Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1898-03-05
AN EQUATION OF ERRORS.

"Yes, bartholomew, L don t doubt
it's s nice place, as you say, and
should admire taking vacation by
the salt water, but seeing that you
made a trip down there on purpose
to get the lay OF the land, as it were.
there's one thing | wonder you did
mt inquire about.
"Darius's folks told me there
wasn't any Sunday privileges on the
island. There wasn't any meeting.
house they said, nearer than Beach
port, and the boarders go out row.
ing and fishing just the same as
week days.
well, says /, 'that'll spoil the
place Tor your uncle when he finds
out about it. He never could stand
such works. That's just the way I
spoke,' and Mrs. Bump returned
with vigor to the massage treatment
she was ltstowing en- her husband 3
coat
That gentleman smiled screnely
and tipping his chair on its bind legs
.teetered gently.
'.Lucretia,' he said, cit is funda-
mental principle in this world that a
man will be likely to see what he is
looking for. Now, / haven't doubt
but that if Darius's folks had looked
for meeting houses they would have
had as good luck as did.
"There was only the tip Of the
spire to be seen, but l do suppose l
can sight s.eeple as quick as some
men would scent out a saloon. I
shall expect Bart and Ben to 60 to
meeting every Sabbath and stay to
Sunday School-if there is any,"
Here these small personages ex-
changed gloomy glances while their
father went on:
mo, Lucretia,' he said, sit shall
never be said that sons of mine
spent the Sabbath in sport. They
shall set a good example for the rest
of the young people there. The
Westinghouse 1 discovered is across
the water on sort of piomontory,
as it we're, SO am sorry to say we
shall have to take boat ride to get
there
A luminous change passed over
the countenances of the young
Bumps at this point.
"But," continued Mr.. Bump, II
intend TO hire a skiff by the week
and do my own rowing so 1 don't
know as it will be any more sinful
than to drive to meeting in my car.
ryall."
The Bumps arrived at the seaside
on the following week. The mother
of the family being fatigued with her
journey retired early, but not as it
proved to slumber.
The deacon was a sound sleeper,
but for this very reason his wife had
fallen into the way of sleeping with
one ear open for weasels among the
hens, or thieves in the melon patch,
and was easily aroused.
A prolonged nasal refrain, which
required at regular intervals all
night and seemed to proceed from
some apartment not far away, eff
fectually banished sleep from the
worthy lady's pillow.
The second and third nights were
quite resonant. and Mrs. Bump be-
gan to wax indignant. She deelar-.
ed that she could pick ont The trans
gressor from houseful, and after
critical observation of all who Sue
knew had rooms on the same floor
as herself, fastened her suspicious
upon a certain small, swarthy man,
with a prodigious hooked nose,
which she felt sure was capable of
those unearthly sounds.
at is your duty to speak to him,
Bartholomew she said. 81 shall
be raying maniac If this keeps
on"
The deacon groaned. He knew
what was involved when Lucretiat
made up her mind in regard 10 bis
duty.
As The week drew toward its close
Mrs. Bump, Who felt tie loss of
sleep, hsd Increasingly clear views
OF her husbands duty.
But, Lucretia.' lie protest ed ,