The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1917-12-17
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ssTHE PARSON HELPS.
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BY c. 3. LEWIS.

SHOW LudL was COiuIHS over tue LII
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 mad 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 a peacemaker and as
troublemaker.
And the crowd had gathered In front
of the Travers' house, and the widow
was at hand with her bag and baggage.
A mystery that had troubled the vii
lage 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 were her household
treasures.
Hitched to the rear Of the wagon was
bony cow, and at her heels, granting
their disgust, came three hogs as thin
as an old-fashioned hoop-skirt. The
boys were nine and twelve years OF
age, respectively.
"Stand back Everybody stand back r
shouted the squire, as the wagon came
to halt. "Are you goin' to tell me that
you never saw a wilder woman be
| fore I"
"Why, she's as homely as a cabbage
headl" exclaimed one.
Sand she's as tall as a mani" gaspe6
number two.
'Look at them crowbaits of bosses T.
| calculated a third.
J Madam" said the squire, as he
stepped forward and raised his Greedy
hat, "it is my happy privilege to bio
| you welcome to our charming village
The Widow Skinner looked thai
crowd over for a minute and then got
down and said:
ST want no blarney from you or any
Of the rest Of 'eml Go on with your
"But my good woman"
But she went through the crowd
scowling right and left, until all went
away, except Elder Bixby, who stood
leaning against the fence with a smile
on his face.
He was about to receive a kick, wher
the widow withheld her foot, and said
take OF your coat and help me GEL
pthe stove and bureau out Of the
wagon"
| eyes, Fam"
Elder Bixby was widower fifty-foul
years old. he helped to unload tht
wagon and carry the. things In, and
when ne put on his coat the woman
thanked him, and added:
| 81 kinder suspect you are q, wild
| owerr
/ eyes"
"And I'm q wilder. Drop in now ana
then. I shan't bite you"
The widow settled her house I'M thre.
days. and then she and her sons begal
to stand the town OF Liverpool ON III
head. The boys broke window glass
got up dog fights, stoned cats ant
fought every boy that could not out
run them. The COW and the horses ant
| the hogs were turned loose I'm tn,
streets to get their living as best the.
could, and they preferred the vegetable
gardens and lawns to the roadsides.
i Squire Lapham had never beel
snubbed by mortal man or woman be
fore, and his surprise was so great tina
he hardly spoke to anyone outside hi
family for two weeks. Then he sud
denly reused up and asked Stephel
Brewster:
Steve, the law won't stand it-nc
by thunder, 1t won't! That wilder an
her boys have got to behave themselve
or they'll have trouble on their hands
Meanwhile, the widow kept fairl
busy. She gave tin peddler blacl
eye because he told her that she didn'
know a good thing when she saw IL
she crippled hog which was interior
ing with the peace of mind of one o
her own; she kicked book canvassel
and she tore down a line fence 70
fuel.
It was too much for the town OF Liz
erpool. There were mutterings an
threats, anda committee called on Pal
son Turner.
That evening he sent for Elder Biz
by to come to the parsonage, and whe
the good man arrived he was asked:
81 am told that during your marie
life you bossed your house with
strong handfr
Purity strong, parson-purty stroni
Most wives need "a strong hand"