The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1890-09-24

on his shoulder.
"How'd do, elder. Beautiful night
fer the donation, amt it," was his
greeting, as he shook hands with the
minister "I've brought some beans fer
ye. Fust-rate beans, too, yen find.
Beans is healthy livin, elder. l was
raised on 'em. Nothin' better fer CROWN
children"
"You can put them in the wood-shed,
said Mr.. Spooner. just then Mr.. and
Mrs. Pettigrew drove up.
"Hello, elder, good evenin'," called
out Mr.. Pettigrew. "I've got some
beans here for ye. Wherll ye hev 'em
putt"
'Tn the woodshed," said the minister,
with smile at his wife. ats going
to be beans this year, my dear" in
whisper.
Then other arrivals followed in rapid
succession, and at least three out Of every
four brought beans
'I've counted fourteen bushels al
ready" whispered the minister to his
wife about eight o'clock, ''and still
there's more TO follow"
"It's old clothes in my part of the
house." said Mrs. Spooner "I do be-
lieve there's enough to last the children
till they are all grown up, if they'd fit
till that time. l can imagine the appear
auce they'd make in them. No two
alike, and probably not one that would
fit one of the children. It's too provok-
ing for anything. If it wasn't for max
ing the people mad, I'd sell the whole
lot for rags to the first rag peddler that
comes along"
"Brothers N sisters, n frien's 'n'neigh-
bors," announced Deacon Spears. after
supper, when the party was about ready
to break up, "the proceeds of this ere
donation amounts to twenty-seven bushel
o. beans, three turkeys, pig, two BUSH
els o. potatoes, an a large amount o.
clothin' an some other things. In b'half
o the elder an his folks, thank ye fer
y'r lib'ral'ty. Y'r kindness is appreci-
ated by HIM n his'n, feel sartain, an
I'm shure his heart N hans is strength
ened by this evidence O. fellowship on
your part. Truly, as the psalmist says,
1T is more blessed to give than to re-
ceive.'
~ cordially endorse the sentiment
from the receiver S standpoint, said Mrs.
Spooner, as they looked over the "pro-
ceeds" of the donation-party when they
were alone. "Just look at the collection
of old clothes, Henry. Isuggest that you
give up preaching and move to the city,
and start in business as bean broker,
and I'll run an old-clothes store. We'd
be well stocked up to begin with"
"What will you do with the stuff"
asked the minister, turning over old
jackets and aprons, and other articles of
clothing with a comical look of dismay
on his face at the formidable collection.
'sI think / shall make about hundred
yards of rag-carpet," answered Mrs.
Spooner. "Thats about all good deal
of it is fit for"
One afternoon in the following week
the minister sat down to prepare a SER
mon for the coming Sabbath. As was
often the case, he talked it over with his
wife. When he named the chapter he
proposed to read at the opening of the
service, a sudden CLEAN of mischief came
into Mrs, Spooner's face. But she said
nothing.
During the week Mr.. Spooner wrote to
friend in the city, asking him if there
was any sale for beans there. He had
twenty-five bushels to dispose of, at a
low price, he wrote, adding that 1t had
been ga great year for beans in Scragsby
Corners"
When Sunday morning came Mrs.
Spooner sent her husband on to church
ahead of her, under the plea that she had
not got the children quite ready. Don't
wait for me, Henry" she said, cor you
may be late. Wen get there in time for
the sermon"
He was reading chapter from the
Psalms when his family arrived. He had
reached the verse in which the lily of the
valley is spoken of, and these words
rolled off sonorously from his tongue just
as the door opened and Mrs. Spooner,
followed by her children, filed slowly
and impressively in
"'Verily, say unto you, even Solo
mon in all his glory was not arrayed like
cne of these
AS he finished the verse he looked up
at the advancing arrivals, and the specta-
Gle that met his eyes tested his power of
self control more than anything else he
had ever experienced, he afterward told
his wife. His mouth twitched, and a
smile Aickered about his eyes, but he
managed to keep back the grin that
would have appeared at the faintest en-
couragement.
Such a sightl The eldest girl was ar
rayed in Almiry's cast off dress, of navy
blue, with some other girls polonaise of
red. Her sister was resplendent in a
dress of Scotch plaid pattern of most
gorgeous colors, originally, but now
somewhat subdued by time and wear,
still very vivid, and over it she wore a
jacket about three sizes too small for her,
the picturesque costume being topped off
by hat trimmed with old ribbon freshly
dyed very bright magenta color. The
oldest boy had pair of trousers which
fairly dragged at the heels, and jacket
which was long enough for an overcoat,
while the other boy wore trousers so
short that they failed to meet the top of
pair of bright blue stockings, while his
jacket refused to keep company with the
top OF his trousers. Each article had
peculiar color of its own, and the general
effect was, as has been said, decidedly