The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1896-01-02
Ihe Isoub1e Between Deacon Jones
AZ and NIX. Snyder.
BY'&BE@ E.~aExroRD.
i Christmas Episode.

to do on Christmas.
"We've promised to take dinner
with the Williamses," said Mrs.
Jones. "You know, none of the
children can come home this year,
SO we're goin' out to dinner for the
first time almost sehce I've KEEP house.
I don't rememE@ O eatin' Chris
mas dinner aw@N from home more'n
two or three times since Twas married.
1 feel just as nervous m tidgety over
it as 1 can be, fer Mrs. Williams
she's invited Mr.. Snyder, m you
know how 'tis between him NJ the
deacon. I shan't draw an easy
breath till it's all over. 1 wish we
didn't have to go, or that Mr.. Sny-
der Want invited, or there was
suthin' to keep them two men apart.
! know they'll git to wranglin' m
likes not have a regular quarrel.
I don't take minniCs comfort
thinkin' of it. | sh'll feel jcst's if |
was settin' on :. kag O gunpowder
that might explode any minnit."
"Its too bad that they keep
a-hangin' to that OF diflikilty like
dogs to bonc," said Mrs. Perkins.
81 sh'd think they'd be sick of it by
this time. Everybody else is. 1t
happened SO long ago that don't
seem to remember what it was about;
i but Tve heard so much about it that
4 Pve got used to it, jest as | have to
q the meetin' house, or anything else
y I've known ever sence | was a girl"
i s'It was about the meetin'- house,
= explained Mrs. Jones. "You know
y they wanted to build a new one, m
Il the deacon he wanted it in one place,
q m Mr.. Snyder he wanted it somc'rs
else, m both of 'cm bcin' SO con-
& trairy, they set out that if they
skcouldn't have their own way there
shouldn't be new one, n they
squarrcllcd m quarrellcd till they got
the whole ncighborhood by the ears,
m the consequence is we hain't had
ANY new mectin'- house, m | don't
s see's we're ever like to have. I've got
,2| 10 sick O. the thing, hearin' the dca-
ss9 on harp on it by spells all these
FEARS, that I've wished, morc'n once,
here could be law made to shct up
lis mouth cv'iy time he thought of
St. But, good land, that'd kill him !"
aughed Mrs. Jones. 81 do b'lecvc
lie injoys abusin' Mr.. Snyder, m |
pose Mr.. Snyder's Jest as bad, from
| hat I'yc heard. They're we'll
natched."
S ut's too bad, anyway" said Mrs,
erkins, with Il sigh. "lt's made II,
pd o. hard fcclin's in the church
' rendered the work morc'n every
hing else that's ever happened. w,
|3Sl like 'em both. They re awfu
pod men in most ways, but it seems
s eff they was kind O. loony on thi.
DC pint. lwondcr if twill ever b,
titled ?"
s "Not till one or t'other dies" sal,
rs. Jones, decidedly. "Thcy'r,
st alike-contrairy as two men even
uld bc-'n' neither Of 'em II evel
in to the other, unless there's
nerricle, which | don't s'pose II
r take place. | can't imagine
per Of 'em admittin' he was wrong.
ss ley re too set fer that"
We need a new meetin'- '-house the
gst way" said Mrs. Perkins. "The
one's been patched up an fixed
SS till there amt much chance O
SsSS anything more for it. EFF they
3st agree, | don't see why they
dn't keep still N let the Others
sde about a new one
ketch 'cm a-doin' thct," said
'3|s| Jones. "They re jest as stub
to-day as they was twenty year
It's You shall do my way or
sshantt do anything with 'em.
Il told the deacon it wa MT right
christian to act so, but he all'avs
Z up N gifts SO mad that Eve got
hardly ever mention it, fer the
o. peace. | feel jest as sure as
e that there III be Il set-to be-
lSsszs 'em cf they both go to Mrs.
Eamses, ~ go they both viii,
woaldn't stay away for fear the
|sS'ss d say lie ddsscn't come. | most
al the deacon d be sick SO he had
& y to home. | don't b'lceve it's
4 I'D to feel that way, fer | hate
ellin' any time, m Especially
mas"
Jones felt it her duty to
hing to her husband about the
on Christmas morning, be-
pey started for church, from
place they were to go to tn,
ms homestead.
Lem'wel, | do hope you
et your temper git the upper
& you to-day" she said. "Fol
Is sake, don't git into dis.
th Mr.. Snyder"
bose you'd have me hump up
ass Ter anythinp he iuioht see fl