Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1902-06-20

'AAo oopNJ' Auitdu5lHuy aiius makes
folks big feelin'. You mind the
Tuggels, don't you, and how they
took ON
"Now, Miss Spade.
Il was the Squire again. had
forgotten him for time and be
seemed like an old acquaintance
just returned from long journey.
Miss Spade had forgotten him, too,
and gave a sudden start and began
to hunt wildly for her lesson paper.
What would John Roker do with a
doctor and a woman along?' she
asks. Well, said L i, 's'pose they
was his wife and father-in.law. >
Then she laughed.
But, Becky" expostulated Mrs.
Miller, ''what IN the name o. com
mon sense can be maxim that girl
give up seoh a trip west?"
That's just what I wants to
know and what III find out, Caro-
line. Now, most girls I'D git mar
ried for an excursion like that. But
She recovered it, but it did no good,
for the Squire asked, "What does
the lesson teach us?"
The little spinster ventured no
reply. The Squire glanced at me
but was met with a CLASSY stare.
Mrs. Elisha Marcy in answer to
his inquiring gaze volunteered 1T
teaches us that we should be good
TO our friends relations.
The Squire leaned back and eyed
the ceiling intently for few mo-
ments. Then he elaspei his hands
across his front. and wiggled his
thumbs and smiled on us benignly.
"Come, come, he said, raising
his hands in the sweeping gesture
orators use when they embrace the
whole world. "All of you guess
what the lesson teaches us.
ut teaches US"
"Oh There's Mr.. Marcy. Well
Johnson, what does it teach us?"
"That Mephibosheth did eat at
the Kings table and was lame in
both his feet, answered johnson
in measured tones.
The Squire's thoughts seemed to
fly to the ceiling again. The ven
turesome scholar got very red and
let himself further down in his pew,
so that only his head must have
shown to those behind him. His
wife took up the cudgels in his be-
half, for the silence that followed
her husbands guess seemed weight
ed with contempt and pity.
"Well, Squire, what does the les
son teach us?" she asked sharply.
The old man drew his chin into
his collar and surveyed the adults
over the top of his spectacles.
"The lesson teaches us many
things, Mrs. Marcy, he said slowly,
wiggling his thumbs in unison with
his words. ut teaches us many
things, indeed. In the hull Scrip
tur' know no passage more fraught
with beauty and instruction than
this here same be-yntiful story of
Mephibosheth." Here the teacher
paused and drew forth his watch
an1 wound it. After he had care
fully replaced it in his pocket he re-
sumed wiggling his thumbs and
talking. "The idee occurred to me,
though as l was walkin down here
this very morning, that it was un-
fortunate that the Board had not
thought to put before us in easy
shape the real lessons tot be the
passage we have been stedyin' p"
The watch came out again and was
wound backwards for time amid a
deep hush on the part Of all the
adults. Then the teacher went on
"Perhaps the Board, however,
keepin' in mind the fact that the
vast majority of our scholars is
minors, decided that it was best to
leave somethin' undone that they
might figure it out tor themselves
and thereby grow in grace and sper-
rituality. The Board"
The sharp ring Of a bell stopped
the discourse.
"The five hundred ana fifteenth
hymn, shouted Elisha Marcy.
&" See the mighty host advancin'
Satan leadin on '-the five hundred
and fifteenth hymn. All sing"
"rhe Board havin failed to put
this before us plain, " resumed the
Squire in a loud, hoarse whisper,
"s'pose we all stedy over the matter
carefully in our minds durin' the
week and come prepared next Sab
bath TO tell just what the be-yutiful
story of Mephibosheth teaches US. a"
He wheeled about and sat down.