Catoctin clarion., 1917-10-25
NM y "a N AA "a ~ ~ - WID
sTHE PARSON HELP. .
BY c. q. LEWIS.


show that was coming over tic hiii
into the village OF Liverpool, to see
which fifty or sixty people had gath
cred. 1t was simply and solely the
Widow Skinner, for the widow had
bought the house and lot of Seth Trav'
ers and was moving over from Rock.
ford.
None Of the Liverpool folks had seen
Mrs. Skinner yet but most Of them had
heard of her. She had been described
as both an angel and virago-as tall
and as shOrt-as Il peacemaker and as
a troublemaker.
And the crowd had gathered in front
IF the Travers' house, and the widow
was at hand with her bag and baggage,
A mystery that had troubled the vii.
.age for two weeks was about to be
solved.
Squire Lapham was the father OF the
town. It was for him to welcome all
newcomers and shake hands with all
who moved away. He had on his sun
day suit on this occasion. and he was
on the ground early. 1t was for him to
boss, and for the others to obey. The
widow drove two skeleton horses at
tached to a rickety old wagon. and
within the vehicle We're her household
treasures.
Hitched to the rear Of the wagon was
Q bony COW, and at her heels, grunting
their disgust. came three hogs as thin
as an old-fashioned hoopskirt, The
boys were nine and twelve years pf
age. respectively.
"Stand back Everybody stand back"
shouted the squire, us the wagon came
TO halt. "Are you goin' to tell me that
you never saw widder woman be-
fOre!"
"Why. she's as homely as a cabbage
head" exclaimed one,
"And she's as tnll as mani" gaspeo
number two.
Look at them crowbaits OF hosses !"
CALCULATED third.
MADAM" said the squire. as ne
stepped forward and raised his Greely
hat, ut is my happy privilege to bid
you welcome to our charming village"
The Widow Skinner looked that
crowd oyer for a minute and then got
down and said;
II want no blarney from you or an!
OF the rest Of 'em! Go "p with you"
"But my good woman"
But she went through the crowd
scowling right and left until NIL Went
away. except Elder Bixby. who stood
leaning against the fence with smile
on his face.
He was about to receive n kick, wheL
the widow withheld her foot. and said:
"Take off your coat and help me ge,
the stove and bureau out Of the
wagon"
ayes. ma'am."
Elder Bixby was widower fifty-fom
years old. He helped to unload the
wagon and carry the things in. and
when he put on his coat the woman
thanked him, and added:
II kinder suspect you are wild
Ower?'
Eyes"
"And I'm widder. Drop in now and
then. l shan't bite you."
The widow settled her house in three
days, and then she and her sons began
to stand the town Of Liverpool on Its
head. The boys broke window glass
got up dog fights. stoned cats ana
fought every boy that could not out.
run them. The COW and the horses and
the hogs were turned loose in the
streets to get their living as best they
could, and they preferred the vegetable
gardens and lawns to the roadsides.
Squire Lapham had never beeL
snubbed by mortal man or woman be.
fore, and his surprise was so great that
he hardly spoke to anyone outside his
family for two weeks. Then he sud
denly reused up and asked Stephen
Brewster:
"Steve the law won't stand it-no
by thunder, 1t won't! That widder and
her boys have got to behave themselves
or they'll have trouble on their hands!"
Meanwhile, the widow kept fairly
busy. She gave tin peddler black
eye because he told her that she didn't
know Il good thing when she saw 1t;
she crippled hog which was interfer
Ing with the peace Of mind Of one OF
her own; she kicked book canvasser
and she tore down a line fence for
fuel.
1t was too much for the town Of Iiv
erpoOl There We're muttprings and
threats, and committee called on Par.
son Turner.
That evening he sent for Elder Blk.
by to come to the parsonage. and when
the good man arrived he was asked:
~ am told that during your married
life you bOssed your house with
strong hand?"
"Purty strong, parson-purty strong.
Most wives need n strong hand"
ut looks so to me. The Widow Skin.
ner and her boys need strong hand.
You've got 1t. am satisfied that II
she had a husband and the boys ia.
ther there would be great difference
In their conduct. You may not love the
widow now, but you may grow to-"
Is there a Widow Skinner now? No.
Are there two bad boys Of her name?
No.
Copyright, 1917. by the Mcclure Newspa.
per Syndcate.)