The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1890-09-20

| t1at II is stopped. we owe IL 10 TIC
perfection of innocent young gals, an
we mustn't be Altered to do our duty.
Can't nobody say that Parthena Per
kins ever Stunned heI duty, Parthena
said, with a derislve nod of her small
round head. an if the is anything do
better'n anything else it is to pint out
to people their failin's en- help 'em to
get right.
| can say the same, chimed IN Mrs.
Huff, an Pm ready to 20 this minute
to do what's best towards Jane Martin.
l know that something ought 10 be
DONE
An me, too, Surllda said, but I'm
not settled IN my own mind how'd be
best to proceed.
Wal, Mrs. Hawkins remarked though
fully | reckon as good a way as any
would be to see Miss Martin and talk
to her about it. She's a curious sort
o'Critter, and fares up monstrous bad
When anybody goes 10 talkin' to her
about her fallin's, but l reckon we
oughtn't ter mind that so long as we feel
easy IN our own souls, an know we're
dom it fer her own good.
She's powerful ungratetul, though,
Parthena said, fer | remember the time
committee Of US went to see her an
pint out to her that was commitin Nv
a sin by not tendin' up to church, an
she flares right up and says as how
she knows her own business, an
thinks it amt much worse to stay away
from meetin' than it is to 60 pokin'
erbout meddin' with things that don
consarn US.
She was mighty friendly an mind
though, Surilda commented, till we
teched on the we came fer.
Yes, she was. But that amt neither
here nor there. We must do somein'
an as there amt nothin' better to do
s'spose we pint committee to wait
on Mis- Martin, an warn her o the
way James carryin' on with the new
| teacher, an tell her she'd best turn him
off an let him hunt another boardin'
place.
This proposition was agreed to un-
animously, and accordingly, after con-
siderable further exchange of ideas,
| Surllda, Pdrthena snd Mrs. Gilley were
elected as a committee to wait on poor
Mrs Martin.
The next day was selected as the
time for the committee to make their
visit, for as Mrs. Huff said, there wasn't
no time to waste.
Accordingly, at an early hour the
next morning, Parthena and Mrs. Gilly
met Surilda at her own house, and to-
gether the three ladies started out on
their mission of kindnesS and mercy.
As they passed the Hawkins place Mrs.
Hawkins came out and Mrs. GilIey
stopped for few words with her, while
Surilda ank Pdrthena walked lelsurely
on. They were no sooner out Ct hear
ing of Mrs. Gilly than Parthena said.
! wish they'd left Miss Gilley outen
the committee. l don't feel Just right
a-goin' along with sich as her to other
folks about their shortcomings, do you.
Surilda2
No, don't for everybody knows that
Sam Gillev amt worth KILN aside,
man as sells as many sheepskins as he
| does thought eyer ownin' sheep,
don't pear to me to be STRICTLY honest,
an it might appear to Miss Martin as
how we're mighty hard off for fitten'
women to serve on a committee when
sich likes as her is chosen.
Just then Mr.. Gilley came up, and
the subject was changed, and, the ladies
walked on they chatted as pleasantly as
three honest souls ever did.
Mrs. Martin received them gracIously
and invited them into the best room,
which was quite dignity. Parthena
was selected as spokeswoman, and after
few commonplace remarks she came
to the point by saying:
Mis- Martin, we've come on an er
rand of mercy, an hope YOU won't feel
cut up about nothing we say, fer it's
all fer the best an fer you own good.
Yistidy. up TO Mis- Hawkins wool
pickin we fell to talkin' O this an, that,
an then we got to speakin' on the new
teacher, an one thing led on to another
till, finally, it come out that people wus
havin' room to talk, ever if no:hin' bad
wasn't meant, SO we we thought you
ought to know, an we've came as
committee to warn you to be on your
guard.
Do l understand you to say that
people are liable to talk about James
conduct toward Robert?
That's what tried to say, Mis- Mar
tin. You know he hasn' been here long
an they amt enough acquainted be SO
intimate.
No, he hasn't been here long and
neither have we, but you are mistaken
if you think Jane is not acquainted
tolerably well with her own brother,
and Mrs. Martin looked at the lady
with merrment and exulauon, while
the committee started with open mouths
At least Surilda got command of her
tongue long enough to gasp out:
Her brother
Yes, he is her brother.
But his name is different, Parthena
protested.
That's natural enough, isn't it, when
he is my son by former marriage'
The committee waited for no more
words, but rose to adjourn without delay
and as they trudged homeward they
were as quiet as lambs and not q sound