Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1888-01-20

, DIS lOrce ana spirit were given 10 Oe
ing entirely and intensely religious
On this particular, Sunday, which
the Deacon had set apart as the day
for expostulating with the erring sis
ter, Louis walked home from morning
preaching with graver air than usual
and as soon as he entered the house
called for his implements of deliver
ance.
Gran mere, give me my stool
bring ME my desk, hand down the
Bible. and-merci Let US pray"
"But we havn't had dinner yet
and 4 bsalom. Eel be expecting q pot
pie aal couple O. chickens timidly
demonstrated the stitf-necked sister
He lransfxed fixed he With a
glance, VANITY Of vanities, saith
the preacher. Woman, let US prayr
The woman prayed; at least she
bowed her head with loosened bon net
strings and troubled countenan nee,
and he prayed
Then he sang hymn.
Then he gave out his text: Vanity
of vauities, saith the preacher, vanity
of vanities; all is vanity" and in her
inmost soul sister Wiggins knew that
all was over for the chickens and pot.
pie that day.
1t was toward the close of this
lengthy and somewhat complicated
version of the mornings sermon that
Deacon Botsford knocked and was ad
mitted.
Perhaps the sisters patience had
been tried little harder than usual,
or perhaps she felt it due to her self
respect 10 make up to the Deacon for
what she had yielded to "Lou.ee" "
However that was. the worthy
brother inwardly quaked before her
lofty c0untenance aud majestic mien.
Louis had come out Of his religious
! feryor little heated and somewhat
weary, and never once spoke while
the Deacon remained, appearing TO be
quite content in satisfying those long
iugs of the flesh with the usual pieces
Of orange peel and cinnamon drops,
which the Deacon supplied with freer
hand than was his wont.
Indeed, bis supply was quite ex-
hausted, and he was beginning to de-
spair of ever being able to ease his
conscience of the load it had accumu-
lated when Sister Wiggius paused in
her deliberate sweep to and fro across
the sanded floor, saying. Il s'pose
you'll have some dinner with Us.
Deacon, such as tits. Absalom's out
tending to the sick heifer, but l ex-
pect he'll be in afore long"
Then the anxious Deacon rose to
his feet, fairly quivering with the in
tense excitement of that critical mo-
ment.
mo, Sister Wiggins," be said,
an not deceive you; | did not come
here to break bread with yon today
The object OF this visit is something
that has laid heavy on my conscience
this many day. That is. your ear
trumpet"
He paused.
"My-ear-trumpet!" slowly re-
peated the sister, half believing that
she must be dreaming. "My-ear-
trumpet What is that to you?"
Why, you see." replied the Dea-
con, finding it little difficulty to ex-
plain, but determined to go through
with it at any cost, "why. you see,
the fact is, some of the brethren and
me- have been talking this matter
over, and not wishing to be in no
ways harsh, we calculated that the
matter might be compromised by
making it little less-a little less
exclusive, we might say. Now
there's one or two of the other sisters
in the Church that can hardly hear
what the parson says. Sister Price
is too poor to buy q trumpet, and Sis
ter Stebbins is saying money to buy
a monument, and We calculated that
it would only be showing a proper
spirit if you was to let one or the
other of them take the trumpet when
you wasn't using it,"
Sister Wiggins stood aghast. They
had struck at the root Of her vanity,
and the shock sent the colur from her
fair round face and rendered her
speechless. Sne would have given
up the ear-trumpet entirely, she
would have sacrificed it on Pyra-
mid of Vanities with JUNCTION if re-
quired TO do so; but make it CON-
mon thing, o thing to be passed from
hand to hand and from ear to ear, q
thing without individuality, mere
article of convenience for the multi
tude-neverl And the Deacon, watch
ing ber returning color and her tight
enipg lips. knew that the devil was
not vanquished, but aroused.
Have you got through, Deacon
Botsford?" at last spoke Sister Wig
gins in an ominously low voice; "be-
cause if you haven't wouldn't wish
to interrupt you; but if you have. per-
haps you'll just allow me to say that
the ear.trumpet's mine, bought with
the money from my own fleece, aud
that | don't intend to give it up to
please the envy of any body"
Sister Virgins. Sister Wiggins,"
expostulated the Deacon. making a
movement with his hands as if he
would save not only her soul but his
own from being trampled under foot;
Sister Virgins, Sister Wiggins, let
me entreat you to consider what you
say; let me admonish you to remem-
ber that the Book says pride must
have fall; let me implore you turn
from this highway of destruction and
seek the narrow way"
But the sister remained ODD ,rately
silent, and the Deacon went on again
with scarcely y pause:
81 speak not for myself, not for my
own benefit You who know me
must allow that never give my mite
in the hope of returns. am here
pleading for the salvation of one that
is dearer to me than life; and may the
Lord forgive me for saying it, but I'd
give my own soul to the devil to make
sure that yours was saved!'
The Deacon fled with groan, and
the widow sank into chair, quite
helpless from the shock of his last
words.
On Saturday afternoon, between