The daily morning Alaskan., 1903-06-10
DEACON HASTINGS FIDDLE.

owned a uudle, but played on it. he had been censured for this act of worldliness. but as it was his only weakness and as be was emlnently nt- ted Co rG a deaconship his brethren weUt ahead and took chancea lt might be just possible. argued the majority. hat man could dddle and not bring the church into disrepute. But at the same time he was expected Co play sothing but the most solemn airs.
 The first move on the part of Satan was Co Induce the new 'pillar" to stop tnd guze at some circus bills posted on a barn. A brother deacon caught hlm rcd handed and lectured hlm for an hour on the cuormlty of his Onense. The traESgressor promised better things.
 Bot. To. when the circus arrived he permitted his daughter Minnie Co at- tend in company with young Ike liar per; His excuse that young people had curiosity to see Hons. tigers. bears and kangaroos didn't go down. and he was warned that any more trialng would bc a serious matter.
 The deacon was penitenL but it wasn't four Sccss before he bought a plano for bis daughter. Al an informal meeting of tbc other deacons, the pew openers and thc box pasSers it was de cidcd that a panO could not be classed under Che head of naturally wicked. Tho question was. Could tho deacon live iu the same house with a fiddle and a plano and maintain his religious inte.r.ty:
 1hr dracoI's critics were watching and waiting when they caught him tripI Ing iu another direction. Ills barn taccl tse road. and when an agent for a stomach b.ttr-s came along and oefer' ed bun S2J for the use Of the roof for a yc5r the good man pOcketed the cash. A mlghty sign soon appeared on the roof and the last letter was hardly finished before Deacon Hastings was ln trouble. lt was the opinion ot the majority that an stomach bitters were three fourths whisky and that the dea. con had sold himself Co the cause Of intempcrance and ought Co be disci- plincd Hc vas going like a lamb 10 Che slaughter when the agent hlred a man Co drink four bottles Of the bitters at once and proved that there was nothing in it Co uft a mans heels o1 the ground The object lesson couldn't be denied. but yet no one was Uatished. He realized this fact and didn't dare give a coruhusking or an apple paTing that fall
 Nemesis was close on the deacon's heels. however. Ills daughter Minnie was a general glvorite. and one winter night a loJ of young people appeared as surprise party. He couldn't turn them away. and be reluctantly brought out his fiddle.
 The fiddle aud the plano stzrted out with Sweet By and By" acc0mpa- nled by an who could sing. and how they ever switched on on to ragtime tue deacon could never explain 70 hlm- sell It was llSe a dream ts him next day. When told that the young folks had formed ln sets and danced ts his "Hrst four forward aud back-ladies change gents to the left-all prone made" be studied over it and sighed.
 Before noon next day it was knOwn far and wide that Deacon Hastings had dddled for dance. That he would be churched was regarded as a matter of course. and lt was determined that his fellow dcacons investigate before be could run away from the scene ot bis crime. Accordingly. at ' o'clock on the evening after the party. they aled Into his parlor ,o put him on the rack.
 "Brcthrcn. hain't got much to say, began the cu'prit "lf there was dance. and | guess there was, then the udde sort ot got away with me"
 "Gut you also called out the hgurei Co Ice danced didn't youy" asked one.
 "Mcbbe did. When the music got e goin'. fclt that had to miI in. Durin' l my sinful days | used to SO 70 every dance within ten miles"
 There can be no doubt. brethren" said the same deacon. that lt was sin. ful music and that there was dancing but we must not be too impetuous. beacon Hopkins. will you let us bear the strains given last nightly
 The deacOi called his daughter down and got QUE hls fiddle While he was tuning up thcee of Mlnnie's girl friends arrived and were ushered Into the room When the music was ready. the dcrriiyJ said.
 "l win show you as nigh as l can re- member just how it was. Deacon Jones, you stand here with my wife. You oth- CTS stand up with these girls. Now you are an ready Salute your partners. Ladies Co the right-gents to the lert An salute. Promenade half way round half way home. All balance and swing your partners"
 The deacaus had stood up reluctant. ly. They had hung back at the first call lt was only for a minute. bow ever. \ warm wave swept them from head to heels and back. and they went through tho figures with a vim.
 That's the way it was" said Deacon Hastings as the music stopped-"ouly more of it: two hours. mebbe."
 The deacOns retired Co the Kitchen for a consultation. and when they had got there they looked Into each others face and queried. "WellT
 When they had returned to the par lur. Deucoa Jones. speaking for the rest. said.
 ..t,-,..h.- TF,s.tnos vvc ffnd that ro,.