The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1892-06-24
THE DEACON'S MISFIT.

mending q "holdback," which had
broken while driving home from town
that afternoon.
II guess if somebody didn't fret things
would get wuss than they be now, for of
all the procastinatin' critters you beat the
wust of 'em! The idea of your waitin'
till Saturday afore you went to town to
get them clothes, and not thing to put
on your back for Sunday!"
"No use stewin' about that, now that
I've been and got back and bought the
clothes, said the deacon, his temper not
the least rufied by the lashing of his
consort's rather sharp tongue.
"You've bought 'em, but they amt
here" returned the good woman.
II couldn't wait for 'em to be fixed.
The misfit parlor man said that they allus
carlated to have the goods perfect,
bang up, nobby fit afore he delivered 'em
to customers. Lucky, Samantha, that I
see that advertisement of the misfit par
lors. for there you can get custom made
goods at ready made prices!"
"You picked up a good many slang
words for one trip to town, it seems to
me, " said Mrs. Appleby, amid great
clatter of teakettle and other domestic
utensils upon the kitchen stove.
"Them ere amt slang. They're terms
that belong to the trade" explained the
deacon.
"Wall, I dunno what suit O clo'es II
amount to We, with you in one town and
they in another; s'posin' they don't
Gomez"
81 could wear a shawl O yourn to
meetin', and have it given out from tho
pulpit with the rest of the church no.
tices that I'd got a new outfit somewheres
on the way, suggested the deacon with
humorous twist of his lips, which al
ways had smile lurking about them
ready to spring into visible existence.
II wouldn't make sport out of sacred
subjects if was in your place, said Sa-
mantha, with unabated asperity.
The current of debate was turned at
this point by the appearance of Doris,
whose 20years of life had developed the en-
ergetic qualities of her mother with tho
never failing good temper of her father
combination, by the way, which went
very well with sweetly simple manner
and a full share of beauty.
"The coach is coming, father, she an.
nounced, "and 1 think it brings Mr..
Graves, the new minister.
"For PHYS sake!" cried Mrs. Appleby.
II never thought of it's bein' time for
the coach yet, exclaimed the deacon,
hastily thrusting the piece of harness he
was mending into pocket and running
over to the sink to wash his hands.
"Doris has got to meet him at the door.
shan't, with this faded caliker on, "said
Mrs. Appleby.
II will meet him, mother, and show
him to his room, said Doris. "You and
father will have time to brush yourselves
up bit before he comes down to supper. {"
With nothing but sunshine upon her
sweet face she adjusted ribbon at her
throat and another at her waist, with the
effect of general change of attire, for
it took but little to adorn her simple
beauty. Then she opened the door as Dir.
Graves alighted from the coach. He was
pleasant faced young mana student
sent there for one Sabbath as a candi.
date. AS yet he had not gained a very
ministerial look, especially since he wore
a travelling suit of gray, with russell shoes
and crush hat.
Doris greeted him with unconscious
grace, but he was little embarrassed.
"If might tax your kindness so soon, {"
he said as he paused in the doorway Of
the pleasant bedroom to which she con-
Quoted him, II would like needle and
thread. caught the sleeve of my coat
on the door of the coach and the result
is a rent" And he held up his arm to
show the extent Of the damage.
THAT is too bad, but can soon mend
it for you. I'm afraid" she added, with
her sunny smile, that unless you are
more nimble with the needle than father
is you would have hard time mending
that. 1t is dreadful tear and it will
show, the best can do.
Mr.. Graves laughed, and handed her
the garment with grateful look.
"The worst of it is, he added, II had a
parcel checked on the cars and the bag.
gage man couldn't find it at the station
when arrived. 1t contained more suit.
able garments than these for tomorrow. I"
II hope it is not lost," said Doris.
Probably it will be found in time for
me to check it back again when 1 re-
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 busted 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 became more and more
uneasy; even the calm deacon began to
brush with his hand the clothes he had
on, wondering 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 few days before these events
to sponge the deacon's clothes with q IA,