Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1914-08-06
A FIDDLE AND A CIRCUS
BY MICHAEL J. PORTER.


gagged To be married
The Gossips were q little premature.
Tho couple had been counting for
year but they were not engaged yet,
With all respect for the widow. II may
be said that it wasn't her fault Dea.
con Pegram was careful. prudent
man
When the deacon married he select
cd woman who looked SO meek and
humble that he believed She would not
resent box on the ear occasionally.
Tho first time he started the boxing
game he discovered that he had made
au awful hluuder, II was his ears
that got the cutting He was. there
fore. going slow In regard to the
widow.
Roth the deacon and tho widow
were momhors of the same church. but
there was difference In tho way they
lived their religions The deacon be-
lieved in all sorts OF hell fires for a
man that went out to gather buckle
berries ON n sunday or halted to see
the end OF dog fight ON any week
could oven attend straw-ride or a
barn dance and yet secure her golden
harp when the time came TO call for
t.
Tho deacon knew that she had lib
oral ideas. but he had lot that matter
alone, All being ready at last. he
called to bring about the climax. At
10 hA nj
stone He caught tho strains of a tid-
die from within the house,
The deacon hraccd against the
shock and knocked ON the door.
The widow opened &C. She had tho
fiddle in her hand as bold as brass.
why good evening. deacon"
lie glared ut hor In silence.
II was Just practising my exercises.
What's tho matter?'
"That-that fddle!"
Yes. it's u fiddle. and am going TO
learn to play. You seem astonished,"
"A fiddle hero In this housed" he
gasped. The Widow Moreton de-
scending to such depravity! Why
why"
IL don't SEQ your point. deacon"
she said, as she laid tho instrument
aside What Ia there wrong about
my learning to play tho tiddle?"
1T Is played at dances!"
'If you came here this evening to
kick up fuss over harmless fiddle,
you can go away again!"
II can. and Will! Thank heaven. II
Is not too late! We are not pledged"
And |. too. am thankful for that!"
And Deacon Pegram stalked out
Aftor week no thought to strength
en- his position by going to his pastor
and asking:
Pastor doesn't our religion teach
us that the fiddle il thing to beware
orr"
mo. I can hardly say that II does."
was the reply
And 1t isn't one OF tho wiles of ga.
tam"
mo moro than tho piano or the
harp
but II n woman learns to play the
fiddle?" persisted the deacon.
Many OF thom do"
"But, pastor, the bible don't mention
that they have nddles In heaven. II
only speaks OF harps"
II know. Brother Pegram. but I'm
not 80 sure that they Didn't call nd
die harp In those ancient days"
The deacon went home and kicked
the woodshed door because tho dog
wasn't handy.
The good man struggled with him
self for couple OF days and then de-
cided to mcandcr past tho Widows
house. He would not stop, but just
meander, But he did stop when no
reached the gate. He was going right
on when he saw that the upper hinge
was loose, He was gazing at Il when
the woman came to the door and said:
"Oh deacon, are you going to take
mo to the circus next week."
What" he shouted: and when
she had repeated her query he ex-
claimed: Tho fiddle first and the
circus next"
"But what's tho matter with the cir
cus?"
WAT tne matter WIN everybody
going to the bottomless pit together!
Widow Moreton. this Is too much-too
much!"
but shall go by myself"
And go she did, when the day came.
and the deacon was so mad about II
that he wouldn't even stand Mt his
gate and see the elephants go past.
He continued mad for three days and
then went to his pastor
did you preach n sermon against
that circus last Sunday? I was not
feeling well. and was not Mt church"
"Why, no, ! didn't" was tho reply.
did you warn the people that satan
was Turing them"
Brother Pegram. | was there with
my whole family"
"You-you can't mean IT,"