The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1914-05-07


lived their religions. The deacon be
lieved in all sorts OF hell-hres for
man that went out 10 gather buckle
berries on a Sunday. or halted to SCI
the end Of dog fight on any weel
day, and the widow figured that sh'
could even attend straw-rfde or
barn dance and yet secure her colder
harp when the time came to call fo
IT,
The deacon knew that she had lib
eral ideas. but he had let that matte
alone. All being ready at last, h.
called to bring about the climax. A
the gate he was almost turned t.
stone. He caught the strains OF I'D
die from within the house.
The deacon braced against tht
4 shock and knocked on the door.
The widow opened It. She had the
fiddle in her hand as bold as brass.
why good evening, deacon"
He glared at her in silence.
Il was just practising my exercises
| What's the matter?"
"That-that fddlel"
Eyes, it's fiddle. and I am going to
learn to play. You seem astonished =
"A fiddle here In this housel" he
gasped. "The Widow Moreton de
scending to such depravityl Why
why"
II don't see your point, deacon
she said, as she laid the instrument
aside What is there wrong about
my learning to play the fiddler"
1T is played at dancesl"
III you came here this evening to
kick up fuss over harmless fiddle.
you can go away again."
Il can, and viii Thank heaven. it
is not too late! We are not pledged!h
"And 7. too, am thankful for that"
And Deacon Pegram stalked out.
After week he thought to strength
en- his position by. going to his pastor
and asking:
Pastor. doesn't our religion teach
US that the fiddle is a thing to beware
off,
mo, can hardly say that 1t does.'
was the reply.
And it isn't one of the wiles Of sa
tan?"
mo more than the piano or the
harp
but II woman learns to play the
flddle?" persisted the deacon.
Many OF them do"
But, pastor, the Bible don't mention
that they have fiddles in heaven. II
only speaks OF harps."
Il know, Brother Pegram, but I'm
not so sure that they didn't call fid
die harp In those ancient days"
The deacon went home and kicked
the woodshed door because the dog
wasn't handy.
The good man struggled with him.
self for couple OF days and then de.
cided to meander past the Widows
house He would not stop. but Just
meander. But he did stop when he
reached the gate. He was going right
on when he saw that the upper hinge |
was loose. He was gazing at II wher
the woman came to the door and said;
"Oh, deacon. are you going TO take I
me to the circus next week?"
What" he shouted: and wher
she had repeated her query he ex-
claimed: The fiddle first and the
circus next"
but what's the matter with the cir
ous?"
What's the matter with everybody
going to the bottomless pit together!
Widow Moreton, this is too much-too
muchlr
But shall go by myself"
And go she did. when the day came,
and the deacon was SO mad about It
that he wouldn't even stand at his
gate and see the elephants go past.
He continued mad for three days and
lhen went to his pastor.
did you preach sermon against
hat circus last Sunday? | was not
feeling well, and was not at church"
why. no. didn't," was the reply.
did you warn the people that satan
VAS Turing them7"
Brother Pegram, was there with
ny whole family"
"You--you can't mean itl''
"But I do Yes. we were there and
aw both the circus and the menag-
irie. and If satan was around he was
n back cage somewherel And am
oing to the ball game tomorrow"
Deacon Pegram walked straight
rom the pastors house to that OF the
Widow Moreton's. aud without walt
ng to remove his hat Or sit down he
aid: Widow. love you'll"
.eYes?"
win you marry a--a fool?"
DO fiddle and the circus 80 with
imp she asked.
"Yes. and mebbe a barn dancei"