Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1893-12-27

"hN Nuiiouoiy Shiiu IKE eApreSslOu
on her soft, wrinkled face. She had
stepped into Mrs. Grayson s kitchen in
a neighborly way, and was wiping the
dinner dishes while she talked.
Mrs Grayson paused to take an
apron from the closet and tie it around
Miss Pixies rather indefinite waist.
Then returning to her dishes and the
subject, she replied: "I've got where
l don t much care how it looks, Lucin-
dy' L know I'm right, because it all
opened to me when / was praying
about-Prescott You see that man
Ryan had no business to come here.
The laws of Maine don't allow it. No
body wanted a saloon at the four cor
ners, and if it hadn't been for the new
mill il wouldn't t have been worth while
to have it. But just as soon as there's a
little business, and more people, and
more ready money, along comes Peter
Ryan with his beer and whisky barrels.
L tell YOU it's an abomination above
ground!n
VI agree it's q shame The men
had ought to see about it,, assented
Miss Pike, then, "You got new pickle
dish didn't you? Pretty, too. l won
dered what you bought with your rags
the other day"
Mrs. Grayson's eyes rested on the
PINK, fiowered pickle dish, but she did
notappear to see it, and only continued
more earnestly: "Lucindy, the men
won t see about it, There's my own
husband-he can drive bargain, buy
ing or selling, as well as any other
man but when it comes to the public
welfare, he wills. Men are extra
modest when it COMES to enforcing the
law. And now, Prescott's begun to
go there. l didn t suppose he could be
hired to 10 in, but l suppose Rachel
Beckwith' 8 to blame. No, l won't say
that, but they We had a falling out, and
you never can tell what will happen in
such case. Lucindy, you may see
lonely days, and feel as if you don t
belong to any body, but you won t
have to lie awake nights over children 8
wrong doings."
"Oh, now, Mis- Grayson, said Miss
Pike, soothingly, Prescott won't get
any bad habits. I'd as soon think it of
our minister, almost. They say the
Super ain t any too strict, and Prescott
beln with him 80 much, maybe has
been there, too; but wouldn t worry. y
Yes, you would" said Mrs, Gray
son, almost fiercely, Mothers have
a right to. And they have a right to
do more than that. That's why I'm
going down to talk to Peter Ryan"
Miss Pike looked stealthily at heI
companion. Apparently she was the
some quiet little woman she had al.
ways known. He'll be sassy" she
ventured.
Now, Lucindy," said Mrs. Grayson
thoughtfully, II wonder if l can make
you understand just how l feel. I'm
afraid | can't. I'm afraid you haven I
read about the Crusaders and all they
have been doing out West"
Yes, | have. My niece sent me the
papers last winter, Wasn't it dreadful
the way they went on !
Dreadful I" repeated Mrs Grayson
1T was grand, Lucindy! God was il
1T. wa sure of that, for while reaC
my spirit fiuttered its wings Just as i
does when l come to understand ont
OF His great thoughts, Haven't yor
had that feeling, Lucindy ? It's al
uplifting that makes your body seen
too small for your soul. Well, when
read how those women knelt in tn,
snow and prayed, and sung Jesus
lover of my soul, in the saloons amonl
rude and wicked men, l couldn' u keel
still. | walked back and forth anC
cried, and said Amen = That was al
l could do, being so far away, but
was one of them, just the same.
couldn t understand why l was so ex
ercised, and why had to go with then
in spirit till Peter RYAN came along
Then knew it was to fit me up to dea
with him.
Miss Pixies mental development wa
in rudimentary state at best, an,
she but dimly ycomprehended her frieed
mental and spiritual outlook, but sh
was wise enough to avoid an argumen
in which she was sure. to be worsted
. so she simply said: "Hml Does you
husband, and Prescott, like it ?"
Mrs. Grayson eyes twinkled as sh
hung up her dishpan. She andes oo
Miss Pixies mental processes "Wel
. Lucindy, she replied, John doesn
want me to go, but he's resigned. Pre-
colt don know"
\ al expect they'll want hot dinner
just the same, though, and I'll come i
and open your drafts and put on you
, potatoes every day. if you'll leave tn
key under the doormat,n said Mi,
Pike.
Every day !" echoed Mrs. Grayso
after her neighbor had thrown h,
!. shawl over her head and departe,
}. "She talks as if she thought it was u
ing to be six days march around IN
Jericho. Imay as well march six day
) as to sit here at home and think an
IL -