The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1895-04-25

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sGood-day, deacon! How do you
Snd yourself this fine mornipe"
:'Only middling. It's all can do
to shin about. I've crawled out to
this 'ere stun, which ssrves as hoss-
block, while Sally washes the floor. 1t
riles her temper to have me in the way
when she's doing that JOB"
"This rock makes a good horse.
block"
eyes. See the letters painted on it:
A woman cid it, who had I hankerlng
for daubing paint everywhere. She
would have painted the sides of the
stove if I had let her. But she did do
up the teapot in grea: style. Thar's
things on it that never growed in the
ground or on top of it. She painted Z
big spider Oh the kiver, and I've never
drank a drop of tea sence. onless |
looked first to see if the old woman had
not poured the spider into the cup.
The critter looked mighty material, !
can tell ye.
That's bad, deacon. But how does
1t happen that you are not as we'll as
usuaI"'
"'Cause l was fool enough to go to
party, the other night, and thought
l could kick round as we'll as ever l
could See this 'ere paw, will ye? It's
swelled as big as two hands. l shou!dn'
have gone if it hadu'. been for the old
woman. I tell ye thar's a mighty
sight Of difference atween sixteen and
sixty, and feller don't want to take
100 many chances"
'No doubt but what you're right,
deacon. But who has been giving a
party in these regions?'
e.Patience Pott;e.''
s'What! the old maid?.
Eyes. Nobody else would have been
such fool, except these that went.
But she won't want to give another
very soon."
Wasn't it success?"
:sNo; and Patience was disappointed,
too, as we'll as the rest"
Tell Us about it, deacon"
"Nal, I will. Set down on this 'ere
stun. You Can have the eighteen hun
Gred side. The paint is dry now. Alb
ram Allen was the first one to sit down
in 1t. 1t WAS the next day after it was
painted. When he got up and started
for the Corner everybody and his wife
stared and giggled arter him. Every
Lody thought he had turned Mlllerlte,
and had got the day set printed on him,
20 all could see when the world was
coming to an end When he found ii
out he. was madder with me than a
March hare"
II don't blame the man; but about
he party, deacon" >"
'I'm coming to that. One day
was down to the post Office, and the
postmaster give me letter. 1t was a
mighty fine looking cne, with some let
tsrs in the corner which couldn't
make out, and it smelt as sweet as a
oosy. l didn' open It until I got hum,
and then l showed it to the old woman.
Its love letter, Deacon Cobb,
,he said. Amt you ashamed, man
If your age, and who has been married
or nigh about forty years, to have
such an epistie as that?
:Flddlesticks, old woman said I.
More likely ii is dun from the doc
or. l owe him half dollar for some
iniment l got spell ago for my
'umaticks
II tore it open, and made out tc
cad what it said arter spell.
al, Miss Patience Potter, will give
party Tuesday night. You and Mrs.
Deacon is invited. Come at airiy can
lie light. -
".Good Lordr said my old woman.
What on airth will happen next? The
I'D fool giving party at her time Of
ife.'
81 guess she has O. right to, Sally
Cobb, as we'll as anybody else,' said l.
What's to hinder her? She was 4
master good-looking girl long ago l
ort of hankered arteI her myself
"I wish you had got her, deacon!
snapped the old lady. a pretty life
;he would have led you.'
"'It Couldn't have been much worse,
I'D lady. But you set to work crimp'
ng yer hair, so you can look as line as
fiddle. l know you amt got much
n that line, as you're nigh about BALI.
But yer false front will cover it up
-fou can work on 1t until you get ii
ixed to yer mind
"sI wouldn't say anything about
,eipg bald, retorted the old lacy.
You amt got any more hair On yel
head than a crocked-recked squash.
But how do you expect me to 90 to the
party when I've got nothing that is bit
% be seen that can wear?'
".That is always the way, old woman
You've got that bran-new bombaz' ne
Fought you last Thanksgiving That's
rood enough to wear to anybody's
arty, guess
".lf Patience was dead, it woulC
ook we'll enough to wear it to the
uneral, Deacon Cobb. But l won't g
IN inch unless l can have things tc
7ear like other folksn
u didn't say nothing more, but thai
rternoon went down to the Corner
md bought the gayest thing l eculd
ind. It was white, with here and there
t-ose rs big as sunfower.