The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1894-02-23
A PAROCHIAL MATTER.
How Church Warden Hardman'l
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 III that condition of
material comfort and fatal elegance
which SO we'll 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 a lady by fitting the
back of his silk hat upwards and rub
bling 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 a word with
you"
''Well, 1 never!" exclaimed Mrs.
Claxton, land you waitun' outside!
Why didn't you take and ring the
bell?'
II 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 S there for. Now I'll be NOV
in on, because of the children. You'll
catch us up, 'Ector. Come alorg, Gertie;
your fathers legs are LANCER 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. l don't
set foot in that church tonight
Come now, 'Ardman; this is really
serious you know. You'll think about
it?'
''Oh, no, / won't. I thought I'd look
round. because-me bein' away-you'll
be called upon to take plate round.
l know from csperyunce that for
warned is 'alf the battle on such oc-
casions. Otherwise you may ave a
pair 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 ate more
than a embarrassment of that sort.
Now, these what Pm 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 Inc the pair of pale new yell
low kids, that wear Sunday mornings.
They're Il trifla tight, bat I can work
'em on slow under cover of the Also
luton. Aud. thank you,' Arinau, for
givin' me the word. But is this neces-
sary? Can't Ipersuade you?'
iii just walk u 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 thcse fine shades; ii e finds it
consistent with preaching of the Cos
pei to use UP his kitchen refuse profit
ible to himself, FIN not one to say i'm
nay. As far as charity will re man
IN prepared 10 60. But 'oles in edges
s u different matter Now, Reverent
Mister Lacey's pig comes through a 'ole
II ;ne parsons edge, where's that pig
shcn?"
In the parsons paddock
'Cn;tr %: aud so far I don't COM
.'.;.ii. Bat s,:;.. pig comes acrost the
paddock, gets through gap in my
edge, and plays the doose with my
gardn'in' And you know that gard n
ms my little lobby. 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.
l did write once, and your Reverent
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, 81 'ope it may turn out all right.
One can't be too careful about any
thing. Of course, it is 'ard-frst the
llllums and things and then the dali
lers. don't garden myself, but can
feel for them as do. You see, all YOU
told me before was that there was a
unpIeasantness between you and Mr..
Lacey. You didn't give no details
Otherwise-sooner than ave 'ad this
'appcn--Ive got a few feet of barbed
wire. unstable because remnant
and too short-still, enough to ave
served your purpose and not hurt the
pig neither-not to speak Of.
You mean it kind and so 1 take it:
out that's too late now. And, look
ere. when you and the plate, just put
IN this shillin' for me. It's only your
Rev. Mr. Licey that Pm spitin'
I've no feelin of ,arshness towards anv.
one else, not even to his poor dumb
pig, that knc VS. no better
Then Mr.. Iiardman said good night
and turned OF in the direction of his
: own house. lie was not feeling very
happy: absence from church was very
unusual with him, and he began to
think that he was being irrelirious:
20 he said aloud:
only this afternoon-all my dailiers
100 perfectly scandalous!'