The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1894-03-15
A PAROCHIAL MATTER.
How Church Warden Hardman's
Grievance Was Settled.

Grievance Was Settled.
Mr.. Claxton, accompanied by Mrs.
Claxton and the three children, came
out of the Claxtons' private door into
the gaslit street on his way to even
ing service. He glanced at the
shop door; that was all right. He
worked the handle of the private door;
that also was securely fastened. He
was always careful, otherwise he, to-
gether with his family, would not have
been able to live in that condition of
material comfort and fatal elegance
which so well satisfied them
AS Mr.. Claxton turned away from
the door he saw Mr.. Hardman standing
under the gas lamp, evidently waiting
to speak to him. Hardman recognized
the presence of lady by fitting the
back of his silk hat upwards and rub
bing the front of it nervously across
his forehead. Claxton recognized the
courtesy by exactly repeating it.
Hardman spoke:
"'Evenin', Mrs. Claxton; 'evenin',
Claxton; l wanted 'alf word with
YOU"
'Cll, hSNCii CACldluleu MIS-
Claxton, land you waitun' outsidel
Why didn't you take and ring the
bell?''
81 thought wouldn't fetch the girl
up just for that"
And what's she paid for if it's not
to answer doors? Why, I've no
patience! Another night when you
want to speak to 'Ector just you ring
and come into the drorin' room. That's
what it there for. Now I'll be mov-
in on, because of the children. You'll
catch us up, 'Ector. Come along Gertie;
your fathers legs are langer than
yours. ="
She went on with the children, large.
hospitable, and slightly irritated.
Hardman assumed an important and
determined expression, and tapped
Claxton on the arm.
well, it's come to it at last; told
you it would and now it as. 1 don't
set foot in that church tonight"
Come now, 'Ardman; this is really
serious, you know. You'll think about
it?n
''Oh, no, won't. 1 thought I'd look
round, because-me bein' away-youll
be called upon to take plate round.
l know from esperyunce that fori
warned is 'alf the battle on such oc-
casions Otherwise you may ave a
par of gloves on as you wouldn't mind
ave made prominunt-or you may
not.
"Well, / am obliged to you, 'Ardman,
for that. There's nothing l ate more
than a embarrassment of that sort
Now, these what I'm wearin' are old
pair, though not noticeable by night in
the ordinary course" One hand dived
diagonally behind him, and came up
with the treasure of his coat-tail
pocket. But, as luck will have it, I've
got with me the pair of pale new yell
low kids, that wear Sunday mornings.
They're tritle tight, but l can work
luton. And, thank you,' Ardman, for
givin' me the word. But is this neces-
sary? Can't Ipersuade your
"Pll just walk step with you, Clax.
ton, and then you may see how the
land lays. Now, there are some folk as
says that parsons should be parsons,
and not breeders of pigs. Well, / don't
go for these fine shades; if e finds it
consistent with preaching of the Cos
pei to use up his kitchen refuse profit
able to himself, Pm not one to say i'm
nay AS far as charity will take man
I'm prepared to 60. But 'oles in edges
is different matter. Now, Reverent
Mister Lacey's pig comes through a ole
in the parsons edge, where's that pig
then?"
In the parsons paddock"
Quite SO; and SO far / don't COM
plain. But that pig comes acrost the
paddock, gets through gap in my
ledge, and plays the doose with my
gard'n'in'. And you know that gard'n-
ms my little 'obby. First it was rows
--'ole rows-of early cabbidge Then
then there was lilium aurrytums. Now
I've got my dailiers plowed up like dirt
Mister Lacey writes back that it's my
edge and so I'd better mend it. Now,
that's all right; so it is my edge, but
it's lis pig; and if it WASN'T for is pig
my edge would be nothing amiss; and
the outridge bein' repeated this very
afternoon, it seems to me as I've only
one course-to withdraw my patran-
idge."
''Well," said Claxton, rather despond-
emily, II 'ope it may turn out oil right.
One can't be too careful about any
thing. Of course, it is 'ard-frst the
liliums and things and then the dali
iers. Il d,n't garden myself. but can
feel for them as do. You see, all you
told me before was that there was o
unpleasantness between you and Mr..
Lacey. You didn't give no details.
Otherwise-sooner than ave 'ad this
'appen-I've got few feet of barbed
wire. unstable because a remnant
and too short-still. enough to ave
served your purpose and not hurt the
zig neither no, TO spaak os