The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1883-07-04
LOVE IN ASHES.

"scant of nine, and the wash.
ing all out" mused thrifty Mrs.
Clutter as she scrubbed the porch.
"Deacon, I'll get you to set the big
tub down cellar, if you will"
Certain, wife," responded the
the deacon from his curt in the
door-yard.
"Thqre comes Kendall's new bas-
ket wagon with two women in it"
pursued the lady, wringing her
mop. "Isn't that the horse that
balks2'
Being in the critical act Of
emptying a four gallon bucket of
soap, the good man vouchsafcd no
reply. When the jeIlied mass had
quivered and splaShed into the
barrel in waiting he looked up
just in season to see the gay little
pony shy at the cart and go tear-
ing down the road.
"They'll upset. They'll be kill.
ed! Run after 'em! Do something!"
shrieked Mrs. Clutter.
"Don't get excited, wife; they're
all right now. That girl drives
like a man."
And picking up his bucket, the
moderate deacon marched off for q
second supply Of soap. But though
the little incident had failed to
shake his nerves, it did make him
obliyious Of his wife's wash tub
poised on the landing Of the dim
stairway, and as a natural conse-
quencehe put his foot in it, The
tub rolled; the deacon swayed like
a pestle in a mortar; there was a
lively succession of dumbs, follow.
ed by a clatter and a thud, and
deacon, tub and bucket strewed
the cellar floor.
"Adab and Abihu| ojacula.cd
the fallen saint, with sinful ener-
gy.
"What's up, uncle?" cried an
anxious voice overhead.
81 can tell you what's down."
was the grim response. Come and
brace me while l try to step"
The owner Of tho voice, a fine.
looking youth Of one.and-twenty,
was already cropping his way
among the debris, his aunt in the
rear with the camphor.
The deacon attempted locomo.
tion resulted in a groan.
81 must have sprained my ankle,
Harvey. II I'd postponed this tub
race till after I'd been my rounds,
'twould have been better calcula.
tion."
"0h, I wouldn't worry about my
rounds, uncle. What's the hurry?"
"My customers expect me to-day,
that's my point. l hate mastery
to break my word. Now there's
the widow Cleaves waiting for me
to take her ashes, so she can scrub
after me with the boiling suds, and
up at Kendall's they're clean out
of soap"
"And not clean without it, eh?''
laughed the young man. "see
here, uncle; since you are going to
feel SO uneasy about disappointing
the people, why not send me in
your stoad2"
"You, in your fine clOthesl ]
should smile," mumbled Mrs. Chut.
Ter, with the stopper Of the cam
phor bottle between her teeth.
"Why can't my uncle's mantle
fall upon me, auntie2 l was in
tending to borrow the frock."
"Well, if l do say it, you've got
the Vance common.sense. Some
young men Of your bringing W
would be ashamed to drive a soar
cart"
"Humphl Some young mer
would be FOOLS" said the deacon
with warmth. "Nobody has any
call to bo ashamed to deliver such
soap as l make. If you've a mind
to run the team to-day, Harvey,
shall be obleegod to you"
Fifteen minutes later the worthy
deacon was extending his aching
length upon the sitting room
lounge, and gazing through the
open window after HE youthful
proxy, who, duly initiated into the
mysteries Of the calling, was driv.
ing away in the big blue cart. Bo.
hind innncnd and creoked mn ANN