The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-03-16

Whom are you going to marry, Mr.
Crane?" said he, after IL pause
Another man might have softcncd the
style of his wife to bc-not JOSH
Sail RAN" said he, undauntedly.
Parson Pitcher arose from his chair.
and with both hands in his pockets adj
vanccd upon Josh like horse and foot
together; but he stood his ground.
What. in the name of common sense
and deccncy do YOU mean by MARRYING
that woman Joshu-way Cranc?" thun.
dered the parson.
| Pitcher, I'll tell We the rights ont: Won
see I'm dreadfully pcstcrcd with this
here swcarin' way I've got: kinder
thought it'd wear off if Miss Eunice
KEEP Il looking at me, but she's died.
here Josh interpolatcd Il great blubbcr.
ing sob-''and I'm gcttin' so d--bad.
! there! You see. parSon, do swear dread
| full; and ant no moyc resigned to he,
| dyin' than | used to be. and can't stan
| ii, so set fgering on it out and guess
! I've lived too easy, han't had enough
| 'ilictions and trials; so | concluded |
| he'd oughter TO put myself to the wind.
| ard of some squalls so as to learn nayi.
SNeioiis diitt L COllitlu Icit NOW. tlll SUI
denly brought to mind Sail Ran, who
is the d and all. ON dear. I've nigh
about swore agin. and | concluded shed
be the nearest to u cat-o'-ninc-tails |
could get to tewtor me, and then |
reelected what old Cap'n Thomas used
, to say when | was boy aboard of his
whaler: Boys sez he, you're alters sot
to hev your way. and you've got TO hev
mine. SO it's pooty clear that shall fog
you to rope-yard, or else you'll hcv to
make b'licve my ways yourn, whichll
suit all round So You see, Parson
Pitcher, want a-goin' toput myself in
way to quarrel with the Lords will
agin, and don't expect You 10 hev no
such trouble with me twice as you've
he'd since Miss Eunicc up an died.
swan I'll give up reasonable next time,
seein' it's Sall.'
Hardly could Parson Pitcher stand
this singular creed of doctrine, or the
shrcwd and self-satsfied, yet honest,
expression of face with which Josh
clcnched his argument. Protesting him
self in great haste to study. he promised
10 publish rs we'll as to marry Josh and.
when his ODD parshioncr was out of
hearing. INDUCED himself with Il lnur
TIT of laughter. almost incytinguishahlc
ever .Iosh'> patent thristianiacr.
| Great VAS the astonishncnt Of the
Whole congregation ON Sunday. when
ioshS intentions were given from ihc
| pulpit: ans. Stinuwcly mixed and hcsi-
Eating the congratulations he received
after his marriage, Which took place in
the following w"ck hnrsun Pitcher
took a curious interest in the success of
Josh project: a:,i had oaci$aowlcdrc
It's beneficial effects rather against his
will
Sail Ran was ;li> best Of housc-lccp-
crs. a. "col,l- are apt 10 he: or is it in
reverse that the ruic bcran: She kept
the farmhouse ruul.crlv clean. ana
every Carmen, OF her husband. scgupu-
lousy mcnded and refreshed: but if',he
smallest profanity escaped Uncle .1osh's
lips. he did indeed hear thunder"
and with the ascctic devotion OF a
GuyoniSt. he endured every obiurcatorv
torrent To the end. though his soft and
kindly heart would now and then cringe
and CULVER in the process.
1t was all for his good. he often said.
and by the time Sail Ran had been in
Miss Eunices place for an equal term
of years. Uncle Josh had become so
mild-spoLcn. SO kind. so meek that
surely his dead wife must have rcioccd
over ii in heaven, even as his brethren
did on earth.
And now came the browning honor of
his life nclc .IoS!! was made Il deacon.
Sail celebrated the event by Il new black
silk frock and asked Parson Pitcher
home to tea. as is the great glory of :,
New England housckccpcr. Pies. pre-
serves. cake, biscuit. bread. short Ike.
cheese. honey. fruit. and cream were
pressed. and pressed again. upon the
nnlucky parson till he was quite in the
condition of Charles Lamb and the ON.
nibus. gladly saw the signal of retreat
from.thc table. he withdrawing himself
TO the bench on the stcop. to breat the
the odorous June air. and rtalli over
matters and things with Deacon Josh.
while Mrs. Crane cleared or
Long and piously the two worthless
talked. and at length came brief pause
broken by Josh.
"Wcll. Parson Pitcher. that arc
elaboration Of mine about Sail did
come ont nigh ontcr right. didn't t?''
Yes, indeed. my good friend re-
| IhricU the puFSOn. the trlll she has
been to You has been really blessed. anG
shows most strikingly the use of discip
line in this life
Yes said Josh. 'if Miss Eunice had
lived. don't know but what should u
been Il swcarin' man to this day: bu,
Sail, she's rated it out of me; and I'm
gettin' real resigned. too"
The meek complaccncy Of The confcs
sion still cleaned in Uncle .Iosh's eyes
as he went i'll to prayers, but Sail Ran
looked rcddcr than the crimson pconieS
on her posybcd.