The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1882-09-02
them by handfuls, and bags and basket,

were rapidly nlled.
"But there don't look to be any less
N there was when we begun" said
Con, with a merry chuckle. Nov,
boys. isn't this big help to the old
gintlemanP He'd niver get away with
EN- alone, sure"
There was no sound except the voices
of the frogs in the marsh under the hill
while the work went briskly OF. 1t was
when the boys were nearly ready to
leave that they heard voice in the
direction of the Deacon's domicile
81 don't know, but I'll walk out and
see"
Its ould Mrs. Cannon herself!''
sounded Cons excited whisper. $50
for the gap, me boys, and don't spill
your cherries over. Go, nowr'
They were all only too ready to obey.
Away they skurried. with long leaps,
like frightened rabbits, through the
orchard grass to the break in the wall.
But they did not go beyond it. Up rose
the Deacon on the other side, as cool
so Jerry Barker afterward said-as a
frozen cucumber.
"GOodevening, boys" said he. He
took off his hat as he spoke, and by the
light of the moon the boys could see
that he was making a desperate effort to
keep his face straight. Nov I'm
Hold bn there! StODP'
For Con and Ike Harris had started
to run. They stopped, however. There
was nothing else to do when the Deacon
spoke in that way, and they knew it.
Lets see,' said the Deacon, reach
ing toward Ned Rogers basket, which
was forthwith handed over to him with
great alacrity-" let's see how many
you've got"
He examined every boy load in turn
carefully and in silence. and all the
while the boys looked into each others
faces without speaking. Oh! if the
moon would but 90 under a cloud!
When the Deacon had finished his
inspection, he spoke again, kindly, and
with a pleasant smile:
"Now, boys, I'm much obliged to We.
I've laid out to go to town with load
O truck tomorrow, an. was Won
derin' how I'd get my cherries picked.
Pm RELY obliged to We, and L be more
SO if yell carry 'em to tie house for me-"
Not a boy felt like disobeying. Not
one but silently picked up his burden of
cherries and marched along before the
Deacon to the house and into the porch.
"Set 'em right down here" directed
Deacon Cannon, cheerily, IAN L II see
to 'em fore long. Now, boys, ye've
worked consider bic hard, an you want
some supper. Come in an have some
cherry pie an cheese"
Every boys face said he would rather
die, and there was sound of murmured
negatives.
"Yes you will" said the Deacon;
you've worked well. an deserve your
supper. Right into the kitchen now,
right in! Mothers a-waitin' for ye."
So size was-kind, motherly Mrs.
Cannon. And there was tab e loaded
with goodies waiting for them, too
sandwiches. and plum-cake, and cherry
pie. and cherry tarts, and cherries
cherries everywhere.
"Good-evening," said Mrs. Cannon,
beamng upon the boys.
"Take some chairs" ordered the
Deacon, behind them; "and set right
up and have some cherry pie and sech."
The BOYS wondered whether they
were awake or dreaming as they filed
shamefacedly past Mrs. Cannon, hats
in hand, and took seats at the we'll
spread table.
Nov help yourselves" said the Dea-
cons wife. And each boy in his heart
wondered if she knew, and hoped she
didn't. But they helped themselves
readily enough; and at length, between
the Deacon S funny stories and the deli
cious cherry pie, they came as near to
enjoying themselves as was possible I'M
der the crcumstap
.,Nit oly
said the Deacon, when the boys fin
ished their meal. "Have some cherries?
No cherriesP Ho! no! hor'
"Now, father!' expostulated his wife,
mildly; and then the boys bneW she knew.
81 don't s'pose I'd ought to-" said
the Deacon; and he walked to the head
of the table, and stood there looking
down at his young guests with a queer
little smile. II amt much of a speech
ifier," said he, "but | want to ask you
boys question. Which would We rsth-
er be, when we get ready to take your
fathers places, honest men or roguesP'
Every boy caught his breath. The
old eight-day clock in the corner licked
painfully loud.
THE man II be nigh about the same
as the boy" went on the Deacon.
"Now which'll you be, boys, rogues or
honest menp"
Hon-honest men," cried Con
O'Brien.
Later on he said he couldn't help it,
with the Deacon looking at him, and
the Deacon's wife wiping her glasses
in that anxious way; but he meant it all
the same. And they all followed his
lead, as they ever did, every boy.
That's right" said Deacon Gam