The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1905-10-25
when the
Deacon 2,
DONALD
Il N00IlII6LS ALLEN
i,nn.-ri..Lt Inn, ~ u L, l,n.t,.,....,

CON- right, laoi, by T. C. EastmeHt
There were few harder headed men
in lugham county than Darius Parker,
farmer. He WAS reserved, Closehsted
and without n particle of romance or
sentiment in his composition The
notes of the meadow lark were the
same as the grunts of his hogs In him,
and when he looked out over the mag
nhcent sweep of the meadow he sim
ply figured on how many tons of hay
to the acre ii would cut Persons who
had known him for twenty years had
never known him to bctray Il s1ft 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 deaeon's part He
buried her the same as he Went about
piowing corn, and instead Of taking
housekccper he decided To cook his
own meals.
No one looked for any change in Dra-
con Parker. but one came within six
months, The first sign of ii WIS when
he had his hair coorcd black and shay
ed Oft the WhiskerS that had hidden
most of his face since he WAS Il young
man. When that nine day wonder
had passed he had another surprise
ready. lie bought Il nov suit of
clothes, including a long tailed coat,
and began To wear paper collars ON
week days as we'll MS SHNays He
was heard 10 speak of stnliSes and
I i
and the hired man ON the next farm
overheard him one day hHmning
love song
Inside a. sixty days the deacon had
half the county guessing what would
happen next
Aunt Sally Merrman WIS RESPONSE
Bile for all the changes The deacon
went over l. her house one day 10 Dor
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 deorsteps and lets have Il talk
Betsy was Il good wife u YOU Her
soft soap had no equal in the county.
and we all had To - 10 her To find out
how To make slapiacks. She was al
ways sewing and darnug and color
ing. and she never sasSed hack when
You ordered her around You didn't
cry at her funeral, but | know You ap-
preciatod her Just the same"
Yes; Betsy MIS- good wife 10 me-"
sighed the deacon
But she WAS took away"
Yes: she was cut down"
And You are living all sturll alone"
yes.
deacon" continued Aunt Sally after
bit, what would you do If you should
have coiic IN tire nighii
I'D I'd have TO try to cure It,
wouldn't :"
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 toothachc. dizziness of the
| head, cold feet and n dozen other
things | fairly shiver when think of
what may happen to You any night"
But how can | help 1t, AuIS Sally"
That's what I'm coming To- You
orter get married again"
Good lands" exclaimed the deacon
rs lc flushed up.
eS, sir, you orter, and I'm not the
only one to say so You are only II
middle aged man, and the idea of your
sloshing around alone all the rest of
your life is prepOsterous | am sure
that Betsy would be glad to know that
you had some one to care for YOU How
you manage to sleep | dunno, for no
man on earth can make bed fit to
sleep in. Yes, Darius, YOU must marry
ag'in"
But who'll ! marry
I've got that all fixed | have sis
ter In Indiana who Is II wldder woman.
She's coming out here to visit us purity
soon. Sarah Is worker, Just like Bet
sy used to be and Just rs economical
I've known her to 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
queried the deacon
What could they talk about? Hain't
YOU got right to get married aginf"
"Of course. but you see | haln't got
headstone for Bctsy's grave yet. and
some one might say something mean"
you can hustle around and get n
headstone within II week and Sarah
won't care how many lambs are on top
OF It, Then you want to spruce up and
look YOUR best | must tell Won that
Sarah Is leetle romantic. and you
want to be the same. Washing and
ironing will take it out of her after
awhile, but you don't want to cut 1t
OH TOO short
i doh believe could be romantic"
fes. YOU could. All you've got to
90 Is 10 TAX about shady dells, harvest
moons, autumn flowers and noating
elouds' Safah mas got over S3.ooo III
cash IN the pahk, ana II all be yours
III no matchmaker deacon put ten