The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1890-05-24

that il is stopped. Weowe it to the per-
lection OF innocent young gals an we
mustn't be afeerd to do our duty"
Cant nobody say that Parthena Per-
kins ever Stunned her duty" Parthena
said, with derisive nod of her small
round head, IAN if there is anything do
love to do better'n anything else it is to
pint out to people their failin's an help
'em to git right"
81 can say the same. chimed in Mrs.
HUFF, can I'm ready to go this minute
to do what's best toward Jane Martin. l
know that somethin' ought to be done"
An me, too" Surida said ''but I'm
not settled In my own mind how'd he
best to perceed."
WAL Mrs. Hawkins remarked
thoughtfully, IL reckon as good way
as any would be to see Mis- Martin an
telk to her about it. She's a curious sort
o critter an flares up monstrous bad
when anybody goes to talkin' to her
about her failin's, but / reckon we
oughtn't ter mind that so long as we feel
easy in our own souls, an know we're
doin' it fer her own good"
shes powerful ungrateful, though"
Parthena said, ''fer remember the time
committee of us went to see her an
pint out to her that she was committin'
NV sin by not 'tendin' up to church, an
she flares right up an says as how she
knows her own business, an thinks it
amt much worse to stay away from
meetin' than it is TO go pokin erbout
meddlin' with things that don't consarn
us"
"She was mighty frienly an mild,
though" Surilda commented, "till we
teched on the thing we'd come fer"
"Yes, she wus. But that amt neither
here nor there. We must do somethin' !,
an as there amt nothin better to do,
s'pose 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 unani-
mously, and, accordingly, after consider
able further exchange of ideas, Surilda,
Parthena and Mrs, Gilley were selected as
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 ter waste"
Accordingly, at an early hour the next
morning, Parthena and Mrs. Gilley met
Surilda at her own house, and together
the three ladies started out on their mis-
sion of kindness and mercy. AS they
passed the Hawkins place Mrs Hawkins
came out and Mrs. Gilley stopped for a
few words with her, while Surilda and
Parthena walked leisurely on. They
were no sooner out of hearing of Mrs,
Gilley than Parthena said:
"I wish they'd left Mis- Gilley outten
the committee, l don't feel jest right
a-goin' along with sich as her to talk to
other folks about their shortcomings, do
you Surildy2'
''No. j don't, fer everybody knows that
Sam G Hey amt worth KILN; an asides,
a man as sells Smany sheepskins as he
does tix-s-1 = a'~pin' a sheep, dap''
i pear 10 me TO be strictly honest, an il
might pear to Mis- Martin as how wer,
mighty hard off fer fittin' women I,
serve on a committee when sich likes al
her is chosen"
Just then Mrs. Gilley came up. anC
the subject was changed; and as tn,
ladies walked on, they chatted as pleas
antly as three honest souls ever did.
Mrs. Martin received them graciously
and invited them into the "best room,
which was quite dignity. Parthen,
was selected as spokeswoman, and aftei
few commonplace remarks she came
to the point by saying:
'Mis' Martin, we've come on a erranC
of mercy, an hope you won't feel Gu
up about nothin' we say, fer it's all fe
the best an fer your own good Yistidy
up to Mis- Hawkins wool pickin', we fel
to talkin' o. this an that, an then W,
got to speakin' of ther new teacher, an
one thing led ON to another till, finally
1t come out that your darter wusn't be
havin' ilst right toward him, an tina
people wus havin' room to talk, even
nothin' bad wusn't meant, so we though
you ought to know, an we've come a
er committee to warn you to be ON ye
guard"
''Do understand you to say that peo
pie are liable to talk about James conduc
toward Robert9"
That's what tried to say, Mis- Mar
tin. You know he hasn't been here lon
an they amt enough acquainted to h
so intimate"
"No, he hasn't been here long am
neither have we, but you are mistaken
you think Jane is not acquainted tolera
bly, well with her own brother an
Mrs Martin looked at the lady with eye
that twinkled with merriment and exuI
tation, while the committee stared wit
open mouths and felt smaller and smalle
every moment. At last Surilda "a
command Of her tongue long enough t
gasp out:
''Her brother?"
''Yes, he is her brother"
"But his name is different" Parthen
protested.
That's natural enough, isn't it, whe
he is my son by former marriageS"
The committee. waited for no mon
words, but rose to adjourn without d'
lay, and as they trudged homeward the
I were as quiet as lambs, and not soun
broke fyom their lips; and though the
said nothing, each of them felt terribl
like blaming the whole business on th
others. II there had been a oonvenieI
] auger hole somewhere shout, it is Prol
able that they might have attempte
, crawling into it.-Yanhse Aade.
II Was No Mans Land.
/ "rhis fine farm, remarked Cumso,
, he showed friend around the suburb
! fffa a aorf % No none lanI