New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1905-10-18
when the
Deacon By
DONALD
Quilted ALIEN
Copyright, 1905, by p. c. Eastment

There were few harder headed men
In Ingham county than Darius Parker,
farmer. He 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 his hogs to him,
and when he looked out over the mag
nifcent sweep of the meadow he sim
ply figured on how many tons of hay
to the acre it would cut. Persons who
had known him for twenty years had
never known him to betray soft spot,
and even when his wife died, after |
weary years of cutting carpet rags and
making soft soap, no one looked for
any emotion on the deacOn's part. He
buried her the same as he went about
blowing corn, and instead of taking q
housekeeper be decided to cook his
own meals.
No one looked for any change In Dea-
con Parker, but one came within six
months. The first sign Of it was when
he had his hair colored black and shay
ed off the Whiskers that had hidden
most of his face since he was young
man When that nine day wonder
had passed he had another surprise
ready. He bought new suit Of
clothes, including a long tailed coat,
and began to wear paper collars on
week days as well as Sundays. He
was heard to speak Of sunrises and
sunsets and other sentimental things,
and the hired man on the next farm
overheard him one day humming a
love song.
Inside Of sixty days the deacon had
half the county guessing what would
happen next
Aunt Sally Merrinlan was RESPONSE
BILE for all the changes. The deacon
went over to her house one day to bor-
row farm implement and happened
| to mention that he was lonely. Aunt
Sally had been waiting for such an
opening for several weeks past.
| Nov, deacon" she began, "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 to go to her to find out
how to make slapjacks. She was al
ways sewing and darning and color
ing, and she never sassed back when
you ordered her around. You didn't
cry at her faneral but know you ap-
preeiated her just the same"
Yes; Betsy was a good wife to me, ~
sighed the deacon.
| But she was took away"
ayes; she was cut down"
"And you are living all stark alone"
Yes
Deacon" continued Aunt Sally after
a bit, what would you do If you should
have collie in the nighty'
"Td-Td have to try to cure it
wouldn't II"
"You would, but you might die twice
over and none Of us would know any,
thing about it. Then there is the ear
ache, the toothache, dizziness of the
head, cold feet and q dozen Other
things. / fairly SILVER when think OF
} what may happen to you any night"
, But how can help it, Aunt Sally?'
orter get married again.
! GOOD landsv' exclaimed the deacon
as he flushed up.
eyes, sir, you orter, and Pm not tn
I only one to say 80. You are only
middle aged man, and the Idea Of you
sloshing around alone all the rest 0
your life is preposterous. I am sur
that Betsy would be glad to know tina
you had some one to care for you. How
you manage to sleep I dunno, for n
L man on earth can make a bed fit
n sleep In Yes, Darius, you must MARI
k agin."
But who'll marryy'
" 1--WE got that all fixed. I have sis
. ter in Indiana who Is wilder woman
She's coming out here to visit us purt
soon. Sarah Is a worker, just like Be
sy used to be and just as economics
' rye known her to make one pound {
d brown sugar last for two weeks. HI
e disposition Is cheerful She hasn't got
mite Of temper, and the pair Of 70
= would get along like two doves"
wouldn't folks talk?" cautiousl
queried the deacon.
What could they talk about? Hahn
- you got right to get married ag'in?''
l. "Of course, but you gee 1 hain't g
IS a headstone for Betsys grave yet, an
% some one might say something mean
You can hustle around and get
Is neadstone within a week. and Sara
&c won't care how many lambs are on tc
:, Of it. Then you want to spruce up an
=, look your best. I must tell you tn.
)" Sarah Is leetle romantic, and yc
T. want to be the same. Washing ar
CT ironing will take it out Of her aft
i awhile, but you don't want to cut
le off too short"
II don't believe l could be romantic
v, yes, you could. All you've got
l. do is to talk about shady dells, harve
- moons, autumn flowers and foatiI
- clouds Sarah has got over $4,000
% cash in the bank, and it'll all be your
e Pm no matchmaker deacon, but I te
o. .. you that you orter marry and that tt
20 woman to fill the bill Is my sist'
G. Sarah
ee The deacon shouldered the hoe
he had come to borrow and started fl
S, his cOrn1eld, and as he worked