Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1884-05-23
pr1grrau pxxxrrrs YsUTHTrI
CATAsTEOPaE

Our nisfortunes are sometimes angels
in dlsQuise, bat they are not always thus
apparslled. Irano Utility under arIic-
ton cannot be commanded IN every
event of life. however necessary II may
be Oh all occasions to strive after tnat
quanimity which becomes a man or
woman, no matter bow severe may DE-
che present trial of patience snd forth
tnde. Listen to the unhapgy story OF
Peietiah, the son of Orrln n. Perrit'
of South LIt.leton, a. related By him
self:
In the remem brauce OF some SORROWS
whatever the duration of lifs, We never
outQro ourselves. Wher ever a'tefnp'
10 recall the incidents IN my somewhat
exceptional career, one particular DAY
OF nov existence rises up before me md
will not be forgotten. or even liRntenFo
of It's burden Of pain. With shame
and confusion | look back on TIE past
for one terrible day of Risom oVeIshad
0vs 10Y career and obscGres tue sunny
hours which IN the course OF nature
come At intervals 20 every male anu ie
male descendant of Adam. i can think
with calmnsss, even With indinershce'
of many sad circumstances that have
Df4IAlIfA f@'s
peril and horror-but that particular
disaster to which | refer hes elotted OUT
ali feeling with regard 20 other scene.
that might, DISCONNECTED from IN grdpo
catastrophe. have dark ned "A lifetime.
On that had died young. while yet r
stranger to pubic Identification! - y
mortihcation TO "uubrtcs the strongt 81
nerves. and MAKE the stoutest c1uragr
quaii"'
Tie day Of ny calamity. forty year,
ago, daxned ike many another DAY 10
ripe October. The morning that usA-
cred In the Sunday on which ! was 1"
sufier was one of radiant lOveliness, Ano
the trees seemed hanging out their ban
ners as | walked along alone TO oni
modest little house of Worship III TIE
country. ali of beauty. How Well re
call the scene Of surpassing briiianc,
ON that gorgeous autumn morninE. !
| had started early, that | might move
slowly over the road, and, ailured nv
the splendid lights and shadows, made
a detour of over mile beyond tue
church, Ia the direction Of beauuiu
| hillside, on one of whose slopes resided
my fathers lifelong friend, " olouel
BIiah Peabody" az he WAS univer
sally denominated IN that part OF thu
country.
The Colonel was standing by hrs gar.
den gate, enjoying the quiet security 4
that peaceful sunday morning. iii
pipe rested bet tween his lips, aud omit
ted only at intervals a gentle pun 81
smoke. Seeing me approaching from
the woody roadside, he looked heart.
welcome and exclaimed:
Glad to see We, P,.rtiIu. How y
Your father and all Ihe folks To homer
answered his inquiry and decline'
his earnest invitation To d" " Tx III, as
was hurrying to ths meeting house 10
morning service.
"Well,' then said the old man, "th
least ye can do Is to take alol g cou
Pile of bottles of my best cider 10 you
father, who il laid ~ to home w,tl
rheumatizun."
Now, il there was one liquid in the
world that father henkered after wheI
he did not feel lex tctly smart" IL WA
the Coloners bottled cider in October
for he said Peabody's was better thai
his'n or anybody else cId r in the who,'
country"
At fret | hesitatei about taking aloni
the delectable fluid. for | should hav,
to convey 1t III 10y coat tail pocket
TO church with me. aud elnde, As bes
might, the vigilant eyes of Deacon
rreadwell and old Miss Patience Lib
by, both of whom sat III full sight o
our pew.
However, when the Colonel, who saw
my reluctant response TO his invitation
exclaimed, Don't be proud. Peiellah.
hastily pocketed the cider, and, think
ing of fathers prospective delight a
dinner, with his favorite liquid, movet
forward with alacrity over the hillside
to meeting.
The bell had ceased tolling when
arrived at the door, but waited utsid,
until after the first prayer, aud the gid
ed noisslessiy on my toes into ths fan1il
pew. Nv brother aud sistt had alread
taken their seats, leaving my place I'M
occupied against my arrival. Mothe
remained at home to keep our dear oil
father company in his suffering, an,
read the most comforting chapters II
the Bible to him, daring his worst par
oxysms.
NV long walk had predisposed me t,
slumber, bat stood up as usual IL
singing time,' cutting in with ful
force when We came to And that shal
kindle ours" IN tue proper place fo
the ienor voices. heard the minlste
announce his text, and followed hin
into his secondly" when NV mine
wandered, and a prejudiced individut
would probably have charged me will
being asleep. ] reused myself warlly
however, chewed bit of fenuel. ani
put on n look of intense satisfaction
with the discourse.
Suddenly | became aware of move
ment in the direction of one of my coat
tails. A freezing horror chilled IN,
person from head to foot, and | knew
then that 10 WAS the cider getting ready
to explode in my left hand pocket. Fu
u moment tried TO summon up an ap
pearance of unconcern, as II the deto
mating sound came from some other L.
oaiity; but Its proximity could not lot
be disguised. Immediate exposure wa
inevitable.
Should | instantly fly from the pew
before the cider had time To do II
worst? deliberated u moment, but
was too late. One crash, and my fat
was sealed. In all my experience will
corks. | never heard one leave the necl
of n bottle with sound like that. Tn
noise was terrific la its violence. and, I,
my disordered fancy, shook the meetinl
house. The minister stopped short II
his sermon and glanced around Devil
dered. Two small disreputable BOYS il
the gallery collapsed with delight. Any
thing TO put an end to the sermon WI
nuts to them" and they az once fairl,
etfersesced with happiness over my mis-
cry, but their etiervcscence WAS no
thing 10 that which WAS going on in ON
VICINITY. With one mighty bound tn
"pent up Utica" of cider. with no curl
to stop II, tore into the air above on
pew aud lesped headlong over my shnul