Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1896-05-13

sitl in spits ef Ar esapllancs VIII
his visheA She resemblsd her mothe,
h great many wAyA and the deacos
hsv w wsn that tnsre was . limi,
- his wifSs patience and when thai
hmlt vas reached be was usually rout
I'd With great slaushteF. though 1t was
done % neatly that he wondered, aftes
tho Arst stiag Of defeat had disappsar
ed. how Il happened His plan was to
deliver himself Of broadside and then
depart on some erTand 10 the p0stoflce
or grocery or church meeting. trusting
to ind the enemy quiet when he re-
turned.
This was the plan the evening Of
which We write. He went down the
snow-covefed road to the postomce
thinking the whole matter would be
settled BY tho time he got back. and
that would end II. In the moment Of
victory, how often over-conAdencs
leads to defeat.
At the poStoface tho usual crowd that
may BE- found at any country postofice
on the day when tho mail comes. was
found, and, a. usual, the condition Of
the surrounding country was under
confederation.
Tho deacon at down aftef greeting
. friend or two, and cast1ns . gru6
look at Jack Swes<. who was amons
ths crowd.
~ heaFn to-day that the widdes Hun
II In . pretty bad way - fur - things
10 eat u concerned" aid sns Of the
assembly, did you hear anything about
1t, deaconr'
mo, 1 hadn't heerd from her for
some time. s'posed she had enough to
eat; IL not, I should think 1t would be
easy enough for her to say 30, an no
one need to starve in a Christian coun-
try"
We'll, she's pretty proud, an amt
one O. the kind that goes about maxim
a great fuss about her own troubles,
but think some one ought to look her
up an see that she don't suffer, an
that those little children don't want for
a bite to eat"
"Her Benny told our Frank that they
hadn't no Christmas at their house
cause his ma hadn't any money" spoke
up boy who was present.
Il think we'd better see about this,
deacon" said the man who had started
the subject what dye sayT
.'Le'me see, this is Thursday" said
the Deacon, rubbing his leathery cheek
I'VE can meet here Sat
urday evenin' an talk 1t over, and
some of IFS can git at the facts by that
time. Sposing you see the widder.
an report then"
Il amt got much taste for that sort
o. thing, myself, but can send my old
woman around. IL thatd do" was the
reply.
With this the conversation came to
IN end. and the deacon returned to his
home. feeling that he had done his part
50 far in the matter Of the Widow HUFF
md her children.
Saturday evening the deacon made |
his way to the postoffice. and Mrs. |
Whitaker had reason to wonder what |
detained him so long. as ne had not told !
Ter Of the poor widow, preferrlng prob |
lbly to keep his right hand in ignor-
nee of the work his left hand was |
bout to do.
1t was after 10 o'clock when he re-
urned. an hour which had not found /
i'm out of bed in many years. He did
Ot seem very communicative, though |
/ was plain to be seen that his mind
ras revolving some weighty subject.
Ie got the old well-worn family Bible
nd sat down to read it. His spectacles
eemed very refractory and needed
luch wiping. and he seemed to be at
'ss where to begin, for he turned the
lew Testament over from beginning to
nd, dipping here a minute and there
few seconds from time to time.
After n while he got up and replaced
he Bible, restored his spectacles to
heir proper place on the mantel. and
ding to the kitchen, lighted a candle.
rs them sacks 1 brought to the
ouse mended yet, mother?" he asked.
Yes, long ago." replied his wonder
lg wife.
The deacon disappeared into the
,OOdshed, only to return with the
acks on his arm, and to open the Gel
lr door and go through it into the
ruity smelling depths.
Presently he came up out of the
arkness with a sack of potatoes on his /
and then another was brought |
p, until half a dozen lay on the
itchen floor.
How much -four Is there?" asked
he deacon, as grimly as II he were /
his wife to stand and de |
Iver.
You know you Jest got ten bushel |
wheat ground" was the reply, AN
hain't been emptied into the -four |
lin yet" answered Mrs. Whitaker,
n fear and trembling. for she feared |
Ter husband had gone crazy.
The -four was brought out and added |
o the pile Of sacks on the floor. Then |
he deacon went out of doors and re-
urned with load of hams, shoulders
nd bacon from the smoke house.
Father. what on earth do you mean
~ your actions, I'd like to knowT
Isked Mrs. Whitaker, now thoroughly
Harmed.
"Tll tell you later" answered the
leacon, lest now I've got TO make up
or lost time. Amt 1t most time to 60
O bsdY
Il should say it was; why, it's almost
4 o'clock, an to-morrow's Sunday, too,
IN quarterly meetin' at the Ridge, an
-Ou seem to forget that services begin
It O."
The deacon was not In q mood for |