The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1890-12-06

| VI hope 1t is not loSt?' said DorlS.
"Probably 1t will be found in time
for me to check it back again when rer
turn"
In the meantime Mrs. Appleby was
bustling about in the preparation of tea,
and the deacon having finished mend-
ing the harness, was out attending to
the chores, which always hurried him at
that hour.
Six o'clock came; supper was all ready.
Still no express bundle arrived for the
deacon 1t ought to have come on the
coach.
Mrs. Appleby grew more and more un-
easy; even the calm deacon began to
brush with his hand the clothes he had
on, We ndering If they couldn't be made
to answer in case his new suit did not
come.
But no-they would not do. He had
been humiliated enough by being COM
PEELED to wear them to town that day.
The truth was, his thrifty wife had un-
dertaken, a few days before these
events, to sponge the deacon's clothes
with famous cleansing soap which
had been recomm ended to her
The soap was indeed effective. 1t re-
moved all the stains and grease. But
it at the same time took out every ves-
| tige of the original dye wherever the
sponge was applied The result was a
generally notified effect which was so
ridiculous that the wearer laughed
every time he looked at them.
| He had hoped that the new suit
| IL he Ala ,,,t,, tgtn
came down to supper. But it was vain
hope.
81 guess he'll think we're mortal
poor, for you to wear them things"
said Mrs. Appleby.
"Mabbe he'll think I'm all the more
stiddy for deacon, if / don't pay so
much attention to dress, like the
| worlds people" was the ready reply.
AS matter of fact, Mr.. Graves did
not think of noticing his genial hosts
attire, and, although Mrs. Appleby was
''fdgety" at the table, Doris and her
father were pleasant enough to make
up.
But when nine o'clock the deacon's
bed-time.-came, and Mr.. Graves retired
for the night, the Applebys looked at
each other IN dismay.
"Now what dye think?" exclaimed
Mrs. Appleby.
"Looks as if I'd got to stay at home
from meetin' tomorrow, or go and wear
these here brindled trousers" said the
deacon, with rather dismal smile.
'If it only wasn't wicked to pretend
to be i'll and not to CO." said Doris,
family.
"But it is wicked" asserted her father.
"Jest as i expected 'twould turn out
| when you come home without the new
clo'es," said Mrs. Appleby.
81 don't see how could helpit. They
needed fixin' over and / knew you'd
scold if l axed you to do it with so little
time"
"You oughter got 'em the fust of the
week as l told ye to. 1t all comes Of
your procrastinatin' that Pm allus tell
in ye about"
'There is somebody at the door this
minute" cried Doris, as she flew to
answer the knock.
A boy stood on the step with bundle.
Express for the Deacon" explained
the youngster. Carried by on t'other
train, and came back on the one from
the West. Dad told me to fetch it right
up, as ye might be wanting of it"
'There, there, Samantha!" cried the
deacon, holding the bundle exultantly
close to the good lady's face.
"Now what comes Of all your talkY
Here re the clo'es, and they sent 'em
jest as they said they would"
Samantha relented in spirit, as she
usually did af ter the worry of the day
was over, and so they retired in peace.
The deacon would have liked to try on
his purchases before going to bed, but
it occurred to him that that would ap-
pear like boyish impatience, SO he con-
tented himself with tearing hole in
the wrapping-paper and obtaining a
glimpse of the dark goods through the
opening.
In the morning, for some unaccount.
able reason, the Applebys all oversight,
and when the deacon and his energetic
wife arose they found that they had a
narrow margin of time in which to do
the ordinary morning work of farm,
which can not be omitted even on the
Sabbath.
This tended to irritate Samantha, and
even the deacon found it hard to keep
his Sunday countenance during hastily
prepared breakfast. Mr.. Graves was a
little anxious over the coming ordeal of
preaching, for the second time in his
experience, regular written sermon.
We'll be late, just as sure as the
world!" said Mrs. Appleby for the
dozenth time, after Mr.. Graves had
gone to his room for half hour OF
meditation.
"Time enough, mother; don't fret"
said the deacon.
But you've got your clothes to
change yet, and no KNOWN whether
they'll come within rod of fttin' ye,"
persisted Mrs. Appleby.
'I'il risk it. I'll wear 'em any way,
ft or no fit" said the deacon, impa-
tiently.
~ will hitch up tho horse for you
father, SO you can have more time"
said Doris.
That's good gal! wish ye would,
for declare for it, hato to have ter
hustle round so like bouse afire Sum
day morning"
Mr.. Graves came down, ready to start.
Mrs. Appleby tried to entertain him
with becoming before-meeting topics
while the deacon was getting ready.
Doris came in and said the team was
ready.