The record., 1914-05-28
A FIDDLE AND A CIRCUS
By MICHAEL ]. PORTER.

ssssssssssssssssssssssssss
The gossips of Gloversville had 1t
that Deacon Pegram. widower. and
Mrs. Mary Moreton. widow. were en-
gagged to be married.
The gossips were little premature.
The couple had been courting for
year, but they were not engaged yet.
With all respect fer the widow. IL may
be said that il wasn't her fault. Dea-
con Pegram was a careful. prudent
man.
When the deacon married he select
ed a woman who looked so meek and
humble that he believed she would not
resent n box en- the ear occasionally.
The first time he started the boxing
game he discovered that he had made
an awful blunder. ID was his ears
that got the cutting. He was. there
fore. going slow in regard to the
widow.
Both the deacon and the widow
were members of the same church. but
there was q difference in the way they
lived their religions. The deacon be-
lieved in all sorts OF hell-fres for
man that went out to gather buckle
berries on n Sunday. or halted TO see
the end Of a dog fight on any week
day. and the widow figured that she
could even attend straw-ride or
barn dance ard yet secure her golden
harp when the time came TO call for
IL.
The deacon knew that she had lib
eral ideas. but he had let that matter
alone. Ali being ready at last. he
called 20 bring about the climax. Al
the gate he was almost turned to
stone. He caught the strains of a nd
die from within the house.
The deacon b-aced against the
shock ard knocked on the door.
The widow opened 1t. She had the
fiddle in her hand rs bold as brass.
why GOOD evening. deacon"
He glared at her in silence.
81 was just practising my exercises.
What's the mstter?'
"That-that eddie"
"Yes, it's 4 fiddle, and am going to
learn 10 PLAY. Yen seem astonished."
a redlo here In this house." he
~aspcd. "Thc Widow Moreton de-
srending to such depravity. Why
-"
t So your point, deacon.
~. rs she laid the instrument
- What Is there wrong about
ii, learning 10 play the fiddler"
~ is played at dances!"
IF you came mere this evening to
fiek up fuss ever 4 harmless fiddle.
"a ca 60 away again."
y can. and will, Thank heaven. it
is not too late, We are not pledged"
And I. too. am thankful for that
And Deacon Pcgram stalked out.
After a 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 thing to beware
of"
mo. I can hardly say that 1t does.
was the reply.
And it isn't one of the wiles Of sa-
TAM"
mo more than the piano or the
harp"
.!3ut II a woman learns to play the
fiddler" persisted the deacon.
Many OF them do"
"But, pastor, the Bible don't mention
that they have fddles in heaven. II
only speaks of harps."
Il know. Brother Pegram. but I'm
not so sure that they didn't call fid
die a 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 a 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 hs
reached the gate. He was going right
on when he saw that the upper hinge
was loose He was gazing at it wher
the woman came to the door and said
"Oh. deacon. are you going to take
me TO the circus next week."
What" he shouted; and wher
she had repeated her query he ex
claimed: The fiddle first and th'
circus next"
But what's the matter with the cir
cus?"
What's the matter with everybod!
going to the bottomless pit together
Widow Moreton. this is too much-to'
much"
But I shall go by myself"
And 60 she did, when the day came
and the deacon was so mad about !
that he wouldn't even stand at hi
gate and see the elephants go past
He continued mad for three days ant
then went to his pastor.
did you preach a sermon agains
that circus last Sunday? I was no
feeling well, and was not at church.
why. no. didn't" was the reply
did you warn the people that sata
was Turing them?"
Brother Pegram, ! was there wit
my whole family"
"You-you can't mean it,
But I do. Yes. We were there an
saw both the circus and the menas
erie. and IL satan was around he wa
in a back cage somewhere! And ! ar
going to the ball game tomorrow"
Deacon Pegram walked straigh
from the pastors house to that of tn
Widow Moreton's, and without wal
ing to remove his hat or sit down b
said: Widow, love you!"
"Yes"
"Will you marry IA fool?"
do a fiddle and the circus 60 Sit
him." she asked.
"Yes, and mebbe a barn danse:~