The Republican journal., 1902-11-20
PING PONG AT THE PARSONAGE.
Florence NJ. Woodmansee in the Unique
Monthly.


week after its arrival it was nearly I'M
possible to get either of our boys to
split the kindlings or bring in a basket !
of chips. and as for the parson, his ser |
mon on sunday morning displayed less
depth of thought than usual, while on
Sunday night we got an old one, which,
to my certain knowledge, he had preach
ed at least twice before.
Billy and Johnnie invited Deacon
Benefits son, James, to play with
them. James spread the news abroad
and every other boy and some of the
girls of the village dropped in to try
the fascinating game.
Then Sister Bennett read in the Dan
vers weekly paper that Ping Pong had
taken the place of cards at fashionable
assemblies and that club men We're los
ing arge sums of money at it. She took
the item to the sewing circle Il CHANGED
to be absent that afternoon), and read it
TO the sisters.
'Mhy, it must be a gambling game,
cried one and all, and they've got one
at Parson Swans How dreadful"
There was little quilting done that
afternoon and Sister " ebster got SO ex-
cited she put three drawings OF tea in
the pot at supper time.
lAe next morning, lust as we were
sitting down to breakfast, Deacon Ben
nett happened along and looked in at
the open window.
pretty warm weather for May
says he, but its likely to be warmer
around here before night
What is the matter now, Brother
Bennett:" inquired my husband, who
understands the Deacon and his droll
way of getting at things;
seven women shall lay hold OF one
man sad he with mrt4-proVoklng
tWlSt o1 ms eountenf'lce. guess one
is ABOUT All you can manage ana so
you d better go over to the MINISTERS
meeting al DanVers arc let frscllla
take care ol lhe SIX others VINO are TO
com" up mere 10 nlVP'llSa1e pllaI ungod-
" game OF yours 5hls AFTERNOON.
W n"1 90 you mean: eSe!almeo my
Alsndnu'
'N2.nsha Bennett, cried l., do you
come III mere thlS minute ana explain
yourself
HaVe 40 une 10; thev IL 90 the e&-
plalhlhg as soon as olnnef IS out OF me
way ana Ihes can set thell aprons ol,
ne ItPlltu. uldh want tnem 10
hght down ana ma you entirely unpre-
pared nul expect IL MIS- Bennett
shouId ma l oeen mere ana told she
"oula CONSIDER l q committed ofeach
OF rQiiIloellce
no are coming: asked as ne
turned away
tie ahooh HIS lieaa ana was waking
OF.
~ you uoil ! ielt me II not only
let IT'S beNlletl, plll all the other LADIES'
Know WHAT you We done, and then some
LhllS would De 10 pay L called after
nun
lIe came back.
Don I you ever give me away Prls
ella. and don you let on to your boys.
II | hadn't known they stald over to
JACKSON last night | wouldn't nave
ddf-'. come mere tins morning.
i4tn he told me about the sewing So
clety meeting and the names OF the IN
Yestigators. Mrs. Bennett headed the
HSt.
t'ar5on looked distressed was some
what vAXed, but not troubled specially.
81 was "a read paper at that minis
+ers meet = and this is the afternoon
the Episcopal clergyman sister was to
take TEA with YOU. groaned the Par
son.
Il vas and It is, said | decidedly.
'.No SIX M"lneu III TINS village, Provi-
ueuce not otherwise interfering, are GO
ing 10 upset my visit with Miss Strong.
AS fo1 you, you Will Just drive over to
DaHyerS as you planned and YOU need
NOT hurry home, for I'm gong to give
4 Sc meWhat larger tea party than you
supposed and as Brother Bennett su--
gtstrd, / can manage my guests better
alone.
Il DO not really Know as it is your
duty 10 ask those women to remain to
tea alter they come upon such an er-
faud sald the Parson.
4 shall ask them before they come
said /, Il III gong now to write a note
TO each one OF them, inviting them To
meet Miss Strong this afternoon. They
all hold her rather in awe, and between
you and NE my dear, with her gentle
dignity and my good supper working to-
gether, | think we will manage TO tide
over this matter and have nobody feel
ings hurt,
And, / suppose, harmless as it seems,
we must put away the game, said Par
son, fer | hold with st. Paul, If the
eating of meat causeth my brother to
offend, then ! will eat no more meat.
When are you going to Kill that
toWl:' | asked, looking ont at one of
his prize cockerels shutting about in
Tie ward