Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1917-03-01

Hepsey Burke
A Sister to David Hdru771
By F. N. Westcott
By F. N. Westcott

Cries of "oh! Oh! Obi" filled the
room.
II didn't say whiskey, did I? ANY
body would think I'd offered to trea,
you, the way you receive my remarks.
Now we can't get the rooms right Off,
cause we can't yet afford to pay the
rent of 'em. But there's one thine
we can do. There's Silas Bingham
The new man. He's gone and opened
/: saloon within about hundred fec
of the church, and he's sellin' liquor
to children and runnin' slot machine
besides. It's all against the law; but
IL you think the village trustees are
eoin' to do anythin to enforce the day.
you're just dead wrong, every one OF
you. The trustees are most of 'em In
for the graft, and they amt goin' to
close no saloon when it's comm elec-
tion fore long, not IL Bingham
serves cocktails between the hymns
III church. Maybe the trustees'd come
to church better II he did Maybe you
think I'm usin' strong language; but
it's true all the same, and you know
it's true. Silas Bingham's move Is a
sassy challenge to US: are we goin' to
lie down under it,"
81 must say that I'm painfully sur
prised at you Mrs. Burke" Mrs. Burns
began. you surely can't forget what
wonderful things the League has ac-
complished in Virginia and"
"Yes," Mrs. Burke interrupted, "but
you see Durford amt in Virginia 80
ness to get up and hustle right here
where we live. Did you think We
were tryin' to reform Virginia or Alas
ka by absent treatment"
Mrs. Sapley could not contain her
self another moment; 80, rising to
her feet excitedly she sputtered:
II do not agree with you, Mrs.
burke; do not agree with you at all.
Our meetings have been very inspir-
ing and helpful to us all, and I'm per-
fectly sure; very uplifting and en-
couraging; and I am astonished that
you should speak as you do"
"I'm very glad you've found them
so, Mrs. Sapley. 1 don't drink myself,
and / don't need no encouragin' and
upliftin'. It's the weak man that drinks
who needs encouragin' and upliftin';
and he wouldn't come near one of our
meetin's any more than bantam
rooster would try to hatch turtles
from moth balls. We've got to clear
Silas Bingham from off the church
steps" ,... i....
"Well," Mrs. Burns inquired "what
do you propose to do about it, If l may
be allowed to inquirer"
"Do? The first thing I propose to
40 is to interview Silas Bingham my
self privately, and see what can do
with him. Perhaps l won't accomplish
nothin'; but I'm goin' to try anyway.
and make him get out of that loca-
Lion"
"You can, IL anybody can," Mrs.
Sapley remarked.
"Thank you for the compliment,
Mrs. Sapley. Now Mrs. President, l
move, sir--that is, madam that the
parish League appoints me to inter.
view Bingham"
The motion was duly seconded and
passed, Notwithstanding some mild
protests from the opposition, and Mrs
Burke resumed her place as presiding
officer of the meeting. Then she con-
tinued:
Excuse me; l forgot the previous
question which somebody moved.
Shall we have lettuce or chicken
sandwiches at our next meetin'? You
have heard the question. Those in IA
vor of chicken please say aye. All!
The ayes have the chicken, and the
chicken is unanimously carried. Any
more business to come before the
meetin'? If not, we'll proceed to carry
out the literary program arranged by
Miss Perkins. Then we'll close this
meetin' by singin' the 224th hymn.
Don't forget the basket by the door,
Silas Bingham was an understood,
timid pulpy soul, with horizontal
forehead, watery blue eyes, and re-
ceding chin. Out of "office hours"
he looked like a meek solicitor for a
Sunday School magazine. One bright
lllOluliS just as hc Hdu lihishS'
sweeping out the saloon and was pol
ishing the brass rod on the front of
the bar, Mrs. Burke walked in, and
extended her hand to the astonishef
bar keeper, whose chin dropped from
sheer amaZement. She introduced her
self in the most cordial and sympA.
thetic Of tones saying:
How do you do, Mr. Bingham:
haven't had the pleasure of meetln'
YOU before; but ! always make 1t
point TO call on strangers when they
come to town. 1t must be awful lone
some when you first arrive and don't
know a liyin' soul. / hope your wife
|, JIG 2tolerable well'
Bingham gradually pulled himself
together and turned very red, as he
renliad.