The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-12-05
THE THREE DRAGONS
And the Widow Rosebush.
BY LUCIEN ARNOLD.

Deacon Crowfut, Deacon Toles and Deacon Pyncheon sat in little room back ot Deacon Crowfut's grocery Thanksgiving eve. They were solemn old fellows. who had been boys together Deacon roles followed the sea for many a yen, while Deacon Pvncheon was go .r on the PAci6c slope, and Deacon Gro ~- fut stayed in the little village among the Connecticut hills and kept grocery, with bar in this little back-room where the three men sat. They were none ot them deacons then but Deacon Crowfut expe rienced a change of heart when he ,as about fifty, and became shining B lptist light; anu Deacon roles appeared one day from the other side of the world, and announced that he had come back to stay, and begulled his iole hours by court ing Hester Ann Pyncheon, spinster, who declared she could never wed an unre- generate soul, and in consequence the wanderer was gathered into the Metho dist fold, and took on the matrimonia yoke, and became staid and sober minded citizen, as much by virtue, so the z )ssips sad, of Hester Ann's sharp and constant admonitions as by the influences of the church and as for good Deacon Pyucheon, he had always been deacon from his early manhood; of tall and aa- gular shape, with long and doleful cast of visage, bachelor ota the most hope less type, he attended meeting regularly at the Congregational house, and though h never member, was always spoken of As Deacon Pyncheon in his native village ot Northampton, as he had been in C CAIlfor- mia, on the plains, and ia every other place where he had ever been named at all. In person Deacon Crowfut was shott and stout, with round mouth, and round blue, prominent eyes, pug nose and bulging forehead. He married a thin and slender lady, Miss ThylzA Jane Moseiy that was, in early life, and re signed himself 10 her guidance aud guardianship without struggle. Deacon Toles was broad aud squat in figure, aud very strong in local pontlcs, and greatly given to argument with every living per- son save and except his spouse, Hester Ann.
 1t was going toward nins o'clock. The store was nearly empty, with only now and then beiated customer, and tue stove in the ltltle bAck-room had a jolly fire in it, and the cider in the pitcher T which stood on the long disused "oar '' . had been under the watchiul care oi Deacon Crswfut for a couple ot years and was rich, mello v, fruiIy tipple of a potency not 10 be despised !; De icon roles and Deacon Pyncheon were smoking de- corous long stalled pipes w.th much gray ity, and Deacon Crowfut had newly. lighted cigar in the exact center of his L.tie round O of mouth, and the three cronies were collectively in a state oI great comfort and tranq uillty, as they lis tened to the raw November wind outside and occasionally lifted the cider mugs to xheir mouths.
 Been 2 putty comftable kind of a year, take IL all round," sad Deacon Toles, as he sat his mug back on tue bar, and stoppered the ashes in his pipe with the stumpy little 6ager of his let, hand. The L ,rd has blessed this sec. tion of the country in basket and in store and guess the most on us kin feel tha, we've somethin' to be thankful fur to. morrer."
 "Wal, yis," said Deacon Pyncheon, blowing long cloud. "l guess there . won't many here in Northampton go hungry much alter meetins out Thanks. .4ivin' day. We've had putty fair sea. ron, take it all round an' good fall for git&in' things in. P.ice of tob acker . hinder low, but. take 1t all round, things Ane been putty fair"
 l1y irAdes hen' all could expectn
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