The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1904-03-27

circle about the geranium-pots, and be-
gan, with extreme precision OF utter
ance, to discuss the heat.
Fifteen minutes went by Jim did not
return. The lawn party was as yet
soundless fete Without, there was the
same scuffling. the same idle, laughing
voices. Benjamin Harrison, who sat
squirming at the gate. began to weary
of the empty responsibility OF his posi-
ton. Five dimes clinked inadequately
in the cigar-box when he ratified it.
DO dem loafers intend TO stand in de
street de whole evenin'?' demanded
Sarah, sternly. OF Benjamin Harrison
No, ma'am," literally replied that
well-informed young man. But dey
means ter stav till dey hears de music.
If dey amt a-gone fer be no music, dey
amt a-gone ter pay no dimes
''Dey are low-down. s'picious lot"
declared Sarah, in a voice intended to
penetrate without the gate My hus
band, he's a-gawn ter fetch de music
dis very minute"
No sooner had she said it than Jim
himself returned, but accompanied by no
music, either visible or audible. The
"dago," he reported, who had contracted
to enliven the lawn party, must have
sworn falsely. No "dago,l would fur
nish music on Thursday evening; it was
the hurdy-gurdy players night off. On
Thursday evening the hurdy-gurdies
were dumb, and their masters merged
imperceptibly into the rest of humanity.
Sarah stood stricken for a moment.
Then she summoned Benjamin Harri-
son and Eph.
Boys" directed this able tactician,
grab each other by de waist and hop
round some in front er dem sheets Even
If dere amt no music, dey'll see sump'n
pretty lively's goin' on, and come in ter
see what it's. And, Jim, yo' go and find
somebody what can play some kinder
music. Lawd knows don't make no diff
funce what"
A few moments later, as Sarah stood
welcoming further detachments from
the church, she saw Eph standing with
cleaning teeth at her elbow. By an
animated scuffle the boys had done their
best to inf1ame the social passions of the
stragglers IN the street, and a good
sized group had responded to the lure.
II know teller 7 maybe cd get"
suggested Eph He en- play de har-
monicum n de banjo to onct. Wamme
try N find him"
''Why didn't yo' say so long ago, Eph?
null llhC Nodldll. dliQ QOli w ddi c NOlAlC
back without him y
An intolerable sense of expectation
still paralyzed both guests and hostess.
Realizing that, for the moment, she had
done all that she could. Sarah absented
herself she spoke of the necessity of
fetching additional plates from the kitch-
en- closet Once within its narrow shelf
er, she l<nelt devoutly. 20 Gawd," she
prayed, don't believe nobody, don't be-
lieve de best church member, what says
| got up his lawn party outer pride. L
did it jus TO dem little cullud childun,
Lawd, and I never had no other thought.
o GaWd. confound me not IN dis mine
hour er tribulation and listen not ter de
voice err mine enemies Think, Lawd,
think er what an awful vast silence dere
would be in ore heaven without de
sound err dem celestial harps,-and have
de infinite mercy to hep dat child Eph
find de man what plays de banjo! Think,
Lawd, | pray, CT de field er well-doin'
dat cullud kindergarten will give, and
not TO my sake, 0 Gawd, not for old
Sarah's sake, but TO de sake err dem
cullud babies, way off in dat heather
land.-fo'bear ter cast a spell on dis
occasion May Thy glory multiply
on earth land may de lanterns not
catch fire and de ice-cream not melt
Amen"
Sarah had never known the agonies of
"doubt" She believed implicitly that
the prayers of the righteous are answer
ed Unspeakably fortified in spirit, she
painfully rose from her knees and re-
turned to the scene of action.
Already, it seemed to ner freshened
perception, the tide of success had turn
ed, so promptly does divine Intervention
manifest itself. However, it was nine
o'clock before unmistakable shouts and
cheers in the street conveyed to Sarah's
anxious ears the intelligence that the
neighborhood Orpheus was a captive.
Hi, Bush! Hi, Bushl" they called,
with a cordial accent that betrayed the
Orpheus's popularity. And it was quite
as a hero that Bush" held proudly in
tow by Eph, his captor, made magnif-
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