The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1905-09-01
She "Slopped Over"

IurIn porch, every one IS talk1n ABOUT
Mr.. Ketchem that's made such SEN
sation everywheres. He's a-comin' to
preach in the brick church Mt Four
Corners. They say he's powerful elo-
quent."
do they?"
Eyes. And when he breaches people
git so affected they weep"
Nick yawncd.
Pm goin' to the Corners to hear
him."
"What a. " want to hear him for?"
"Whnt for? Why, jist think o. bein'
under the spell o the elOqucnce Of IL
man that has moved thousands to tears
How proud his wife must be Of him,
II he has one. She must worship the
ground he walks on"
"Im thinkin' she'd better worship
God"
Cinderella looked offended. She with
drew her hand and said coldly:
Sometimes l think I'm maxim
mistake in marryin' farmer. I'd be
jist in my element as a minister's wife.
l should SO love to see my husban'
movin' people to throw their burdens
on the Lord
IF he didn't git more pay than most
of EN- he'd be throwin' his burden on
YOU
This practical view of the case was
rcpugnant to Cinderella She turned
her back on her lover.
II don't reckon, Cindy," lie went on,
you'd make much of wife for
minister. My idee of n minister's wife
Is one that kin keep the wimmen Of
the congregation from pcsterin her
husband; a woman full Of axle grease
that the hull church kin keep turnin'
OH. It's jist like politics. There's allus
them that wants to keep the minister
In and them as wants to git him out
The minister's wife should be so
smooth with the outs that they can't
bear to do the job, and SO popular with
the Ins' that they won't let 'em do it
II they want to. You hain't got grease
enough in v for that"
Nick was q hard headed fellow with
a good deal Of horse sense, while
Cindy was romantic and inclined to
gush. But Cindy was good girl, and
there was every prospect that, once
married, Nick could keep her from
stopping over" as he called 1t.
The Rev. Mr.. Ketchem was duly
announced to preach Mt the Four Cor
ners. and Nick, in order to humor his
betrothed, agreed to drive her over
to hear him, 1t being stipulated that
Nick need nat go inside the church, but
be Mt liberty to sit on the fence during
service and whittle. The day was fine
and the air bracing. Cindy was en-
raptured with the beautiful Sunday
morning, which she said even without
church bells didn't seem like n com,
mon week day. AS the distance be-
tween her and the church lessened she
grew excited at the near prospect Of
coming under the spell of n man who
was accustomed to wiring repentant
tears from sinners.
"Oh, Nick" she said, "I hope won't
make n goose Of myself"
II hope YOU WON'T" said the matter
Of fact Nick
you're not sympathetic" she re-
piled tartly.
"Not with 'sloppin' over"
II don't call repentance 'sloppin'
over"
What v been doin' to repent Off"
'NOtnln, Sne snapped.
well, then, what's the use Of re-
pentin'2"
You don't understand such things.
You amt never been convicted"
~ hain't been indicted yit."
at that moment the wagon went
over rut and something cracked. The
result was that they were obliged to
walk the horse the rest of the way,
and when they reached the church the
sermon had begun. Nick let Cindy out
Mt the door and then drove to the shed.
Nick was Joined on the fence by
several acquaintance, who whitfield
and talked crops and stock. Through
them Nick learned something pertain
Ing to what was going on in the
church that interested him. He got
down Off the fence and sauntered to
the door. Looking in, there in one Of
the rear seats he saw Clndy. She was
leaning forward, her eyes fairly glued
to the man In the pulpit. 1t was evi
dent that she was drinking In all lie
said. AS he warmed to his subject
she trembled with emotion. Nick
looked over the congregation and saw
that no one else was giving way to the
eloquence of the preacher, which was
very ordinary. We love our ideals
for their transcendent qualities and
our realities for their faults. Nick
wished to save his beloved from max
Ing herself ridiculous. He kept an
eye on her till the preacher brought
his fist down on the pulpit mildly,
when he saw her bury her face in her
handkerchief and burst into tears.
Nick slipped behind her and whis-
pered:
"Cindy, you're barkin' up the wrong