Smyrna times., 1905-12-06
when the
Deacon By
GUlll@dl ALIEN ALIEN
Copyright, 1905, by P. G. Eastment

Copyright, 1906, by P. G. Eastment
There were few harder headed men
In Ingham county than Darius Parker.
FARMER. He was reserved, closefisted
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
nificent 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 a 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
plowing corn, and instead of taking a
housekeeper he 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
ed off the whiskers that had hidden
most of his face since he was a young
man. When that nine day wonder
had passed he had another surprise
ready. He be at new suit of
clothes, including a long tailed coat,
and began to wear paper collars on
week days as we'll as Sundays. He
nd 10
sunsets and other sentimental things.
and the hired man on the next farm
overheard him one day humming
love song.
Inside of sixty days the deacon had
half the county guessing what would
happen next.
Aunt Sally Merriman was response
BILE for all the changes. The deacon
went over to her house one day to bor-
row a farm implement and happened
to mention that he was lonely. Aunt
Sally had been waiting for such an
| opening for several weeks past.
Now, deacon" she began, "sit down
on the dOorsteps and let's have G. talk.
Betsy was good wife to you Her
| y,
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 funeral, but 1 know you ap-
| preciated her just the same"
"YeS; Betsy was a good wife to me-"
sighed the deacon.
But she was took away"
Eyes; 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 night?"
"Td-Fd 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 1t. Then there is the ear
ache, the toothache, dizziness Of the
head, cold feet and a dozen other
things. I fairly shiver when think of
what may happen to you any night"
"But how can help 1t, Aunt SallyT'
That's what I'm coming to. You
orter get married again."
Good landsr' exclaimed the deacon
as he flushed up.
"Yes, sir, you orter, and I'm not the
only one to say so. You are only {
middle aged man, and the idea of YOU
sloshing around alone all the rest o.
your life is prepOsterous. 1 am sur,
that Betsy would be glad to know tina
you had some one to care for you. How
you manage to sleep dunno, for n,
man on earth can make q bed fit t
sleep in. Yes, Darius, you must MARI.
ag'in.'
"But who'll marry?'
1--WE got that all fixed. have a sis
ter In Indiana who is a wlddeT woman
She's coming out here to visit us purt
soon. Sarah is a worker, Just like Bet
Sy used to be and just as economics
I've known her to make one pound O
brown sugar last for two weeks. He
disposition is cheerful. She hasn't got
mite of temper, and the pair of yo
would get along like two doves"
wouldn't folks talk?" Iautiousl
queried the deacon.
what could they talk about? Hahn
you got right to get married ag'inr
"Of course, but you see 1 hain't e
4 a headstone for Betsy's grave yet, an
4 some one might say something mean
"You can hustle around and get
! headstone within week, and Sara
{ won't care how many lambs are on to
7 Of 1t. Then you want to spruce up an
: look your best. l must tell you th;
, Sarah is a leetle romantic, and yc
= want to be the same. Washing ar
ironing will take it out of her aft,
awhile, but you don't want to cut
J off too short"
81 don't believe could be romantic
"Yes, you could. All you've got
do is to talk about shady dells, harve
moons, autumn flowers and foatiI