Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1897-01-14


known good many men, and tell you
| never seen one like him."
Sister, sister," murmured the presid-
ing deacon. ''be moderate"
BE moderated" exclaimed Miss Pene-
lope, turning on him. That's what |
am. It's you all that's crazy. / don't
know what to make of YOU. Why, that
mans in the prime of life. and you say he's
old. He's only sixty-ive, and as straight
as dart. Hearing good; eyes good. Can
take care of horse and COW. and drive
fifteen miles to out-stations--l notice,
when you want good doctor it's the old
one You go to; when you want good law
yer it's the old one that knows most: and
why, for mercy sake, don't the old minis
ter know best about your immortal soul
which is more important than the body?
Why, you deacon Grey" looking at the
man beside her, ARE seventy-two, and
we don't call you old vet; you're eighty,
| deacon Flint" and she pointed out man
in the front seat: land you call yourself
as sound as a nut You're ffty-ninet
| Aunt Susan Fiske, and look how you run
| up and down stairs-smart as cricket"
The avenging finger and still more aven-
| ging voice sought out one of the church
members after another. Women sqnirm-
| ed in their seats, men tried to wriggle be.
hind posts, In vain. Miss Penelope's
sole accomplishment was a marvellous
memory for ages, and this was the first
| chance that she had ever had of exhibit
| ing it in public. So on she went until at
last murmur arose of Put her down.
She appealed to Deacon Grey. Stimut
lated by the keenseScitcment of having so
| mans pairs of eyes fixed on her, so many
| n,;n, 70 1,,r, hon ha RI
| wish to stop. And then she was pleading
for her beloved Brother Pastor.
Amt in order?" she cried. I've got
the Aoor-I'm church member and this
a business meeting. | amt talking re-
iigion. now. but common sense"
Yes. yes: you're in ORDER he NUT
tered. but cut your remarks short, sis
ter. cut them short.
Miss Penelope hurried on. Whats a
church for. brethren and sisters? To con-
vert sinners, amt it? Well I'll tell you
by your soings-on just now. you're MAX
ing sinners instead of converting them.
Look at here?" and she dramatically
threw off the newspaper wrapper and dis.
played the facetious idol sitting on the
table.
The people all gaped at it. You re.
member it, said Miss Penelope, triumph
antly, the little Hindu god the mission
aries sent me through Brother Pastor
Well, a few days ago-you know how the
children love him-I found whole ca
doodle of them dancing like wildcats
round this-ths mummy, One of ZEN
said her ma might have joined the church
if we had behaved ourselves. now she
wouldn't. and the child was going TO be q
heather. Think of that. brethren anC
sisters. l took this idol away, hut shes
going to make another, Amt it awful
Joined hands and dancing around it, anc
laying apple parings and bits of food he
fore it, in this Christian land. And WI
ascending missionaries to India. guess
we need them right here. We're making
heather: that's what we're doing. and tn,
. Lord will punish u.s."
Miss Penelope paused hreathlessly ant
surveyed her audience. Some of the broth
ers and sisters looked angry, some a littl
ashamed none relenting. Apparently sh
, had done no good, and the young man Of
the back seat smiled sarcastically.
, Her excitement tled-she broke down
and like the prophets of old stretched on
:, imploring hands over n disohedient an
, gansaying people. well, then, let hir
! go-let him CO." she cried, but you wi
/ break his heart and your own too, for 20
n love him and he loves you"
She rushed to her seat and covered he
face with her hands, and fore a few mir
/ utes the derisive idol made faces at
u silent audience. Then there was sui
dned rustling, lust as it," said poor Mis-
= Penelope afterwards, 1.-THE spirit of tn
Lord was whispering to the church.
There had been magic in her last word
I Here and there soul was stricken wit
> remorse. Women thinking of dead chile
!, rem that Brother Pastor had tenderl
buried were heard to sob, men. to-
$ thought of solemn and happy times whe
he had stood firmly by them. How coul
e they let him go: The scales fell frol
u their eyes and the meeting broke up
: such a tumult of remorse that the shrew
u ''candidating' young man slipped out II
door as quickly as he could, and was see
L in the valley no more.
i A number of people pressed about Mi
II Penelope. and made special inquire
e about the afflicted Brother Pastor.
II Sister" called man hastily to he
ie ''shall the house of Cod be detled by 8
n idol?" and he pointed to the GRIMM
!. image on the table.
IL NO" said Miss Penelope, joyful
4, mot if Brother Pastor stays" and 81
gave it smart rap on the head that Sc
y it on the floor in twenty pieces.
Is Before the congregation separated d
D. nation party was hurriedly arranged
u take place Christmas evening at the pa
AZ sonage.
Instead of the blank. terrible holid
~ that Miss Penelope and Brother Past
II had anticipated, they had a gay and chez
DO full festival. Among the presents, stran
$. &c to say. was a long mirror, in which Brot
er Pastor will he able TO survey more q
= curately the ravases of time than he d
81 in his cracked looking glass.
~ Ile will never he allowed to leave t
ne valley. though. The sensible people the
IS will not lose their heads again. He h
al given the best years of his life TO I
"l church. and when he does get old an
pc sistant will he provided for him-a serv
NY which is only his Just due.
Held for Court.
'c- Charles Adams, colored, came TO Il
er police station about O. 30 0 clock Thu