The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1886-01-29

4 tlV
she was, she was sure she vas the OBJ
ject OF their mirth.
Both mother and daughter were
members OF one of the village churches,
which they managed to keep about
half tho time in hot water with their
complaints. Each successive pastor,
down to the last incumbent, dreaded
the sight OF the widows old white
horse hating at the parsonage, for he
knew he was in all probability to hear
of adereliction on the part ofsome lie.
Deacon Hall, who had to pass her
house on his way to the village, used
to hurry up to avoid being called in
and asked some such qlestion as:
What kind of q Christian spirit he
thought it showed in brother Gabriel
to sell sugar that fell four ounces
in nine pounds?" or t.Did he think it
was the way one church member
should serve another, an a woman
an q widow at that, for Zenas Wise
to buy her calf for eight dollars, when
he knew Aaron Teeplegott ten forhis'n,
and hers was worth overy cent DIS
much?n
But one week the Widow Hatch and
Almira Sophia were not in their accus-
toned places in the weekly prayer
meeting, and the following Sunday
their pew in church was vacant at
both morning and evening service, an
occurrence SO almost unprecedented
that early in the week Deacon Hall
called to inquire as to it's cause.
We'll" said his wife on his return,
(which is sick, Mis- Hatch or Almira
Sophia"
Neither Of 'em,' was the curt re-
ply and then the deacon sank into his
favorite chair with an audible groan.
4No, Loyila, the widow says some
body, but she didn't tell who, had
been slandering 'em, an she cried, an
said that she didn't think after she
and Alinira Sophia had lived here all
their lives, an tried to- be respectable
women and always paid their dues
to the church. that they would
be treated like this; she said she
knew there was some in the church felt
above her, but she hadn't paid any
attention to that, and that she and
Almira Sophia had been sighted and
overlooked, and put upon time an
again, but she had overlooked that
but to be slandered by her own church
members was a little too much, and
not herself alone; she might have borne
that, but her fatherless child-und she
and Almira Sopoia felt that under the
circumstances it was impossible for
them to go to that church any longer,
and had concluded to ask for letters
Of dismissal"
And what did Almira Sophia say?"
Il suppose she'd have said the same
thing, for she's her mothers echo, but
l didn't see her at all. Mis- Hatch
said she was completely crushed. She
hoped, but she vas afraid she'd never
be the same again she was before
But what is the SANDER? Pm sure
1 havn't heard anything
"Nor | neither. When / asked her
she said it was too public for her to
need to repeat. it. | should think"
with a momentary twinkle Of his eye,
"by the fuss she made that it must be
pretty bad, either murder or arson or
burglary at least
The deacon was a mild-mannered
man, Of great propriety of conduct
and speech, but after a moments
pause he exclaimed:
Hang it all, ! wish they would 60,
then maybe / could have a little peace
of my life. Only last winter there was
arrow because Mrs. Spence took her
little boy out Of Almira Sophia's Sun
day school class into her own, and |
had to get that Strengthened out: and
not many months ago | had to 90 to
the new minister and tell him that
Sister Hatch saw him 60 to Harvey
Apps twas all on business, too} an
she felt very much hurt, and didn't
know what she'd done, that the new
minister should go right past her to
call on the other church members"
And as the deacon's feelings rose
withthe retrospect, he exclaimed with
added emphasis; 81 hope they will 60
dumbed i l don't!!"
Algonac was II little country village,
where when any pebble of incident
dropped into it's quiet surface, the re-
sulting agitation quickly reached its
outer border. So it was soon known
the Widow Hatch and Almira Sophia
had stopped attending church, and
were going to withdraw from it. be
cause they had been slandered by the
members, and that the widow had
been ominousIy heard to remark that
"if some people didn't look out they'd
have the law taken to ..hem."
The Islander formed the center OF
postofice gossip, and furnished the
principal topic at the sewing society;
indeed, n or twotea parties weregiv-
en- on the strength of it, and any mum
Der OF afternoon and evening calls.
A leading member OF the opposite
church ifoi Algonac boosted only two
denominations, commonly known
from the color OF their euiiices. as the
Brown and "White Church. be.
tween whom existed the bitter rivalry
too often seen in small villages1 was
reported to have said that she was
not a bit surprised; but always had
kher opinion about some of those
church, people. if they did
act as though they thouglftthemselves
saints. And the Blown church
ministe. publicly thanked the Lore
that peace and hrrn,ony reigned
among them, and that the. voice .
false accusation was not heard il
their tent OF Zion To which tho
white church" people retorted that
they hoped they would never beguilty
OF thu narrow, s~ectarian, self-slorrfy.
ing spirit which characterized the
Brown church,
And as the result. a union-meeting
which had been started and was prom.
ising to bring the two churches into
u closer bond OF unity, WAS broken M
and the old root OF bitterness between
them took new and vigorousgrowth
The adolescent lawyer who adhuns
out his sign in Algonac, and was byno
means overwhelmed with clients, per
ceptibIy frightened at the mention o
a libel suit, and not only read up The
law on such cases, but went so far as
to stroll out past the widows house