The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1902-08-13

PICTURS.
anything to say. You are deacon in
the church, but deacons want taikln'
to now and then as we'll as other folks.
Three or four mornin's ago you woke
up and found hog in the garden. You
Jumped for club and ran him four
times about the place, and just as he
went through a hole in the fence you
brought him a whack and said some
thin to yourself. What it was dun
no, but that hog turned around and
looked at you in amazement, and 1
heard a boy laugh out and clap his
hands. Zadok, I've got my suspicious
I've got my suspicious that after bein'
a hyin' example for forty years you
are gettin' tired Of your job and want
to become wicked and go to boss races
and county conventions"
Mr.. Dolby hitcAed about uneasily
and pulled at the leaves of the Virgin
Ia creeper running up beside him. but
did not defend himself. He was al
lowed to have three minutes to do it
In, and then Mrs. Dolby set her foot
to trotting and went on:
zone afternoon last week you was
saunterin' about the back yard with
your hands behind you and contented
look on your face. I was lookin' at
you and thinkin' what q good man you
was when you stepped on blade Of
hoe and the handle few up and fetched
you whack on the head. You rub
bed the spot, gave one look around.
and then you kicked in the head Of the
old vinegar barrel and said somethin'
as many as five times over. couldn't
catch the words. but my blood run cold
for the next hour. Ever since then
! I've been askin' myself If Pm livin'
with a man who may begin to chaw
terbacker and bet on elections any
mornin' in the year. Only last night
dreamed you had been churched for
swearin' and that we was dividin' up
the things and was goin' home"
Mr.. Dolby started to sigh, but saw
two grasshoppers engaged in deadly
combat on the ground and checked I
to watch the struggle. He was men
tally putting up plunk that the cock
eyed hopper would win over the old
baldhead when Mrs. Dolby put on a
more severe look and continued:
'T'm no hand to bring up things,
Zadok, as you know. but I'm q truth
full person and don't beat about the
bush. You had never been to q circus
when we got married, and you have
never been to one since. You allus said
that Satan and the circus was twin
brothers. know they have been post
in up bills for circus that's comm to
town In two weeks, but I've been care
full not to look at 'em. I've felt it my
duty as your wife to turn my head
away when passed the pictur's, and if
there had been any feelin' that I'd like
to see the elephant I've come home
and washed my mouth out with pep
per sass. Yes, I've done all this, "a
dok, but how is it with you? 1t wasn't
three days ago that Mrs. Graham saw
you standin' in front Of lot Of circus
picturs, and you was so wrapped up in
'em that you didn't hear her speak to
you. She said she'd bet you'd sneak
of to the performance at night if you
wasn't afraid everybody would see
you. She didn't tell it to be mean, but
she thought it was her duty. When
q deacon begins to go down hill, his
wife had better look out. He's liable
to murder her any day. Zadok, if Sa-
tan has got hold of you 1 want to know
it. I want to help you to wrassle with
him. Have you q feelin' that you'd
like to go to the circus:'
The grasshopper fight was ended by
this time, with cockeye as victor, and
Mr.. Dolby had been asked straight
question. He didn't answer, however.
There was a wistful look on his face,
and the memory of those pictures rose
up before him, but he sighed softly and
wondered if the hen that was trying
to crowd under the gate would accom-
pIsh the feat.
"And what did my brother Moses
have to tell me three or four days
ago" asked Mrs. Dolby as touch Of
pathos came to her tone. "Moses is no
hand to tell things. When his cow
died two years ago, he never said a
word about it for weeks. He didn't