Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1900-01-04

some good, wholesome truths to Silas,
and try to keep him in the narrow
path.
She had just finished the ten COM
mandments, laying particular stress
on keeping the Sabbath day holy,
when carryall came numbering along
the road, filed to overfowing with
the youth aud beauty from the village.
They were so happy among themselves,
singing the popular airs with such
zest, that they passed the two on the
porch unnoticed.
''Some folks thinks the Lords laid
up with the rheumiticks, Martha
groaned, "along with the parson; but
they'll find themselves mistook. It's
no decent folks that'll be having their
acquaintance. I've lived nigh on to
20 years bout these parts, and never
seed such goings on.
Marthy Ann took good pains to wait
for their return, and planted herself
by the gate. AS they neared the
house Josh Blinkly reined in his
horses.
afternoon, Mrs. Higgins; nice
weather, only the dust is smotheling.
Martha held herself rigid, not
muscle moved, while Josh, in dilem-
ma at her strange behavior, hid his
confusion under a pretense of fecking
the fl es off of old Charley's back.
There was a giggle from the back
seat which proved too much for Mar
thy Ann.
Remember the Sabbath day to keep
it holy" was all she said, but she
turned her back on the wayward sin
ners, AMI marched straight up the
path and into the house, leaving Josh
to whip mp his horses and drive on.
"Pm awfully sorry for Silas," said
the offending gigsler; sit do seem
that Martny Ann Higgins gets more
cranky every day"
Mrs. Silas Higgins was noted for
miles round for having the snowiest
linen on the line. ''Give it good
sunning," she said, ''get your wash
out early, and don't be in hurry
fetching 1t in." SO on the following
morning, true to her principles, she
was up betimes, got her breakfast out
of the way, selding Silas off half an
hour earlier than usual, then getting
the tubs out on the back porch, set to
work.
1t was with great satisfaction that
she viewed her snowy sh, cts as they
swayed ack and forth in the soft sum-.
mer bi eeze, and thought within her.
self that Mrs. Brown wouldn't yet be
through her breakfast dishes.
She had nearly finished starching
Silas' shirt when sudden sound
made her drop the piece on the
ground. ''For the lands sake! there
goes the meeting house bell; what's
up now, 1 wonder? I've great mind
to run over TO Deacon Whites and
see if they know" But look at the
work still on hand determined her to
remain at home, and she went on deft-
ly pinning the shirts seam to seam
and the towels tapping.
At dinner she questioned Silas as
to the bells, but he hadn't heard them,
and guessed she was dreaming; still to
satisfy her he'd drive down to the vii
lage and inquire.
''You might fetch up that barrel of
Hour from the station as you come
back, and just leave this bundle at
Widow Jones'" SO Silas harnessed
Bobbin to the cart, and, takin from
the top peg in the hall his old straw
hat, he started on his errand.
AS Marthy Ann was passing win
dow in the hall ON her way upstairs to
'tidy up bit" she was startled by
the strange appearance OF her wash,
and, hurrying down, was still more
surprised. for in the place of her linen
hung great squares of white paper
bearing this inscription: keep the
Sabbath Iav Holey."
"Humphn' she ejacu ated, ''some
people are small" And tearing down
the offending placards she replaced
the clothes which had been thrown in
heap to one side. If she had looked
close, she would have found fresh
gap in the hedge which divided the
Browns farm from theirs.
'Tve had more scares than enough
today" she thought as she sat down
to her darnipg. "Whatever makes
the folks stop at our gate and stare, 1
don't know. Lord deliver me from
company on Monday"
just then there came knock at the
front door, and Marthy AIMS heart
failed; still she could rise to any occa-
sion, and she did SO now, letting her
visitor in none too graciously.
1t was Deacon White. dressed in
his meeting clothes and carrying his
Bible under his arm. Putting his silk
hat under the chair. he sat down by
Marthys side.
81 reckon you'll not mind if L go
on with my work, said Marthy Ann,
breaking off the cotton with her teeth;
there's a heap to do somehow today
and big wash. Your folks through?'
Sister Higgins" answered the
deacon, and his voice was almost q
thetic, ''let us prayl' and down went