The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1913-12-25
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
NOT A BAD MATCH
ey DON IA GRANGE.


II necessary to drive over to the VII
lage Of Wharton. six miles away. He
was hitching up his horse and buggy
when Mrs. Hannah Savage came Ia
the house to say:
Deacon. they say you are going TO
drive over to Wharton today"
Yes. I am" was the reply.
Got q load7"
Only a Jug to be filled with iie.-
You know my sister Sarah lives
over there7''
Yes. guess she do. though ! hain't
much OF a hand TO keep track OF
folks sisters"
Well, Sarah's got . baby . year
old. and she writes me that II can't
walk yet Something seems to be the
matter with his knees OF back"
1t sure orter be walkin' at . year
old. They say wasn't quite ten
months old when could trot right
out doors. DO you want to send any
word to Sarah"
i want to drive over and back with
you"
All right You be ready In fifteen
minutes. Guess the old mare can take
US both and not git tuckered out"
Deacon Pennybon was q widower.
Hannah Savage was a widow.
They had both lived In Delhi for
years. and both belonged to the same
church. but gossip had never even
limited . marriage between them. II
had never limited that either one Of
them would marry again
The drive to Wharton WAS made
The deacon went to get his jug filled
with oil. and the widow to see her
sister and the baby. The baby was
walking all right The next day after
Its mother had written about It's walk.
less condition II had got choked on
a spool Of thread and been shook and
dangled head downwards with vigor.
Gus hand! Ten minutes later II WAS
taking Its frst steps.
The drive out and back was pleas.
ant The widower and widow talked
about the new spirs for the meeting
house that was going to be erected
the death Of Silas Whites cow-the
plentitude Of potato bugs-the success
OF the late Sunday school picnic and
even the best way OF killing Oh bur
docks so they would stay killed. but
not . word nor . hint OF anything
closer. They were Just neishbors. II
the subject Of the heather OF Africa
had been brought up they might have
discussed II for miles to the sxclu-
sion of ell else,
The deacons sister was his house
keeper. She was . sour-faced old
maid with . sharp tongue. and when
her brother got back home she felt II
her duty to say something. She there
fore remarked:
"T suppose the match was at least
halfmade todayr'
What matchf" asked the deacon.
She's been trying to catch . man
for the last ave years-"
Ruth. Who you talkin' aboutY'
Why. the widow Savage"
Whats wrong with herr"
Shed like TO change her name TO
Penny bone!-
Say. now" replied the deacon 90
he fred up. you quit talkin' that wayl
She hain't the slightest idea OF II II
she has I hain't"
"All widders want to marry again."
said the sister
Then let en- marry. but none OF
EN- will marry mel"
When the widow Savage got homo
Mrs. Goodhue. . neighbor. dropped in
to ask about the baby over At wnar.
ton that couldn't walk. She was given
full Information. and then she 70
marked:
Lots of folks thought It funny
What was!"
your riding over thsrs with Dsa.
con Pennybone"
But I don't see anything funny
about that"
Well. you hadn't been gone half an
hour when the story was around that
you and the deacon had gone away
TO get married"
Opou my bouil LUG ueoCOu ma
me get married! Why. he don't want
me. and ! don't want him. n the
foolkiller would come along he'd ind
plenty to do In this town."
"Then-then-"
Then nothing!"
What q curious thing 10 human ma
ture! Here were two people who
were neighbors and Misunderstanding
more. They hadn't thought OF each
other once q week. unless happening
to meet. But now. because a sour
tempered old maid and q gossipy
neighbor made q few remarks they be-
gan thinking OF each other.
by gosh" said the deacon TO him
self as he sat down to milk the COW
that evening. the wilder Savage
be such q bad match II q
Teller wanted to marry agtn. She's
purity good lookin' when she's got her
Sunday buds on. and she can talk
like a streak and talk sense too. I've
heard she was a savin' woman. and
had money In the bank"
And as the widow Savage cleared
away her supper dishes she smiled
and unused:
so they thought the deacon arm
ma ware going To alona md cot .oar