Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1893-02-09

assembled Friends at finding that the
bold invader had s1ttled himself COM
fortably on the women's side of the
housel
The sermon was forgotten; every wo-
man on one side, and every man on the
other, and every youngster in every part
OF the house craned his or her individual
neck to get a good view of the new
conner, who SO rashly defied traditions.
Friend Priscilla herself lost the thread
Of her discourse and stood there help
less in the general amazement. The
stranger, startled by the silence and by
the fixedness of the numerous gazes
fastened upon him, reused himself to the
situation, surveyed the two divisions of
the house and proceeded to act. Squeak,
squeak, down the aisle he went again;
squeak, squeak, along the stones outside;
and squeak, squeak, up the other aisle to
front seat in the Quaker synagogue.
The elders breathed again; the chill
dren Uttered, and Friend Priscilla en-
deavored to gather up the broken threads
Of her interrupted discourse. But the
inspiration had fled. After one or two
Intellectual struggles to enunciatea prop
er sentence, the little lady sank into her
seat, placed her gray bonnet precipitate-
ly on her head regardless of the white
face ruffle, pulled her carefully ironed
and folded handkerchief from her pock-
ct, held 1t before her face and gave her
self up to agitation.
Friend Priscilla's pocket handker-
nj infu ilyn fbo Nf 11A,. INnIn
were fine and beautifully kept, and the
ones devoted to use for state occasions
were religiously laid away in a box by
themselves. AS she sat there rejecting
on the untowardness of the immediate
occurrences Friend Priscillas one con-
ISOLATION was the recollection that the
handkerchief now decorously dropping
before her face in a long, half fold had
been taken that morning from the sacred
box in which her best were preserved.
Rudely breaking in upon her medita-
tions came an audible snicker from one
corner of the room, followed by a giggle
from another quarter. She was aston
ished to find the meeting breaking up
and friend at her elbow saying de-
murely, though with laugh in her eyes:
Priscilla, hasn't thee made mistake
in thy kerchief? That hardly looks like
the ones thee usually carries" One
hasty glance at the article mentioned,
another at the smiling looks directed
toward her by the entire audience, an
awakening to the conviction that it had
been necessary to close the meeting on
account of the incongruity of her attire,
and Friend Priscilla hurried out and
home by the back way.
First day school had no charms for
her that day. Her dinner was weari-
ness to the flesh. The cat concluded
blizzard had swept the heart of his mis-
tress, and retired to seek consolation in
the light of the fire and the warmth of
the rug. Afternoon ran on toward twi-
light, and twilight deepened into even
ing, and still Friend Priscilla Gibbons
sat there gloomily, wondering how it
had ever happened. and bemoaning that
she of all people should have brought dis
credit upon the sacredness of Friends
meeting, for it had taken no second glance
to show that what she had supposed to be
a neatly ironed, fine white handkerchief
shading her agitated little face had been
in reality long white stocking, dangling
its toe and heel audaciously toward the
Philadelphia Times.