Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1884-06-13

rage. then another and another, and
several pedestrians passed by. The
next stump brought him close to the
ROAD, and, as more people passed, he
could not help perceiving that they
looked at him in a very singular man
ner. Still. no suspicion Of the real
State of things dawned upon him. al
.nough he was aware Of a growing and
undetinable uneasiness.
SO he chopped on, and Charley, in his
circuit, coming to the stump, had Just
uttered a loud Gee-haw! when the Dea-,
on's unified arm and ak were all at
once arrested. Clear, sonorous, there
1eil upon his ears the familiar sound of
q oell. Its own weight, rather than any
mental impulse on the holders part.
made the axe descend; and at this mo-
ment, as though to complete his demor-
ailzation. the minister rode by.
Charley had paused-he could no
possibly help it-and Bill was gazing
at his father with a world of demure
amusement in his glance, when the Dea-
con "planted" his axe and turned to-
wards them.
mchayles," said he, briefly, "what
bell is that:y"
"Ihe church bell, SIR"
what day is this2"
Sunday, sir" meekly responded his
There was a moments silence-si-
renee tar o eloquent than speech. 1t
was broken by the Deacon. "Unhitch
that horse" said he, dryly, "and get
ready for church. Not another word
was spoken. The boys did as they wela
told, and when next they saw their
father he was entering church, rather
late, in all the terrors of his go-to-meet-
ing clothes. If he noticed the quizzical
chances of his neighbors only a deeper
flush than was habitual to his weather
beaten face betrayed it.
Elder Stone preached a very lengthy
and instructive sermon on Lots wife
and the perils of looking back; but I
doubt if the boys heard much of it, I'M
less it might be the rather startling x
%hort2tlon with which it ended. '.Where-
fore, my brethren, said the Elder, ..let
us oil remember Lots wife, and how
highly she was privileged" "Je-
rooky!" whispered Bill to Isaac, 81
shouldn't think it much of aprivilege to
be turned into salt"
But the Deacon's trials were no vet
over. At the close of the services, or,
rather, just before the final hymn, it was
his duty to make an announcement. He
rose, but hardly with his wonted recti-
tude. The cloud of the mornings mis-
take still overshaaowad him.
"Brethren,'' said he, .'our beloved
pastor is still ailing, and we must get
the spiritual mamma for awhile from
other Sources He was aware that he
stammered, but how could he help it,
when all the time there was a rhythmic
accompaniment in his ears of Hitch-up-
the-roan! Burm-up- the stump! DON'T
say-a-word! "It's doubtful if we can
have Brother Stone next Sunday" he re-
sumed. "He'll come if he can, and
we II have meeting, the Lord willing;
but two weeks from to-day We'll have
meeting Whethey' OF no."
There was q faint murmur of sur
prise in the church, which became a
rustic of decorous merriment as the
Deacon, realizing the irreverent absur-
dity of his W words, began to amend
them, stammered, grew red, and alb
ruptly sat down. Whatever explana-
nation he may have given when church
was out, the boys did not wait to hear.
The dinner was excellent, the vari-
Gus guests had appreciative appetites,'
and no allusion was made to the mis-
takes and accidents of the morning.
But as the Deacon helped his oldest son
to roast veal, their eyes encountered.
The younger orbs were more appealing
than victorious; and perhaps to this ab-
sence Of citation, as well as to his own
sense of honor, was due the fact that
Charles Weaver entered the High
School the next Fall.-Ezeomor C. Lewls,
in Christian Union.