The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1897-03-04

and then looking toward me she DON
tinued, II kant keep you.n Hit would
never do for me to allow a widdwer
in this yer home all night. Just to
think what my neighbors would heve
to say. You see, gentlemen, I'm a
widow and must be mighty keeIful. y
At this point my companion Dame
to my rescue. "Oh, yes madam, you
certainly can keep my friend. He is
a minister of the gospel" On hear
ing this bit of news the widow rushed
across the room, grasped my hand
and holding it in vice-like grip, she
asked, BE you a preachers" an
swered her, that was my calling.
What's your creed?' "Hardshell
Baptist" | answered. You'll do,
you kin stay here as long as you want.
Here, Sandy, you go to the smoke
house and bring some ham an some
o them fresh eggs, and you, Marian,
peel some taters. I'll grind tie &C flee
and make the biskit." Sandy WIS a
girl with flaXen hair, about eigh-
teen years old, and her sister
Maria was about two years younger.
May | ask you, madam, if you were
not raised in Pennsylvania Sure!
born and raised in Union county.
How in the name of Samhill did you
find hit QUIT" II only guessed at it, -
| said. Il noticed how clean and
neat you keep your house; your tin
ware is as bright as a new silver dol
lar, and your floor is as white as bone.
| spent several months in Union
county, and while there | noticed
that most of the housekeepers were
scrupulously neat and clean In one re-
spect they were remarkably clenly.
| refer to their habit of using snuff.
Many of the best ladies in the neigh
borhood where | was sojourning used
snuff, but | never saw one who in
dulged in that luxury while around
her cooking "Taint no sin to rub
snuff, is it, preacher?n she asked.
No. replied, If one does not abuse
the privilege, besides it is more com
mendable than chewing gum Now
| had my suspicious about this woman
using snuff around when | first en-
tered the house, for she placed upon
the mantle a round tin box about the
size Of one of those small blueing
boxes, therefore gave her the Penn
sylvania racket to keep her from dip
ing until after we had our supper.
In due season supper was an
nOunced. After we gathered around
the table of course it fell to my lot to
ask blessing. During the time we
spent at our meal the widows tongue
ran necessarily. We managed to get
in word at times when she stopped
to get her breath. ''How old be you,
preacher?n About fifty-seven, /
replied. Goodness gracious, why
I'm only forty-twO, but this farm of
one hundred an twenty acres, an
fifty head of stock, an one hundred
an ten sheep, besides hit, the place
below, with only two men to look after
hits all is just wearin' me out. Hits
mighty hard when you have no man
around who does not feel that he has
an interest III the place. | have been
thinkin' of selling off the stock and
movin' somewhere to educate my
girls. Where do you preach?' Cum
berland, madam" Good schools in
Cumberland, preacher?' | assured
her that the educational facilities in
Cumberland were excellent, and at
the same time | wished deep down in
my heart that | had gone out into
the darkness of night and rain in
search of Mr.. HIS place. We COM
planned of being tired and after
! devotional exercises we retired. At
ter goiug to bed we were soon asleep
and knew nothing until we were called
for breakfast. Soon after eating our
morning meal we prepared to take
our departure. Truman asked the
widow for her bill. "Hit's one dollar
and a quarter for you" Yes, but
want the amount for BOTH THE
preachers bill, faint nothin',
never charge for preachers. Can't
you spend Sunday with us, preacher?
I'll drive you to Oakland" assured
her that had an engagement on the
following Sabbath, and after exacting
a promise from me to visit her in the
near future, we bid her goodbye. i
persuaded Truman to give up our
hunt and leave that neck of the
woods. We had no trouble in finding
the place where we had put up our
team. After relating our experience
on the mountain, we bid Mr. H. good
bye and returned to 0. with as little
game as we started.
OfIntereSt to Farm ers.
hn