Year: 1878

1--WE had all sorts of trouble to buy that
instrument, and though / hadn't much faith
in serving the Lord with such thing, |
didn't want to be contrary, so just chipped
right in with the three Busy Bees. We con-
cluded 10 get up fair, and laws how we cid
work. / walked whole day giving out the
notice to the members. Some wouldn't have
nothing to do with it at all. They didn't
believe in organs, and they put their foot
right down; not nickel would they give.
Others said they would think about it;
few promised crocneted mats, pincushions,
tides, and so on, and some of the young
girls said they would be responsible for the
post Office and grab bag and the like. We
worked three weeks hard at the society,
making aprons, and dressing dolls and
piecing quilts, but some how we got along
mighty slow But the time rolled round
and we decorated the church, fixed up
tables, put up a cook stove, carried dishes
over and went to getting supper. We
charged pretty dear for things, for we had to
have nice profit to get the organ. But the
people got their moneys worth. To tell
you the truth, Mr.. Arnold, never knew
folks could eat so much and then look so
cross about paying. Two OF the girls had
little fuss over China vase that was ratfied
off, and their folks all got mad and went
home. Then Mrs. Smith lost one of her
silver forks and rather limited that one of
the Cobb boys had it, and old Mrs. C. gave
her the best talking to you ever heard.
l never knew till that night that Mrs
Smiths uncle had been in the penitentiary,
but Mrs. Cobb told her in jiffy. Then the
Smiths, little and big. gathered up their stuff
and went home. Gertrude Josephine had
made some mats and tidy to be sold at the
fancy table, but she jerked them up, and
carried them off with her. The preacher,
old Brother Cook, looked like he would drop
through the floor, and his wife was as white
as a sheet, for Mrs. Cobb never stopped. She
Just talked on till she broke down crying,
and her folks took her home. Ruth Allison
had been playing some on the melodeon
that was her mothers, but Mrs. Cobb made
such noise that you couldn't hear Ruth's
music. So pretty soon we counted out our
dishes. lost two plates and broke cup


packed our baskets and come home, and
when we come TO settle We had made 1915,
and smoked the side of the meeting house
all up with the cook stove. Mrs. Smith and
Mrs. Cobb do not notice each other, and
hardly ever come to church. But after the
church at the Cross Roads got an organ we
thought more about one and tried to get it
oooin XVo hnf 10 oalo


that was worse than the fair, for everybody
wanted to sing and play, and nearly all of
them did. But they had fuss about the
places on the programme, and the city pro-


fessor got provoked and wouldn't lead.
Ruth got him in good humor, but he would
have his own way and select his own singers,
and because be didn't take their children
lots of the members wouldn't come to the
concert. But we made little at that; not
much; little better than the fair, for there
wasn't much expense. Then the young
people got up show, and had tableaux and
charades. They wanted me for the Widow
Bedott, but.I wasn't that big Ounce, tell
you, so at last, by hook and crook the organ
was sent from the city part paid for and part
not. There was quite a scramble about who
should play it and at choir rehearsal that
night every girl in Glenville was there, each
one of them in hopes she would be appointed.
But somehow the leader put Ruth Allison
there, and being as she knew music itseemed
right enough. L know ii made hard feelings


for the others went off and left her that
night, and took her home. She is the only
child In this town that don't put on airs.
She continued playing for about year, and
then one Sunday L saw Emellne West walk
right up and take her place. Everybody
looked at Ruth, but she sat quiet, getting
winter and whittier every minute. When the
leader came in he was mad, and wouldn't
strike up the tune but Emeline was spunky,
and played the piece straight through, and
her pa started of, and so they got through.


Well, after meeting there was mighty ex-
element, talking and taking sides, and
raising arumpus. but Ruth stopped all. She
had her fathers spirit, with a little of the
Allen grit. She walked up to the leader,
and says she: Professor, here is the organ
key. 1 decline keeping it or playing
on the organ any lohger, and
then taking her grandpa's arm, she
marched straight home. They do say she
cried powerful hard, but never heard her
say one word more. But in few Sundays
Emeline broke down, apd the folks that
was against the organ in the first place got
the upper hand, and they declare that IN
strument shall never be opened again. Ruth


is awful sorry, for she loved music, but she


won't touch it, but she sings mighty pretty


Did you notice her Sunday, Brother Arnold2"


The question was a simple one, and yet the
young man started and blushed, and then


stammered, "Yes, l noticed her." Was


there disloyal thought to Miss Carlyle in


his heart? Had this pretty wayside flower
already charmed him and made him. even
for a moment, forget the beautiful woman