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

TITS not bit O. use o. talkin', Man.
d." said Deacon Whitaker, as he
punched the fire with rather more
energy than was necessary, because
I've made up my mind, an you know
when I'm sot I'm sot. Blow high or
blow low an come what may, won't
have Tillie marry Jack Sweet"
"Now, father" replied good Mrs.
Whitaker in cOnciliating voice,
you're takin' things too serious. Jack
amt never said he wanted to marry
Tilfie, an as fur as l can see he'll aver
age with most of the young men around
the settlement. He amt got no bad
habits to speak of, an don't see the
harm in Tillie goin' with him over to
the Ridge. She's a good girl, an a
obedtent one, an she don't gad around
overmuch, an to let her go once in a
way l can't see the harm In"
The deacon had been caressing his
chin with his thumb and finger while
his wife was talking, and for n mo-
ment he made no reply, but his ex-
preston showed that he was not much
affected by her argument.
IF a feller don't begin to go with
q girl he won't never marry her." he
said, at last, In manner that plainly
showed that he thought he had an
bounced a principle that WAS founded
on the wisdom Of the ages. Il am goin'
over to the postoffice, mother. to see
H there's anything there, an while
I'm gone 1t might be as well for you
-, hor fol
Jack Sweet business nights well be
stopped afore 1t begins as to run on
eill it's too late. Jack amt to my likin'
an won't have none of him. 1t amt
enough to say that he amt bad when
et the same time you know an know
en- everybody else knows that he amt
good. Here he's been under the dis
bensation of the truths Of the gospel
an his life an yet he's not a member
of our church. an no one knows wheth-
Or he believes the Bible or not. 1 feel
that Titles future rests on me an I'm
Soin' to save her from trouble"
"But, father"
mo use sayin' word" interrupted
the deacon, "rve said my say an
know what want and what I'm gOin'
to have. I've sot my stakes for Tillie,
an as long as good, respectable fore
handed fellers like Jedediah Skinner is
0 castin' Sleeps eyes at daughter Of
mine no good for -nOthin', harum-scar-
um like Jack Sweet, can come between
me and what | think Is best"
With this the good deacon walked
out and shut the door with a decision
and violence that was not entirely be-
coming to a man of his age and stand.
ing In the church.
Deacon Whitaker was not bad sort
Of q man as men go. He may have
had his failings, but he intended to do
about right, as he saw In his light,
though it is Just possible he saw "as
through n glass, darkly." There were
those who limited that he was some
what inclined to be rather fond Of
getting the best side OF q bargain, and
this same Jack Sweet, against whom
he had raised objections, said one time
when the grocery keeper at the Cor
nars made some remark about q coin
that Jack offered In payment for q pur-
chase, on the ground that II had q very
pronounced dent In 1t, that 1t was one
be got of Deacon Whitaker. who had
held 1t SO tightly that he had mutilated
It. This remark got abroad, and II Is
3ust possible the deacon knew Of 1t
and that it had something to do with
his opinion Of Jacks sinfulness, gen.
orally.
The deacon was fond Of his pretty
daughter Tillie, a fOndness that was
not surprising to the young men of
the neighborhood, as they mad a fash
lon Of being inclined In tat direction
themselves. That Tillie was a good
girl, was proved by her fondness for
her father and mother and her implicit
obedience to their slightest wishes.
This may have led to some tiny heart
aches and some tears in the silence
and privacy of her own chamber, but
beyond this she made no sign.
Jack Sweets attentions to Tillie had
been 20 pronousced lately that the gOs-
sips had begun to speak Of 1t with
much openness, and finally the deacon
noticed IL and at once entered upon a
crusade against the approaches of the
Evil One In the person Of Jack Sweet,
the unregenerate.
The deacon had n fashion of deliver
ing his mandates to Tillie by proxy,
his wife acting as his ambassador on
these occasions. l am inclined to think
that ue was little bit afraid Of the