Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1886-02-25
X LINE FENCK.

\ STOUT, DlGdSdhb ttSNa "N"ch w "'N'A'
he spoke paused in the doorway with
her bare arms twisted into her calico
apron, and regarded the offenders mild
| ly.
They were struggling through one OF
the numerous gaps in the broken down
fence which separated Mr.. Longs gar
den from that of his neighbor, Alvia
| Talcott-a procession of nine, clucking
IN a grooming way and stepping high.
They came on with composed delibera-
tion, pausing among the cucumbers
with contemplative air, skirting the
radishes after a dissatisfied survey, and
settling down at last among the toma-
toes with chorus of victorious clucks.
1T amt going to do said Mr.. Long,
wiping disturbed face with his old
red silk handkerchief. Il amt going
to stand it,
1t amt likely he's thought Of it,
said his vile, TRANQUILITY.
He can't think Of nothing but that
pesky crochet business rejoined Mr..
Long, jerking his head toward his
neighbor's yard, from which the sound
of voices and the click of mallets pro-
reeded. Il amt going to stand still
and get ate out Of house and home by
nobcdy's hens, il you be-
oh, laws. Elias = Mrs. Long began,
in easy remonstrance; but her husband
had seized an old tin dlpper from the
porch-shelf, and was making for the
somato-patch as fast as his sixty years
would permit. There was wild cack-
ling and scattering as he threw his Dip
per into the midst Of the scratching
flock, pursued them unrelentingly to
the furthest possible point, and leaned
exhaustedly against the sunken gate of
the delap:dated fence. It was sunkeu
| with the weight of the many friendly
chats held across it since the long-ago
period of it's erection; chats held at all
times of day and upon all subjscts-
politics, moving machines, fertilizers,
sewing societies, crochet patterns,
raised cake receipts, etc.
Mr.. Talcott's crochet ground was be-
fore him. Mr.. Talcott himself stood
near, leaning the weight of his small
and wiry person on his mallet his hat
over one ear, his cheerful. round face
shining with eagerness, his whole atti-
tude expressive of watcbful aud pro-
found absorption.
His eyes were fixed upon tie lD"g
figure of Bart Collicut, the champion
crochet-player of the town, who stood
at the other end of the ground in the
act Of striking. Old DR.. Blair, upon
whose ball he was preparing to operate,
regarded him seriously from his retire
ment on the well-stone little Mr.. Nc
Quirk, who had stepped across from
his grocery to taxa fourth hand, and
who was keeping al eye on that edifice,
fid yed about i'm nervous apprehension
and dangerous proximity to the up
raised malleJ.
Mr.. Long surveyed the scene with
displeasure. He bad, originally, strong
ly disapproyed of Mr.. Talcott's crochet
| ground. He had not been sure that
| crochet was not on a level with'keerdS'
an6 gambling; and that deacon of TIE
church and member of the town
council should countenance and en-
courage such inlquity was subject for
grave reflection.
From this-after frequent glimpses
and occasional considerations of the
game, over the felce-he had softened
to the opinion that it was waste Of
time AID pack of foolishness falling
gradually into the habit, despite bis
convictions, of observing it regularly
graduating from the fence to Mr.. Tai
cott's door step, and thus acquiring a
tolerable knowledge IF its baleful
methods. He bad even been known to
manifest an interest in the game, to
tender advice in crisis, to give his
opinion upon disputed point, to join
in applause of good stroke. But he
had always considered that his pres
ence was something Of d reproof and
restraint. Just now, as lie stood frown-
ing down the long bewicketed ground,
nothing could have convinced him that
he had ever retreated in the least from
his primal attitude Of rigorous disap-
proval.
L declare for il = said Mr.. Talcott,
exultingly, as the Doctors ball came
bowling into the corner; we're getting
right along !! Come in,' he went on
affably, turning to Mr. Long. 1T looks
as though we'd fix 'em this time, eh p
Mr.. Long shifted his position.
You'll have to keep them hens of
yourn to home,' he said. They're
spelling my garden jest about as fast
as they can manage it,
Mr.. Talcott's smiling face hardened
It was not the first time his neighbor
had mentioned the hens though never
hitherto with SO much decision.