The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-03-10

| TRYING TO CONQUER THE DEACON
SCRUPLEs.
He found the AK, condemned - it for some
time as to its dizziness and bad condition, but
finally attacked with it a tree which had been
| hauled up back of the company line for fuel
1t was hard work, and presently he sat down
to rest. Loud words OF command came from
just beyond the hill, and he walked over there
to see what was going ON. He saw regi-
ment drilling, and watched it for some min
utes with interest. Then he walked back to
his work, but found to his amazement that
his AK was gone He could see nobody around
on whom his suspicious could rest
- Mebbe somebody's borrowed it, he said,
"and will bring it back when he's through
usin' it, If he don't kin buy better ak
for 10 or II bits. Somebody must have axes
for sale round here, somewhere"
He waited awhile for the borrower to re-
turn the tool but as he did not, he gathered
up a load Of wood and carried it up TO the
cabin.
1.-The boys'll be mighty hungry when they
git back this evenin'," said he to himself
PHI jest git up good supper for 'em. I'll
show ST that the old man knows some p'ints
about cookin', even if he haint bin in the
army, thatll open the youngsters eyes"
He found tin pan, put in it generous
supply of beans, and began carefully picking
them over and blowing the dust out the same
as he had often seen his wife do Having
finished this to his satisfaction, he set down
the pan and went back into the cabin to get
the kettle to boil them in. When he re-
turned, he found that pan and beans had
vanished, and again he saw no one upon
whom he could fix his suspicious. The good
Deacon began TO find the ''old Adam rising
within him." but rs a faithful member of the
church he Tepressed his choler
= can't hardly believe all that ST and
Shorty said about the dishonesty of Co. @"
he cOmmuned with himself ''Many o. the
boys in it | kn0w-they're right from our
neighbOrhOOd. Good boys as ever lived. and
honest as the day is long, Some o them be-
l0nged to our Sunday-schOol l can't believe
that they've turned out had so SOON Yet it
looks awful suspicious The last one see
around here was Jed. Baskins His fathers
reggerly ordained preacher. Jed. never
could We took them beans. But who on airth
done it?'
The Deacon carefully fastened the door of
the cabin, and proceeded with his camp
Kettle to the spring TO get some water He
found there quite Il crowd, with many in line
waiting their chance at the spring. He stood
around awhile awaiting his chance. but it did
not seem to get any nearer He said some
thing about the length of time it took, and a
young fellow near remarked:
Here, Uncle, give me your kittle. I'll
git it filled for you"
Without thought the Deacon surrendered
the kettle TO him, and he took his place in
line. The Deacon watched him edging up
toward Va for
then his attention was called to brigade
in field across the river. After
awhile he thought again about his kettle, and
looked for the kindly young man who had
volunteered to fill it. There were several in
the line who looked like him, but none whom
he could positively identify as him.
Which o. you boys got my kittle?" he
inquired, walking along the line.
Got your kittle, you blamed teamster,"
they answered Grossly. "Go away from here.
We don't allow teamsters at this spring It's
only for soldiers. Go to your own spring"
His kettle was gone, too. That was clear
As the Deacon walked back to the cabin he
was very hot in the region of his collar He
felt quite Shameiaced, too, as to the way the
boys would look on his management in the
face of the injunctions they had given him
at parting. His temper was not improved by
that while he was gone some one
had carried off the bigger part of the wood
he had laboriously chopped and piled up in
front of the cabin. He sat down in the door
way and meditated angrily:
''Ill be dumbed There, I'm glad that
Marian didn't hear me say that. I'm afeard |
I'm gittin to swear just like these other fell
lers). I'll be dumbed if / ever imagined |
there wuz sch a passed. o. condemned thieves
OH the face o the airth. And they all seem
sich nice, gentlemanly fellers, too. What'll |
we do with them when they git back home?" !
Presently he reused himself up to carry !
put his idea of getting a good meal ready |
Tor the boys by the time they returned tired |
and hungry. He rummaged through the |
cabin, and came across an old tin bucket |
partially filled with scraps of paper. There
lid not seem to be anything of value in it, !
md he tossed the contents on the smoldering
ire. Instantly there was an explosion which |
ook the barrel off the top of the chimney,
sent the stones rafting down, filled the room
full of smoke, singed the Deacon'S hair and
whiskers, and sped him out of the cabin in
great alarm. crowd quickly gathered to
zee what was the matter. Just then ST APP
oeared at the head of his squad. He and /
shorty hurried to the scene OF the disturb
lnce.
''What is the matter, Pap?" ST asked
Why" explained his father - was
ookin' round for something to git water in,
nd found an old tin bucket, with scraps o.
,aper in. l throwed them in the fire. and
IN feared l busted your fireplace all to
'ieces. But I'll help you to fix it up agin,"
lie added deprecatingly.
" But you amt hurt any, are you, Pap?"
sked 81, anxiously examining his father,