Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1910-10-27

herself she found that she Was con
fronting the members of the society.
while Mrs. WiXon. as its president. was
seated beside her in a huge Boston
rocker.
They all rocked silently for a few
seconds: then Mrs. Wixon got upon
her feet and adjusted a pair of steel
bowed spectacles upon her nose. The
women were looking at Cornelia Row.
lands fresh attire and whispering
among themselves.
"Silence!" commanded Mrs. Wixon
sharply. There was a rustic of protest
among the members; then they settled
themselves expectantly.
I'VE are gathered here this after
noon" continued the president grave
~. ITO consider the action Of one of
our members in breaking the tenth
rule"
There was a murmur of approval.
Il will give in d few words the
hist'ry Of the Give 1t Up society, and
then the members can agree upon
whether Cornelia. Rowland's behavior
is becoming to d member
II guess I'd like to speak a few
words for myself" said Cornelia Row.
land. arising with unexpected spirit
and fixing her mild eyes upon Mrs.
Wixon's heated ~countenance.
Anybody got any objectionY
Wheezed Mrs. Wixon. looking appre-
hensively about the room.
There was no answer. and Mrs. Wix-
on lurched into her chair. leaving the
floor to Cornelia Rowland.
The latter faced the assembled wo-
men. There was an obstinate line
about her pleasant mouth. and her soft
eyes wore a look of new determina-
ton. She famed herself with Il black
silk fan for IL few M before she
began. and then she closed it with a
little click.
II am a member nf the Give 1t Up
society" she said earnestly. IL can
recite all The rules forward and back
ward. and I've lived up to all of EN-
forward and backward. | amt never
broke a rule"
There was a gasp Of horror from the
women.
II amt never broke a rule" repeated
Cornelia energetically. Now. the
Give 1t Up society was formed for the
lHlll'"Se of paying for the new organ.
N"h"dl asked the ladies Of the church
to give up wearing any respectable
clothes and going around looking like
r~agpickerS wives i'll order that the
Eirst Al L. ,b,,,t .bx.I] .t-,-a
Ryan. Cnrnelia fixed all accusing
eye upon Mrs Wixon's startled coun-
tenance. THAT organ could have been
paid for if ii was needed in the regu-
lar way BY fairs and suppers and the
like. But no: somebody with the idea
of getting Il martyrs crown organized
this society. with the result that Up
per Village has got the reputation Of
having the shabbiest looking lot of
women in Suffolk county,"
There was u shrinking of feet un-
der chairs and a ~concealing of worn
sleeves.
II want to know If the members of
the choir belong to this %society?"
No" piped Mrs. Peters. with a new
~ o"oACdSu SSuSS VI Injury. OdCCu
them fine ladies' a-wearing any old
clothes for the Lords sake!"
II don't believe in churches abby
ing organs and things they can't af-
ford. When they can raise the money
for a new organ or such without
throwing the whole congregation into
the poorhouse. it's time to have it. In
the meantime the Lord will harken to
the old melodeon until the church can
afford an organ. But the Methodist
church has bought the organ. The
choir wanted it. and the minister want
ed it. and the congregation wanted it,
and now they've got it. and we're
working hand and foot and eyelash
a-trying to pay for it," Cornelia's
voice took on a dramatic quality, and
the women listened eagerly.
I'VE said we'd pay for it. and we will
do what we promised. and I say to all
OF you that while you're wearing these
terrible old garments you might as
well be clean and tidy about It and"-