoning finger.
Sammy was a freckled-faced urchin
with turned-up nose, the expression
of which was contradicted by pair of
preternaturally solemn and innocent
looking blue eyes. In spite of his eyes
Sammy was generally regarded as
"limb," and he and his three brothers,
Moses, Hosea and Joseph, caused the
old proverb concerning ministers sons
to be often repeated with sOmnle head
shakings by the townspeople.
Sammy, is your father goin' to be
married ?" asked Mrs. Davis, with her
hand atfectionately placed ON Sammy's
shoulder.
"The old gent? He couldn't remem.
Der to. Nobody would have him,
either He's as bald as door-knob,
and he asks a blessin' anywhere along
between the meat and the puddin'. And
Joe and me would fix her, anyhow"
"Wouldn't you like to have him
marry a nice, kind lady like Miss Cor
dilly Brewster? She would teach you
bow to behave"