Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1900-01-04
HOW MARTHA ANN KEPT THE SABBATH
BY ELLA VAN HEEKEREN.

grandmother had worked with her
own hands and which brought her
fame and fortune at the county fair
nearly so years before; the fame con-
sisted in the verdict of her neighbors
that she was "a pesky smart woman"
and the fortune in new fve-dollar
gold piece.
But SO years of constant exhibition
and subsequent use had brought the
high and mighty counterpane down to
an everyday sort of quilt, and now
Silas would fain have covered his
sleepy head with the same, and stolen
40 winks more, but there was work in
the west lot, chores about the house,
and outside OF all that NIarthy AIMS
shrill voice was calling from the bot
tom of the back stairs that it was
"time he was stirring" The west lot
and chores shrank into insignifcance
alongside of Martby AIMS voice.
You'll find your store clothes in
the company room, and your bill ed
shirt and clean socks in the press"
This from the invisible Marthy.
"Going to have company today?
There's a heap of work over in the
west lot that / somehow ought to get
to-" answered Silas from the head of
the Stairs.
Marthy AIMS eyes opened wide
with astonishment For the first time
in their married life Silas Higgins
proposed working on Sunday. but
che shouldn't do it, no, he shouldn't
do it if she could prevent it, and it
was very likely that she could"
Marthy AIMS voice was awful in its
solemnity, 1.-The Lord will send down
His wrath upon you and your children
unto the third aud fourth generation.
AS ere were no heirs to misfortune
or otherwise, this was dire threat.
you'll be a byword among your
neighbors, working on the holy Sab
bath.
She was now the visible, Marthy, for
mounting the stairs she stood in the
bedroom door, in one hand fork, in
the other dish towel, while righteous
mitigation showed forth in every
gesture. Silas beat hasty retreat by
putting his head into bowl of water.
Splash, splash! "Reckon L must
have slept kinder hard, Marthy Ann"
splash, splash, ''lost all count on the
days q thought it was a Saturday"
splash. splash.
Marthy Ann retreated somewhat
Modified, but on the fourth step she
turned back to announce that the
"bacon was done to turn AMI the
coffee billed.
All during breakfast Silas was very
quiet.
''It do beat all how a imam can Get
so turned bout" he said. Reckon
we'll have 70 buy one of them new
tangled calendars over at Hicks
store"
''No need of them sort of things
round here, Sias Higgins. All the
calendar that's wanted is the work
done regular like. Pears you've got
no faith in my eckoning."
Silas had all faith imaginable, and
fastened to inform her of the fact,
while he offered his best team to go to
meeting.
''The PARSONS laid up with rheu-
miticks," replied Marthy, 81 saw
the doctor driving over yonder yester-
day, and he reckoned the parson
wouldn't get to preach in fortnight
There comes Pete now; wonder what's
bringing him over here!'
BY this time Pete hal opened the
kitchen door on crack, thrusting his
frowsy head, and presently his whole
body, into the narrow space.
81 say!' he began, at the same time
describing circle with his bare toes
on the floor. "No. pa says will yer
loan him team; there is a heap of
hay wants hauling, and he celebrates
on some rain fore long"
''Law sakes!' said Marthy Ann, be-
pened to the men folks! Guess your
ma don't know of such doings Yer
go straight home and tell yer pa we'll
not lend hand to such wickedness
and evil ways. He's cut his wisdom
teeth, / reckon, good time past, and
ought to be knowing better. Now
you can give him that message
straight"
Pete stayed only long enough to
take a good stare at Mrs. Higgins,
then lost no time in leaving her au-
gust presence. few handsprings
and a couple of somersaults brought
him rapidly to his destinations; there
he was not long in stirring up the fam
lily wrath by delivering his message in
decidedly graphic and efficient man
ner. The little Browns declared they'd
"get even" and getting even with the
Browns meant a surplus on their side.
Meanwhile in happy Ignorance of
what the future held in store, Silas
sat contentedly smoking his pipe on
the front porch. After the dishes had
been washed and put in their place,
Marthy Ann ioire him, bringing her
Bible. To be sure. she was no great
hand to read, particularly aloud, for
Silas corr ected her pronunciation, and
if Marthy Ann had any weakness it
was to be at all times and in al places