Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1903-07-04
|. AT THE MATINEE.
BY MARY IRVING KEITH.


4 BIGAIL KETCHUM walked slowly
n around the table gathering up
the supper dishes. She sometimes
paused to read the paper over her
fathers shoulder. Oh, yes! she was
quite old enough to know better, but
her father was slow reader and as
the daily paper was his one in
diligence, he religiously read it word
for word. A large advertisement in
the upper right hand corner caught
Abigail's eye. She read: ''Salina
Theater. Belmont Stock Co., Thurs
day Matinee, Shelter Bay. Mr..
Jere-" Down went the cups in
clatter. Mr.. Ketchum looked up and
frowned and Abigail, glad to hide
her confusion, stopped to gather up
the fragments of broken china. Her
cheeks were burning with excitement
and she scarcely knew how she finish
ed her task. She went to the cellar
where her mother was examining her
fall preserves.
Mother, whispered Abigail, "Jere's
in town; he's going to play at the
Salina Theater Thursday afternoon.
o mother, don't you think we can
go?"
Mrs. Ketchum nearly dropped the
jar of spieed bfackberries she had
been inspecting and turned pathetic
face to her daughter.
you know what your father said,
Abigail
''But, MOTHER pleaded the girl,
che didn't forbid our going to see
Jere, and we could manage it beauti
fully"
'Abbie, dear,' replied the elder
woman, 81 have never yet deceived
your father" but there was look
of determination in the eyes that
again scrutinized the preserves
searching for signs of fermentation.
Abigail turned; an inoffensive sweet
pumpkin CHANGED to be in her way
and giving it a vicious little kick she
sent it scurryng into a dark corner
of the cellar. She mechanically filled
a basket with potatoes and silently
waited on the stairs for her mother.
Abner Ketchum, Woodworking
farmer, had by great frugality, &C
quired a modest bank account. He,
therefore, had made up his mind to
give his two sons a good college edu-
cation, and, considering himself
capable of knowing what was best
for them, had made all plans for the
elder son to enter the ministry. Jere
Ketchum, always obedient to his
fathers every wish, entered theo-
logical school near Boston. Two
years instruction and constant inter-
course with men of letters completely
revolutionized his ideas and to his
great dismay he found the ministerial
profession irreconcilable. Jere came
face to face with this fact when he
was called upon to supply a pulpit
in one of the small suburban towns
He did not dread the task as he had
anticipated, but a new strange zeal
possessed him. The sermon was a
success, but not from a spiritual point
of view. He mentally took note of
the effect his words produced upon
his audience and INDUCED in the
emotional rather than the practical
In fact he was pleased with a certain
magnetic power which had suddenly
developed. For week he struggled
with the problem, his mind ever re-
curing to the pleasure he had ex-
perienced. He finally reached a con-
clusion and being thoroughly consci-
entious, he immedia tely wrote to his
father, who sent for him to come
home over Sunday. The interview
between father and son was very
stormy. Abner Ketchum refused to
believe that son of his would rebel
against his august decisions, but he
found the sober, plodding Jere COM
pletely transformed, in fact, a man
with opinions of his own. But,
father" Jere demonstrated, 81 cannot
be a hypocrite, / do not care about
peoples salvation, / L care more
TO please"
"Then what would you do?"
questioned the astonished father.
go on tie stage" The words came
like thunderbolt
"AD actor. ha! hal" The father
laughed harshly, 81 guess, Jere. you'll
give up that notion, for" and he held
np threatening forefngcr, "if you