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


Mrs. Deacon Lewis and Mrs. Davis,
the postmistreas, we're conferring to-
gether in mysterious whispers as they
leaned over their mutual backyard
fence. Said Mrs. Deacon Lewis
'sHeein' is believin' or else / 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 for the alpaca, but kind of got
an idea that there was Romethln' in the
wind and Thought meb be Icould find
out what It was there-and there l saw
il with my own two eyes. all over plat
ms and ruffiin's that it seemed q burnin'
shame to cut up good thick silk into,
and fixed up in the back soft 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, 'Yol don't say
so r and says she, Yes, do and then
she pursed her lips up kind of pro
vokin', as If che could tell great deal
more II she was a mind to. But Pv,
got wit enough to put two and two to-
gether. il folks is close-mouthed, and
says I, right out-for there amt nothin'
sly about me- says I, Then Oordilly
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 sing lar year,
what with the comet and the terrible
Happenings all round; and now Ooidilly
Brewster eettin' up to have green silk
dress. when she hasn't worn anything
but bombazihe 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 snch 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 il be If it isn't the minister"
ct 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. should
think more likely twas somebody that
she picked up when she was down to
Haverhill visitin', or John Parmenter,
that used to keep company with her
when they was young, and has kind O.
been doin' it, of and on, ever sence."
'Oh, she wouldn't have John Par
menter, even if he had spunk enough
to ask her, which he hain't. He is a
good fellow, John is, but he'll never set
the world a6re, 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 can't
really believe it's the minister. There's
Sammy; let's ask him.
Sammy Greeley, the ministers 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. DAyis' Reckoning 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 q
climb" and he and his three brothers
Moses, Hosea and Joseph, caused the
old proverb concerning ministers sonI
to be often repeated with somnle head
shakings by the townspeople.
Sammy, is your father goin' to b'
married ?" asked Mrs. Davis, with he
hand affectionately placed ON Sammy
shoulder.
"The old CENT? He couldn't remem
Der to. Nobody would have him
either. He's as bald as door-knob
and he asks a blessin' anywhere alonI
between the meat and the puddin'. Ant
Joe and me would fix her, anyhow"
"Wouldn't you like to have hir
marry a nice, kind lady like Miss Con
dilly Brewster? She would teach 20
how TO behave