The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1882-01-11
THE DEACON's DAUGHTER.


fair and cold.
All the hills around the little country
village of Ianbornton were white With
snow The roads we're trodden hard,
and the prospect for fine sleighing un-
der the light of nearly full moon
never was better. Deacon Haines wife
sighed as she put back the curtain from
the bedroom window that morning and
lJoket out.
Five years ago, that very day, the
great sorrow of her life had come to
her. How we'll she remembered that
iateful morning, when, though the sun
thone gloriously, and the heavens were
blue and cloudless, all tho life and JOY
went out OF her life aud left the world
blank OF gloom, almost of despair.
Twenty-four years she had been
John Haines' wife, and in all these
years she had never repented of her
choice. There had been many times
when the mans hard nature had
wounded ber sensitive spirit, but she
trusted all things to heaven and uttered
no complaint.
Jut, upright in his dealings, Oeacon
Haines was man who never erred-in
his own judgment; and mercy was a
word unknown in his vocabulary. II
people would live AS they ought to and
as they might, he was wont to say
sternly, they would not need to be for
ever crying for forgiveness.
If the deacon's right hand had
offended him he would have cut it of,
thus obeying the Scripture literally.
He was religious to fault, for there is
such thing as carrying even one's
piety too far, until it becomes a curse
instead of blessing. In the simple
faith OF an obedient soul there is peace
and rest, but in the bigoted fanaticism
of self.righteous MAXWELL never
mind the rest, / am writing story
and not sermon.
Deacon Haines had only one child
beautiful, fair-haired, blue-eyed girl,
and in his stern, ascetic way, he idol
izSd this girl. When she was eighteen
years Of age she fell in love with Royal
Clayton.
When the news of this reached the
deacon his rage was terrible. He
struck his foot upon the floor and
rayed with what was almost an oath,
that il ever she spoke to him again he
would disown her forever. Emma had
something of her fathers own spirit
and she loved Royal with MI the
strength of her fond young her nj and
she told the deacon without to 7gatior
that she would follow love ear ord Of
duty. 10 -oI.
Five years before, on ths mas
day, Emma had left her J -0ut
the knowledge of her par. noe
came the wife of the hiding, mp cd
Immediately after the 1ouse, Tio-n tt
young couple had takeed, ana aqhadl
the West, and only once 'rnton
OF them reached Lanbol A B, KELLa En-
came TO tn the =, deacon aC nc o., Dle % o
brought it himself frQR, 8 of hi
and in the presence ON tn
laid it unopened ups. IlonesIsshes.
watched it shrink to aOenosit ae said
He had no child, 0mmuni
he would hold no cae Depositf his.
one who was none o. Jas forbi
Emma's name w 2 househo
mentioned in the ertently
vant-girl who inadvsited. 1se deacol
Miss Emma in th5@~rysed, and
was az once dismis DHLie been bt
Halnes, having one py comm
a burst of tears l1y Vw a p Of clot
upon some articlCN '" n brn by h
had been last We dful adm
ceived such drea r n over trel
she did not get Hu ~
week. ! one OF u
Mrs. Haines wafyORK PR(s, who on
clinging creaturesED TO hed by son
loved and cherisl ,oo, Who usual
der heart, but v looI. hch iron-n
mercies of Just 81 hes. 1t II
as Deacon Hail' and who
nature / supposeTCAL nitted to }
say IL? She subry Co,r NJ mo more b
thing, and would AuON III right OF
of disputing the acksmith y snowstC
blow in a northeas, AOften, "
But nights, very IlON 70 p, she
con was fast asleel lhambel
softly up to the G