The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1895-07-04
DEACON SIMPSONS TRIP.
BX KATE EkSKINE.


chest; an l was countin' on Gettin' a
new hat anyhow. Iguess you could
sort o fix yourself up with your Sun
day dress an things, Maria"
why, Amos, you don't mean that
you really want to go?" and Mrs.
Simpson ceased moment from driv-
ing flies out of the kitchen, as she
turned pair of mild, wondering eyes
on her husband.
1t was after dinner, and he sat on
the stone door step, twisting in his
hand the letter that he had just brought
from the post Office, and seemingly
contemplating the distant hills, as
though seeking guidance from that
quarter. His large straw hat lay on
the grass beside him, and few pieces
of hay in his stiff gray hair showed
what his occupation for the morning
had been.
There's your cousin Abbie," he con-
tinued, has been wantin' us to come
up to the city for long time to visit
her"
''She amt invited us more'n once be-
fore, interposed his wife.
AL IIllllh VIC OtS III W RO It's,
Joe, I'm a-comin'," he called out, and
handing the letter to his wife, Deacon
Simpson picked up his jug of nolasses-
andwater and walked off to the field
with long, swinging gait.
His wife watched him until he had
disappeared over the knoll, and then
murmuring to herself whats come
over father now?" went back to her
task.
Fathers the most surprisin' man l
ever see," she said, pulling at the corn
husks, which had become somewhat
fattened after her last violent on
slaught; but I've lived with him too
long not to have learned just to let
him have his own way-leastways to
seem to-an' he's always sure to come
round. Fathers real kind O. sensible
after all" At which last remark the
yellow cat blinked her eyes, the kettle
put on an extra steam, and the very
flies buzzed in hearty confirmation.
'Shoo. shoo!" The paper was again
waving, the corn-husxs rafting, when
the peaked face of Miss Jemima Hum
mers appeared at the door. An the
flies not all drove out, an calc'latin'
to do a little bakin', an this last idea
of fathers a worryin' me so. II
it amt the most provokin' thing in the
world thought Mrs. Simpson. So her
tone was quite cool-that is, as cool as
such kind-hearted woman could
make it-as she said to her visitor:
Twill you set outside or imp"
The decision being that it would be
cooler on the grass, Mrs. Simpson
handed out two rocking chairs, and
the women seated themselves under
the apple trees, where the hens, soon
discovering them, came clucking aim
lessly about and the yellow cat, jump
ing into her mistress lap, curled her
self up into large fluffy ball. A gem
tie breeze waved the branches of tbs
tree, which, tanning the heated cheeks
of Mrs. Simpson, caused her gradually
to forget flies and other minor annoy
ances, and to regard Miss JemiIna
Runners in a more kindly light.
Il just thought I'd bring my work
round an set with you awhile, Mis-
Simpson," that lady remarked, after
they were comfortably seated and the
subject of the weather and crops had
been carefully discussed. 81 got my
work all done up, an l said to myself,
-
well, hadn't finished drivin' my
flies out" interposed her friend. II
expect there's a hundred, at least, of
them tiresome, buzzing creatures left
in that kitchen. There was "a terrible
big horseny screechin' around that I'd
got my mind made up to drive out, "
she added, regretfully.
well, 1 guessitll get out somehow"
said her visitor, and then, changing
the subject, added: 81 s'pose you an
the deacon are goin' to the church So
ciable next week. But then, l don't
know why l ask you that, seem you
always are there. You amt missed
one for three years, have you, Mis-
Simpson,"
1--WE amt missed one for five years,
exceptin' once, when the deacon had
the rheumatism. | remember that
time in particular because l had made
a new kind of cake to send-kind of a
nut cake, with a few raisins sprinkled
in-an' l wanted to see how it was en-
joyed. l felt a little shaky, not know
in exactly how much to put in; and
there was just little dent in the top
when l took it out of the oven. Not
really fallen, you know, but just
enough to make me feel anxious. Mis-
Davis knew how | was worryin' about
it, so she took pains to stop in on her
way home an tell me that it wasn't a
mite heavy; an she heard Miss Brown
an Mis- Spooner both wonderin' what
the receipt was, they thought it was SO
good. l don't know when I've felt SO
relieved
Il know just exactly what your feel
ms were, Mis- Simpson. I'm goin' to
send a new kind of tea biscuit next
time, an feel kind O. cold all over
when l think, s'posin' they shouldn't
be good. l hope you'll like 'em, Mis-
Simpson"
Evidently Miss Jemima Runners
was fated to make unfortunate re-
marks, for just as a plea surable excite
ment was felt by Mrs. Simpson in the
tea biscuits, and she was about to ask
for a minute description of their COM