Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1890-03-20

ana new got the prominence ana In
huence; that's . pint not to be over
looked; and deAcons isn't to be be-
every day. Put he money aud N,
influence together, and | rather CUES
well stand about top Of the heap il
New Bethany.
Miss Keziah was sitting by the tabl
knitting IS usual. She had Just be
gun to narrow for the toe of the stock
ing, when step sounded on the walk
She threw down the stocking anS
opened the door, and holding the lsmI
high above her head. her eyes resting
on the amazing spectacle Of the dea.
con in all the Sunday magnifcence o.
white shirt and shiny black broad
cloth. We'll, l never she calculated
and then feeling that her reception
had been. hardly hospitsble, she low.
cred the lamp and said kindly: Come
in, deacon, come in.
Thank ye, thank ye; don't mind
if dew
Take q seat, deacon
Thank you, l don't mind If dew.
The deacon surveyed the attractive
room, which, with its cherry FIRE and
comfortable cushioned chairs, seemed
a veritable paradise in comparison
with his untidy, ill-kept house. He
placed his hat on the floor beside his
chair, displaying his scanty gray LOCKS
ingeniously plastered over the top of
his head so as TO cover as much of the
bald surface as possible. There was a
long pause.
Anything going on, deacon% asked
Miss Keziah, resuming her knitting
She was greatly puzzled to account for
those Sunday clothes.
'Nothin' within the range of my
observation. There won't be much
agoin' on now till lection time;
things1l be pretty lively then.
WAN to buy any hay this year7
chirped Miss Keziah. Mine Is extra
good this season, my hired man says
it's the best harvest yield in town
Il rather guess LII hev enough to
carry me thro' the winter. If l don't
l shall know where to come fur hay
as is hay. l declare your farm does
beat all! Ifeel kind O. rugged like
when I think the best farm in town is
managed by q woman
Miss Kezish smiled graciously and
the deacon drew his chair q little
nearer his hostess. 1T must be great
load for ye to carry alone. Such q
large farm is o tremendous response
bility for lone woman
'Oh, l dont mind it; it keeps me
proper busy
The deacon hitched his chair along
a few inches farther. 'Ye'd oughter
hev brother or cousin or some re-
lative like, to share the burden With
ye.'
My shoulders are plenty strong
returned Miss Keziah, good naturedly,
pm glad to show folks that there are
women who are good for something
besides glddy-gaddying and tattllng.
'Yis. yis, answered the deacon, we
can all testify to your valley and
worth. You're real honor to your
sex. You're-you're a bright and
shinjn' beacon light to the trilin' and
vsin-mindded women of the world; ;
and the speaker waved his hand at the
conclusion of this little oratorical -four
ish.
Then hitch, hitch, hitch went the
chair Miss Keziah's-ward Don't you
feel sort o lonely at spells? he asked
insinuatingly.
Miss Keziah glanced suspiciously at
the rapidly advancing chair. She
dropped ner knitting and went to the
FIRE and piled up the blazing sticks of
wood. Then she came back to the
table and set her chair on the farther
side of it, thus putting a barrier be-
tween her and her visitor. I'm not
very lonely, deacon; plenty to do is
the best medicine for loneliness.
But woman's q tender, dependent
creatur'. Woman's vine,' here the
deacon took up his weekly prayer
meeting drawl, and needs suthin' TO
cling to when the troubles,
desolatin' waves and winds O. affection
and sorrow roll over her.
Stuff and nonsensel exclaimed
Miss Keziah, with q contemptoous
sniff. i shouldn't have expected that
. man of your sense, deacon, would
repeat such silly trash. ! have no pa
tience with the people who are always
talking as if women couldn't stand
alone and needed propping up like a
rag doll that hadn't any backbone
I'm no vine or such creeping, helpless
thing, can tell you. I can stand
alone IS well as anybody, if the Lord
so wills it altho' I admit, deacon, that
it's pleasanter to have some one keep
some one keep you company
That jest it; ye hev' hit the nail
squar' on the head! It's pleasanter to
have company in our sojourn on this
mortal yearth.'
The deacon seized his chair with
both hands, and by circuitous line of
hifchinor nlacod Il xuithir thHao foot of