The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-04-26
THE DEACON'S 1.-THE.



They had new minister at Seabrook.
One Parson Thornleigh, who had kept the
dock for forty years, had gone to his long
home; and in his stead had CONS an honest,
plain-spohen young divine with an earnest,
fearless eloQuence of his own. And now the
worn door stone of the little gray church on
the hill was once more trodden by feet which
bad long been strangers to it The minister
boarded, having no family, at Deacon Lar
rabee'S
Hes the least bit uncertain on some
points" said the deacon, leaning On his hoe
handle, and talking across the fence to his
,neighbor Gray, who leaned on his hOe-handle
TO hsten-~a bit uncertain But I like him
II do, no mistake; and / believe the Lords
going to bless Us through himP
@Ameni' was neighbor Gray's hearty re-
Spouse.
They hoed dozen hills in silence, their
hoes keeping time TO the merry song Of a
bird in the orchard. Then Mr.. Gray paused
60 wipe the perspiratiOn from his face.
"This hot weathers liable to make sick
ness" said he Il suppose you've heard
chat one of the Widow Sperry's boys is down
with a feverf'
@Sho now you don't say soi' exclaimed
Che deacon commiseratingly. "Make il
hard for her. won't itP
"Yes, particularly when she's so lately lost
her COW. I've been saying that we'd all
ought to take hold and make it up to her
IL I'd more than one cow on my place, /
wouldn't stand to talk long, now, tell you
but lost my two best ones last spring. II
hadn't
1t might have been urintentional that,
suddenly facing about, Mr.. Gray threw his
glance toward the hill pasture where his
neighbOr's cows were quietly feeding. At
all events, the deacon could scarcely help
noticing the action And he understood its
pvrport An uneasy flush mounted to his
face as he struck vigorously into the next
hill
@She ought TO have kept her cow out of
the road Ny cattle never get into the mill
pond and drown If they should 1 would
not expect anybody to make EN- up to me.
She'd no more call, had the widow to let
her COW run, than I'd have to turn my
whole drove out"
ats pretty hard case, nevertheless" said
Mr.. Gray.
And then the fragmentary conversation,
tossed piece-meal back and forth across the
fence as the neighbors went steadily on with
their work, drifted into other channels
There had been an interested listener to
the colloquy narrated above. On the shady
side OF the wall which separated Deacon
Larrabee's orchard and cornfield, sat, book
In hand, the Rev. Mr. Weston He arose,
IS the chat which fioated to his hearing be-
gan to be Of crops and haying, and walked
slowly away along the orchard path, with
. thoughtful smile upon his face.
That night, when the deacon took thu
shining milk pals from the dresser and pro-
ceeded to the farm yard, the young clergy.
man followed him He stood leaning
against the bars, watching the yellow stars
come out in the sky and looking abroad over
the deacon's possessions, shadowy now, but
substantial enough by daylight
You are a prosperous man, deacon"
A smile of satisfaction overspread the
deacon's comtenance as he stood for a mo-
ment patting the sleek neck of a favorits
COW.
well yea" said he; 4but I've made my
calf. 4 pig and pitchfork, sir, was all ]
had to begin with
~How does your neighbor Gray get
alongl'
@Grayi well, truth to tell, he'll never be
forehanded If he lives to the age Of Methuse-
lab. He's hard-working man enough, but
the way its / can't tell you; there's never Q
poor creature comes into our town that
doesn't head direct for John Gray's. Must
be instinct teaches 'em, for he gives to 'sm
ell, deserving or not l believe he'd take
che coat of his back IL twas needed He's Q
good neighbor-a good neighbor; but he'll
never get anything to speak Of ahead.p
sBut lay up for yourselves treasures In
heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth
corrupt, and where thieves do not break
through and steal" quoted the minister.
YES, yes; but if / mind me right the good
book says something, too, about providing
Cor ones own housshold-shc