Bryan morning eagle. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1898-1909, 1905-10-17
when the
Deacon
DONALD
CuIle@ ALIEN
Copyright. 1891, by r. c. Easiment

There were few harder headed men
IN Ingham county than Darius Parker.
farmer. lie was reserved. clOsefsted
and without particle OF romance or
sentiment In his composition. The
notes OF the meadow lark were the
same as the grunts OF hls hogs to him.
and when he looked out over the mag
nificent sweep OF the meadow he sim.
ply figured on how many tons Of hay
10 the acre IL would cut. Persons who
Vhad known him for twenty years had
never known him 10 bctray a soft spot.
and even when his wife died. after
weary years Of cutting carpet rags aud
making soft soap. no one looked for
any emotion ON the deacon's part. lie
buried her the same as he went about
blowing corn. and instead Of taking n
housskeeper he decided to cook his
own meals.
No ono looked for any change in Dea
con Parker, but one came within six
months. The first sign OF II was when
he had bis hair colored black and shaw
cd on the whiskers that had hidden
most OF hi2 face since he was a young
man. When that nine day wonder
had passed he had another surprise
ready. He bought a new suit OF
clothes, including a long tailed coat,
anI began 10 wear paper collars on
wfek days a. we'll "a Sundays. He
2as heard TO speak OF sunrises and
sets and other sentimental things,
md the hired man ON the next farm
overheard him one day humming
love song
inside OF sixty days tho deacon had
half the county guessing what would
happen next.
Aunt sally Msrriman was response
bic for all the changes. The deacon
went over 10 her house one day 20 Dor
row farm implement and happened
20 mention that he was lonely. Aunt
Sally had been waiting for such an
opening for several weeks past
Now, deacon" she begun, sit down
on the doorsteps and let's have talk.
Betsy was = good wife to you. Her
soft soap had no equal In the county.
and we all had 20 90 10 her 10 find out
how 70 make slapJacks. She was al
ways sewing and darning and color
Ing. aud she never ssssed back when
you ordered her around. You didn't
cry az her funeral. but l know you APP
preolatsd her Just the same"
"Yes; Betsy was good wife to me-"
sighed the deacon.
"But she was took away"
Yes: she was cut down"
"And you are living all stark alone"
YES"
Deacon" continued Aunt Sally after
q bit, what would you do N you should
have collie In the Rightf'
I'D ia have 90 try 10 cure H.
wouldn't II"
you would. bat you might die twice
over and none Of us would know any
thing about H. Then there II the ear
ache. the toothache, dizziness OF the
head. cold feet ana a dozen other
things ! fairly SILVER when think uf
what may happen 10 you any night"
But how can help IL. Aunt SallyT'
That's what I'm coming 60 You
orter get married again"
Good laud." exclaimed the deacon
as he flushed up.
yes. sig. you ortcr aud I'm not the
only one 10 say 80. You are 0nly a
middle aged man. and the idea OF your
sloshing around alone all the rest oil
your life is prepOsterous am sure
that Betsy would be- glad 20 know thai
you had some one 10 care for you How
you manage % sleep I dunno. for no
man on earth can make a bed No 10
sleep In. Yes. Darius. you must marry
ag'in."
but who'll I marry"
Eve got that all fixed have a sis
ter In Indiana who Is a wilder woman
she's coming out here 90 visit us purity
soon. Sarah Is a worker. Just like Bet
~ used 20 be aud Just as economical
I've known her 10 make one pound OF
brown sugar last for two weeks Her
disposition Is cheerful She hasn't got
mite OF temper, and the pair Of you
would get along like two doves"
Wouldn't folks TALK" cautiously
querled the deacon
what could they talk about? Hain't
you got a right TO get married ng'lnT'
"Of course. but you see / hain't got
a headstone for Betsy's grave yet aud
some one might say something mean.
"YOu can hustle around and get a
headstone within a week. and Sarah
won't care how many lambs are on top
Of H. Then you want 20 spruce up and
look your best I must tell you that
Sarah Is leetle romantic, and you
want 20 be the same. Washing and
ironing will take II out Of her after
awhile. but you don't want 90 cut II
on too short"
II don't believe I could be- romantic"
Eyes. you could. All you've got 20
DO Is 10 talk about shady dells. harvest
moons. autumn flowers aud floating
clouds. Sarah has got over 5000 In
cash In the bank. and it'll all be yours
I'm no matchmaker, deacon, but tell
you that you orter marry and that the
woman TO an the bill Is my sister
Sarah"
tIta 10. hs