The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1901-08-09
CHANGING HIS NAME.

Ahhes oNe hlbNeu as eue pAaA1a Ah'
Vast candle, one more than the pre-
vlQus year. How fast those little wax
EN- milestones seemed TO multiply!
Several years before, when the
whole surface of the cake was so
thickly studded that she could find
no place for the new taper, Miss Han
cock paused to ponder.
Was not IS a good age at which to
lose COUNT
The temptation was great. But all
false pretense was abhorrent to the
Sturdy Hancock nature. Prevarication
EVEN to ones self was not to be toll
Grated. And what folly could equal
in Stiffness that Of attempting to con-
ceal ones age?
The tapers were red, white and
blue. The Republic and Miss Debor-
an celebrated the anniversary Of their
birth upon the same day.
A light tap sounded at the door.
Deborah carefully locked her pantry
door before admitting her visitor.
Mother wants to know If you
ton't go over to the picnic with us
morrow?
me go to the picnic! Why, Ellen
Ann, l amt been to a picnic for 20
years! Thank your ma, but"
"Oh, do come, Miss Deb You know,
we're going to celebrate the incor-
poration of Hilton. as well as the
Fourth"
Come in and think it over"
h', With a blush and a giggle the girl
st a backward glance over her
sA1ulder. 81 can't come in tonight.
BIT you be ready and we will stop
for you in the morning"
Miss Deborah followed the girls
glance and smiled as she caught sight
Of a dark figure lurking in the shadow
Of the lilacs by the fence,
ooh, it's JOEL" she said.
Ellen Ann giggled.
Perhaps it was the remembrance of
her own unfinished romance which
4Sde her heart particularly tender
t6Ward all lovers. Be that as it may,
she was the village conhdante. Many
awkward youths and shy maids
blessed her for the kindly way in
which she sped their wooing.
The next morning when Ellen AIMS
brother with a flourish brought his
hay wagon to a stand before Miss De-
nborah's door, ne found her waiting,
lunch basket beside her.
The exercises were opened by a
long and fervent prayer by Parson
Elihu Griffin. Then the schooimaster,
a spare, stoop-shouldered young man,
with a peculiar irtonation which
made the thinness Of his voice pain
fully apparent, delivered the Declar-
alton of independence.
Then the whole assemblage awoke
the echoes with my Country, 'Tis of
Thee" and the people cheered again
Then Squire Cooper, who had been
recently elected to office, rose and
made some remarks, but detecting
lsigns of restlessness among the
~ younger people, he brought his re
marks down to the pith Of his ad
dress.
"Fellow Townspeople: l have g
surprise in store for you. Hearing
that this day was to be of special in
terest to the inhabitants of his birth
place. one of our sons who has made
name for himself in the politica
world. yet has still retained in hi'
heart warm regard for his old name
has come down to join in our festivi
ties. and has consented to make
few remarks. Friends, l ask you t.
ioin me in welcoming the Hon. Johl
Smith"
The cheering mercifully drowned
Miss Deborah's painful little gasps o
CONSERVATION. No one noted her pal
face. All eyes were upon their illus
trious townsman.
- The Hon. John Smith did not detail
his hearers long. He referred to tn
fact that they were all more cage
n attend to the contents of their wei
filled hampers than to anything h
might have to say. He also said tina
he was anxious to leave the platforr
and come down among them and see
out and shake hands with his oil
Deborah felt that she must go ava
by herself and recover her lost equal
unity. Selling upon two pals she Il
sisted on going to the spring Il
water. She started off briskly, b.
behind the first clump Of bushes st
4 cast aside the pals and sat down
give her thoughts full sway.
Miss Deborah smiled as she confer