The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1885-05-30

so; but the Tucker farm was forty miles
away across the hills, the stage fare
was an item to be considered, and his
wife always received his remarks on
the subject in silence. Without much
thought about the matter, he had con-
cluded that Matilda was prejudiced
against his adopted sister, and was Sc
cretly vexed; for Martha was the only
one of his many relatives who had not
demanded some favor of him.
II don't want to 90 a-cousining,'
said Mrs. Elderberry, with unconscious
sarcasm.
you've never had chance" said
Mr.. Elderberry, dryly. ''But we've got
to leave town before Sunday. We will
only stay a few days, and | think Mar
| tina will be glad to see us.
Mr.. fuckers desire to accumulate
money, with his wife's desire to be
known as perfect housekeeper, had
never been checked by childish fingers,
and Mrs. fuckers naturally unsympa-
thetic temper had hardened into some
thing very frosty indeed. To unpin her
| nice beds, and have her chairs thrust
into new places, above all to have extra
| cooking going on. and her orderly plans
frustrated, irritated her If she had
known her cousins were coming, she
would have schooled. herself little;
| but, as it was, she saw them descend
from the stage with ill-concealed dis
may, and greeted them with the eXcla-
nation: Il never didn Il wish | had
brought my sermon on the fultillment
of the law" said Mr.. Elderberry that
night to his wife. martha says that
leland Vodecker breaches at East Gyp-
sum. | remember him and think he
keeps up his Hebrew" But the next
morning Mr.. Tucker hitched up his
colt, and with his wife started for the
ost Office three miles away. 1t was
noon when they returned, 50 the alb
scence of the sermon on the law was of
no consequence. In the meantime the
maid of all work had gone out to visit
the wife of the hired man, and. in her
hurry, had left the kitchen door open.
The hens took advantage of the oppor-
tunity, and hoped in quietly till the
| place was full of them. BY some cur
ious instinct, Mrs. Tucker OWNED their
presence the moment she entered the
| house. There s folks who wouldn hear
a whole mcnagerie in the next roomn'
she exclaimed, scornfully, after Il vigor-
Gus use of the broom. It's precious
few times IRE ever been away from
home; but when / have Pre- worked
myself to skin and bones"
At bottom Mrs Elderberry was a very
determined woman, and when she said
that evening: Jonas, | shall take the
stage tomorrow for FIintville," her
husband knew better than to oppose
| her. Two days afterward, when he had
resolved to follow her, he received the
| following note from her:
You must contrive, dear Jonas, to remain
| away from home the four Sundays. In the
! Orthodox organ for this week it says: MIR.
| Jonas Eldcrberry, the pastor Of that bulwark
| of the faith, the FlintVilc Church. is spend
| ing his vacation trout-fShing. All our pas
| tors can not, we know, enjoy this diversion;
| but let each one draw near to Natures heart
| instead of hunting up some pulpit to supply
| while his church has generously given him
| time to rest.
I'm the Flntvile Clarion is the following:
| We have understood from parties qualified,
| it would seem, to give information on the
| subject that our highly esteemed towns
| man, Mr.. Elderberry unless some unusual
| circumstance should expedite his retGrn.
| will spend his vacation in the exercise of the
| piscatOrial art
After spending the night in painful
consideration, Mr.. Elderberry deter
mined to 90 to East Gypsum, and find
cheap boarding-place, where, free
from the distractions that beset the
parsonage, he might write out some
verses that were singing in his head,
and thus pay expenses. He had weeded
onions all day Monday. and stemmed
currants all day TuesdHv, and felt that
in sense he had paid his board. But
he was conscious that Mr.. Tucker and
possibly Martha felt that he was, as
| they phraSed it, diving on them. " and
to remain longer was impossible.
Il s'pose You'll have vacation every
year, now your church has got started, ="
said Mr.. Tucker when Mr.. Elderberry
announced his intended departure.
You'd better come out in the country
again. You can board cheap, or work
for your board, if you want to. I'd
take We. | slid think 'twould do We
good TO git up an stir round after
takin' it easy year.
Arrived at East Gypsum, Mr.. Elder
berry was directed to the house of Mrs
Mullen, who, it was said, desired one
| more boarder He was met at the door
by an elderly woman, who proved to be
Mrs Mullen, Senior.
Board? Yes. Professional man?