Indianapolis Journal, Indianapolis, Marion County, 27 January 1889 — Page 6

Allegro J SS. ' I 4 a a a a 4 1 ft 4 2 t" I fej.jj Lj ji - m j "ri

I tJ i i ft r 1 s a 1 1 a i ! r", 5 r

""v

TEM)ER GRASS." ! "'Thr had talked about it for a long time beforehand, Cynthia being always careful that the door into the kitchen should be hut. It was not only that she doubted the discretion of Abby Slocum, their "hired fixl" but she felt somewhat sensitive as to whst Abby might think; and then there waste matter at example. Cynthia always thought a great deal about the example tha she set. It was Triscilla who ha4 broached the subject, with fear and trembling; she expected to be overwhelmed by Cynthia's horror and amazement. She was aware of a certain liglrl-mindedness in herself, and she thought Cynthia must be aware of it too, although she bad never rp proved her for it, hut only loobcd at her a little sadly sometimes when it cropped out, Itwasthisforbearanceof Cj'nthia'8,together with the recollection of a night when she hlfl gone into Cynthia's room in search of a cure for toothache, and found her burning the midnight oil over a novel whoso lightness was indubitably proven by its name, which had given her courage for this avowal. The novel had never been mentioned between them; whence it came or whither it went remained a mystery to Priscilla. She had sometimes permitted herself to wonder whether Cynthia had fact there was a circulating library at Plumfield but it seemed disloyal even to conjecture. Then there was a suspicion of a magazine story on a Sunday afternoon, jiasiuy nmaen irem ooservaiion nnuer Cynthia's large Bible; this, being only a suspicion, Priscilla determined to drive from hr mind; but there was a lingering comfort in the thought that Cynthia had weaknesses. It was just after the midnight surprise that Cynthia had prayed in meeting so fervently that manwere moved to tears, the burden being human frailty and temptatiou. It was not customary for women to speak in meeting in East Hadleyville. but the meetings wero rparslv attended, and few of the men had a gift." and when the silencebecamepainftL ana eyes wandered dully towani the clock, and when Deacon Sproat's voice had cracked singing stirring hymns all in vain, then the sorely tried minister would look appealingly at Cynthia, on whom nature, in apparent lack of sympathy with St. Paul, had bestowed a remarkable gift of prayer and exhortation. And it was generally thought that St. Paul himself would 'have made an exception in favor of old Parson Williams's elder daughter. Pardon Williams hadministered to the parish of East lladleyville for forty years. A rigid and austere man, his parishioners had not loved him, but they had reverenced and believed in him. Most of them cherished no doubt that it was the part of true cod lines to be rigid and austere, and onlv the weakness of human nature prevented thein from emulating him in these respects. Nevertheless, they found his daughter Cynthia distinctly more satisfactory, because, alont; with her father's stern virtues, she "had consid'able mother to her," as the older people were accustomed to say. She was rigid in doctrine, but she was tender toward sinners and their frailties; she gave of herself and of her slender means nnstmtincly to the sick and poor, whether just or unjust; she was "a saint if ever there was one." One could conmlo a comfortable bit of gossip more easilv to Priscilla; and if she wasn't so good in sickness, she had a great knack at triinminir a bonnet; and what cream-cakes and meringues she would make and send in just at the nick of time, when one had been surprised by conian3'! Jf iome envious oul had darkly dnted that Priscilla lovei' a pretty bonnet too well, they were promptly snubbed, and sarh base insinuations had never reached even to the ears of Abby Slocum. an important jH-rsonaire. who was 'frei to confess'' that she 'waVt too high-minded to want to know what was goiu' on." It was, as I have said, the startling discovery of Home traces of frivolity in Cynthia which gave Priscilla courage to reveal the audacious wish of her heart. Theyare going to have private theatricals over at Pluuitield for the benetitof the church," she said, feeling herself to be is a serpent. "Yes; ilary Jane Kidder told me. I'm

THE INDIANAPOLIS JOURNAL, SUNDAY,

IBIEIEierOIE Allegro from Symyhony in C major, Opus z I.

lw 1 1 r rr-j i i p fez - y-i- rr 3t3

v 5 1 a a i V ft 4 a r"T ' a a a8" i

Copyriglitgnnkel Bros., 1333.-

afraid it will make a great deal of discord; some are so opposed io it." said Cynthia. I don't see why they should bei" 1 don't see why they're any more wicke d than a fair, an exhibition or any such thing." said Priscilla, boldly. Cvnthia looked at her over her glasses with a mild littlw. surprise. "I'm glad nobodv in our church has thought of such a thing." she said, with a slight tonchof severity in her t .one. "It as if she were included in Cynthia's slow, mournful shaking of tlu brad over the "lightness" of Stella Fling aml the Judkins girls. She was afraid her rourage was going to fail, after alL "This makes mo think, luscilla,' continued Cynthia, more briskf.V, "that if we are really going to Hoston to Vpt our newcloaks we may as well go bciire the fair. There are some worsteds and su h things I wjint to buy." The way was beingpa ved for hei Priscilla felt a lurking suspicion that it was the work of the Evil One. but she determined to conquer her shriuking. Her training had led her to the conclusion that one c vuldn't really have a good time without tallying one's self, more or less, with him, an d she was conscious of a desperate recklessness in herself. "It will seem Teal good to go," she si Md, with a long-drawn-sigh. "It's five yes.'rs now since we went the fall that we ha d our brown cashmeres and beaver cloak. with the jet on them." "We laid out our money well; thcy'w worn," said Cynthia, with great satisfaction in her tone. "All but the jet trimming," she added, after a moment's rellection. "I can't say that I ever really approved of that." 1 "And we haven't been anywhere since iwd not a single thing has happened," said Priscilla, ignoring the implied reproach of the jet. Cynthia adjusted her glasses and looked at her sister as if in st arch of some visible sign of mental aberration. Priscilla had hitherto confined her discontent to the privacy of her own bosom. "Noth ing happened?" echoed Cynthia, in a tone of extreme surprise. "W by why, there was tbe protracted meeting last winter, and the winter before; aDd tmele Jeremiah's dying and leaving us the wood lot; and Abby's setting the house atire with her soap-boiling; and and tinding out forcertain that Deacon Favor wasnt all he ought to be; and going to Lemuel's silver wedding I declare 1 feel dreadfully that Joe lias married so's to break their hearts, as Jane wrote; and and the burglar that wo shut up all night in the granary, and that turned out to be half-witted Iky Plunt come to borrow a cup of yeast; and the new minister, and his never saying anything about having been married so many mercies, sister!" "Yes, I know I'm wicked not to think of that.' said Priscilla, meekly; "but it's so monotonous!" "Monotonous! Why, sometimes things seem so exciting that my head Hies round' exclaimed Cynthia. "Here's this going to Poston; we sha'n't sleep nights for thinking of it, and wo shall be all worn out, and I should be afraid it was down-right wicked, if it wasn't for saving so much on our cloaks." "Cynthia, there's something I want to do when we goto lloston." said Priscilla, with desperate courage. "I've wanted to all my life, and it seems as if I couldn't stand it to think I never should! You know father read Shakspeare. and he knew that I did, and he never said anything against it. I want to see a play to go to the theater, Cvnthia!" "t 'sh! sh!" said Cynthia; and then she arose and shut the door into the kitchen, where Abby Slocum was beguiling the toil of dish-washing by energetically singing, "He'll carry you throuch." Priscilla had expected that Cynthia would overwhelm her with reproaches when she came back, but instead, after looking apprehensively toward the irout door, and making a motion as if to pull down a window-shade, she dropped into her chair, and leaning toward her sister, said: "I expect it's wicked, Priscilla, but I want to. too!" Prescilla fairly gasped for breath. If Satan were tholnspirer of this desire, ho had Cynthia also in his grap. It was too much to believe. Strangely enough, Priscilla felt the enormit3 of her proposed wickedness as she had never felt it before; but in the next moment her heart beat high with reckless hope. "We'll go, Cynthia, won't we!" she cried. "0 'sh!" said Cynthia again. In fact, Abby Slocum bad ceased to give utterance to her comforting assurance, and the clat

would be iust like Stella rJing ana tne .Tndkins girls. Theyar.J so well meaning, dear girls, but light, ver light." Priscilla' a guilty eonscii Mieemano her teel

Transcribed By CARL SID US, Op. 79.

' i. tering of dishes which had accompanied it r was also hushed. The sudden closing of I that door, combined with the sound of lowered voices, was apt to overcome Abby's principles. "It's my duty to seo that they ain't goin to be sot on nor nothin', them inuercents," was the way in which Abby Slocum accounted to her conscience for her weakness in the matter of keyholes. The opinion cherished by Cynthia that she was very astute in the pfactictical affairs of life was not shared by Abby Slocum. "Nobody need ever kuow it. so it can't do any harm'in the way of example, Cynthia." urged Priscilla, who had the sisterly advantage of knowing the weak joints in Cynthia's armor. Cynthia was not a hypocrite, she was capable of laying down her life for the cause of righteousliess; but, with the curious inconsistency of hnman nature, she had a keen sense of the sin of being found out.. really was, so that we could warn others more effectually, especially the young. Of course the pleasures of tho world are much more likely to be a snare to the young than to you and me, Priscilla." It occurred to Priscilla that tho youth of East Hadleyville were not in great danger of being corrupted by theater-going, but she was far too diplomatic to say so. "And when you re so far away as Boston, it 'most seems as if you'd left yourself behind you," Cynthia went on. reflectively. "Not out what we're accountable beiugs everywhere, so of course it isn't a right way to feel; but the responsibility isn't quite so great on account of the example," she added, with an evident senso of some lameness in her logic. "Oh, no, it isn't the same," said Priscilla, vith great warmth. "Of course people d eii3 themselves a great many things only ju st for the sake of example, and not a soul wi 11 ever know of this." 'What shall we go to see?" said Cynthia, brii ily. 1 borrowed a Boston paper at Deacon Laui? vr's. If we go next week we can see one i f Shakspeare's plays 'As You Like It.' "Pve always thought I should like to see East I. yuiie,'" said Cynthia, eagerly; "but perhaps ' ne of Shakspeare's wouldn't seem so wicked." Priscil la didn't know what "East Lvnno" was, and she wondered how Cynthia knew, but she c wight sight, of a guilty color in Cynthia's face just in time to prevent her fromaskin g. It would be too great a pity to bring ci tilly repentance upon Cynthia D(Tra glad there's plenty of love in 'As You Like It. Cynthia likes a love story though I alw Ty thought she would bo burned at tl li" stake before she would acknowledge i. V she said to herself. uvv nliriii 7 been thinking we d go nn to the Athena'u. n to see the books and pict- ' l . w lia va Tipvpr hurl t i 1 11 r " said Cynthia, somewhat remorsefully. "And next time w v g we must choose the time of the missi ouarj-meetings. 1 don't think, anyway, we shall enjoy it as much as we expect the Iay..i mean, i guess Deacon Prouty is ri. tt about tne pleasures of the world being a U fender grass.' " T don t fe how he knows: he never had any," said rnsciiia. i. n l"v: . . l)Monn Trnntv lmil'. made tnat assertion about the pleasures o ' the world a great many times in praV y-meeting, and he alwavs explained it at length. " hen I'm a-mowin' m tho field." to would say, "the trrnva i rntrrrrwl and lull of weeds. but when I look ahead a nsid able ways it looks all fair and bar. iue.and thinks I, 'over vender its slick aud smooth niowinV but, sa.s. alive! when I git over the; ,lf jest as ragged, or mebbo wa se Uut seems as if I never ronld learn A stop puttin' faith in vender grass. Jest it is with the pleasures of tho world: they tppear beautiful and enticin', but when tft to 'em they ain't nothin' bntyeuder rass. They ain't nothin' but ashes toourt ursty souls." (The good deacon's figures wen ' ' npt to become badly badly mixed at thit Ponit: but meauing was more than metap. ,,r to e honest souls m the East Madly vt ue. prayer meeting.) "I've always wanted to get as fa T as i yen der grass' once, and see what it wv ' like, said l'riscilla. Ami striiTiirrt in kiv. f!rnthi.i nfi red no warning against levity, bhe onlysai i that she thought cloaks were likely to be h gher as the weather grew colder, so the no oncv 1ia- nint lnttAr Meanwhile, Abby Slocum, oil the ot Ytr aide of the key-hole, was in a state of uti r collapse. "The theater! Seems as if I must V mis "

"Perhaps it wonldu t be so very wicked, just for once," said Cynthia, meditatively. "And then we should know just how bad it

JANUARY 27, 1889-TWELVE PAGES

CANTABILE. -Cm took! I wouldn't 'a' believed it! Them lambs! They don't know what theyre adoin If they set under Elder Tozier, and heard him talk about the theater, they d know better'n to risk their immortal souls! I'm 'most afraid they ain't sneritual, them kind of mild CongregationaR Summer 'em and winter 'em they seem like Christians, if ever folks did, but they're jest babes about some thinirs. nertikerlerlv Miss Cvnthy, that thinks she knows it all. They can be took in iest as easy! mat's now 'tis tnat they hain t no realizin' sense about the theater. But there is an ortle respouserbilerty rest in' on me 'count of happenin' to overhear 'em! If they should get into one of them dens of infamy, such as Elder Tozier says theaters is, 1 don't know as they'd ever get out alive with their poor perish in' bodies, to say nothin' of tucir souls. But how be I a-goin' to stop 'emf I guess I'll speak to Jonas: he's real clearheaded, Jonas is; and, anyhow, I shall feel a sight better to feel that tho responserbilcrtj' ain't all on my shoulders." Jonas worked on an adjoining farm, and meant to have one of his own before long, where he and Abby should set up their household gods together. Abby's anxiety and excitement were so great that slw so far 6acritied her discretion and sense of her own value as to run out to the barn to see Jonas when he came, as usual, at night, to milk the Misses Williams's cow; ordinarily Jouas was constrained to put on his Sunday coat and a purple neck-tie, and knock at the side door in proper form, before he was admitted to the presence of his ladylove. Abbv poured out her tale in broken gasps over the brown back of old Betsy, the cow (she had her reserves, like the rest of tho world; she did not mention the key-hole.) It seemed to her that Jonas took tho matter very lightly. Ho said he couldn't believe that they really meant to go to the theater, or, if they did, "mebbe 'twouldu't be no great matter. Kceiu' they wa'n't very liable to be carried away by it." And Jonas hadn't even tne excuse tnat t lie .Misses vv miams had for not realizing the wickedness of the theater, for he did sit under Elder Tozier every Sunday. "I can't stan' it to let 'em go! I've got to try to stop 'em, and you've got to help me, Jonas." "1 shouldn't calc'late, now, that Miss Cynthy was one that would stan' a great sight of interference," said Jonas, prudently. "Sases alive! you don't suppose I'd dare to say anything right ont?,f Cried Abby. "I always have to manage 'cm. If 1 should happen to have one of my dreadful sore throats, now " Jonas's honest gaze brought a flash-of shame to Abby's cheek. "You know I don't like to do them things. Jonas, but before I'd see them innercents go headlong to destruction" "Wo might kind of foller 'em," suggested Jonas, somewhat shyly. "I shonldn t wonder if there was some house-keepiu' things that would come cheaper now than what they would in the spring. We might slip overtoPlumtield, and take the train and get into Boston about the same time they did. There's consid'able many theatres in Boston, though. Y'ou didn't happen to hear 'em say which one the- was goin' to, did you? ' "1 heard Miss Cynthy say Athena?ura, but she said something about Lynn, too." 'There is a theatre in Boston that's called by that kind of a name," said Jonas. "I know right where it is. Y'ou jest wait a, minute." Jonas drew from his pocket a newspaper, which bore signs of having passed through many hands. "Here it is; the Athenanun. 'Last week of the Company. Goes on the circuit nexjt week, appearing in Lynn Monday night." "That must 'a been what they was tallcin' about. Oh, Jouas, who would 'a' thought it! We might kind of keep an eye on 'em. I'd appearright before 'cm if I saw 'em goi n' into such a place. Miss Cynthy wouldut go if she thought anyone saw her, 1 cafi tell you. If 1 can manage to get aViy without their suspectin' anything, Jona. I believe it'll be a real good plan." Three days after this the Misses Williams took the morning train for Boston. thiir hearts tilled with a fearful joy. The mutter of winter cloaks had become a miniur consideration; there seemed to be daniter that the fancy-woTk for the church fair would be quite forgotten. Priscilla vas surprised at the determination which Cynthia showed; she looked anxiously ab put the train to see if there were any East U adley ville people among their fellow-passengers, but when she had assured herself! on that point all her misgivings seemed laid at rest. Iudeed it seemed to Priscilla t hat she herself was suffering more qualms of conscience than Cvnthia. That sense of having allied herseli with the Evil One wras

:-' 1 . ! J - j - J r J J 47fm If "3 V "it : 3 4

f n 1 -0 r 1 l- I - 000 w 0 0 v v r- j -o f-' x f x T ' - ores cn --- r '. f r - r r 1 r. 1 T

r7? IT . & l do. jf ZZZ r-

I la 1 -r. S gj:

ff (eg i j i JN4pHb ; i 1 i -j 1- t f

r 3: -r -w

V 4 A-- f . ' ' mf area ------ -......... L. i 1 , J-t-M- jjj5r -M-j-i-

5 4 5 4 5 . . . tofcfggy--r -r?f:g::f--' -------- ff P f P : I l . tTT . T: F T-

r r r

Repeat from the growing, and poor Princilla, not being gi ven to philosophizing upon inherited prejudices and unconsciously assimilated ideas, ascribed it all to conscience. But in spite of feeling horrible wicked, in spite of any dark retribution that the future might hold, she would not give up her longed-tor delight; she was as determined as Cynthia, who was, spparently, only afraid of being found out. .... The shopping was got through with m a perfuctorv manner, of which they were incapable under ordinary circumstances, and it afterward rankled in Cynthia's bosom that they had given a dollar and a half more than was strictly necessary for the cloaks. They went to the theater twice, lacking courage to go up to the ticket-office, which was besieged by an eager throng. "Somebody will certainlv see us if we act like this, Cynthia," said Priscilla. forgetting all scruples in a dreadful fear that Cynthia's courage was going to fail her at tlie last; and thus adjured, Cynthia walked unflinchinglvup to the office with Priscilla in her wake. and. wholly bewildered by the plan laid before her, bought the first seats proposed to her, regardless of the price, although they had lirmly resolved to pay as little as possible. "I hope we ain't encouraging actresses that ain t what they ought to be, Priscilla," she said anxiously as they pressed with the crowd through the doors, which, to Priscilla's fancy, had always seemed guarded, like the gates of Eden, with a flaming sword. It was quite surprising that it was all so ordinary just such quiet, well-dressed Ieoplo as one might see going to church. Jynthia, nevertheless, whispered that it made her think of the broad way. She had a great fright, too, almost as soon as they were seated, thinking that she saw the light side-whiskers and prematurely bald head of young Josiah Wiggiu, who assisted his father iu keeping the East Hadleyville store, and made periodical trips to Boston for goods. Priscilla had much ado to calm her and convince her that 6he was mistaken. "He was in my Sabbath-school .class; what would ho think, Priscillaf ' she said. Priscilla thought it would be impossible after that for Cynthia to find any pleasure in the play; but no sooner had the curtain risen than she was utterly absorbed. Priscilla had time, in the midst of her own en joyment, to observe the radiant, childlike drlicrht. in her KiKter's face. "Oh, ain't it beautiful!" she said, as the curtain fell on the lirst act, her worn face working with smiles and tears. "It would bo no use to tell me that that Rosalind wasn't a good girl, and the other one must be, or else she wouldn't go with her. No wonder you look at me, Priscilla! I am getting mixed up and carried away! But I can't see that there's a mite of harm in it so far!" Hut in tho middle of the third act Cynthia suddenly arose, white and trembling, and seizing Priscilla's arm in an iron grasp, drew her, amazed and reluctant, out of her seat and to the door. "Priscilla! Deacon Prouty! He was looking right down at me from that upper gallery! He looked terribly stern: but he's near-sighted; do von suppose it's possible, Priscilla, that he didn't see us!" "Deacon Prouty! how can you be so foolish, Cynthia! He never came to Boston but twice in his life. I think I saw tho man vou mean; ho did look just a little like Deacon Prouty. Step forward a little and yon can see him now." And Priscilla tried to draw her forward past the solicitous ushers, who were afraid the lady was ill. But Cynthia drew back determinedly. "I couldn't go back, anyway, Priscilla. Maybe it isn't Deacon Prouty. , it doesn't seem as if he would come here. I was enjoying it beautifully when it seemed to come across me what an awful thing it would be to die there and have it in the papers: and just then I happened to look up there and saw him: it did look a sight like Deacon Prouty, Priscilla." The latter clause was offered in an humble tone, with a propitiatory glance at Priscilla's perturbed and disappointed countenance. The doors had closed behind them now, and Priscilla seemed to be swallowing something very hard. A glimpse of poor Cynthia's woe-begone face changed her mood. "Never mind! it will be something to imagine always how it ended. We can read the play and picture it all out in our minds." Priscilla trim to smile pitifully. "I guess I was to bLme. Priscilla." This was nn unusual concession for Cynthia. She sat silent all the-way home in the cars, an earlier train than the3 bad expected to take, and Priscilla was wholly occupied in "picturing out" the rest-of the play in her mind; she thought she should

S zt it t -4-

IS. beginning to FINE, foel almost reconciled if sb could only imagine just how Kosalind wonld look when she donned her woman's dress again. They stopped at the postoffice on the wayhome from the station to get the Christian Messenger, which always came Saturday, and found a letter also. t "I expect it's from Jane." said Cynthia. "She does feel so bad about Joe that it's a comfort to tell some of her own folks of it, seeing Lemuel won't have his name mentioned in his hearing." "Lemuel is stern," said Priscilla. . "Yes but he's good; he's like father. I wish wc were all as good as he is," said Cynthia. . She read the letter as soon as they reached home, only Waiting to untio her bonnetstrings. "Priscilla. it's a pla3'-actress that Joe has married. Jane says she wouldn't tell ns the worst at lirst, because Lemuel told , her to break it to us gently. Oh. Priscilla. our only nephew, and we used to hope before he ran away to sea that he would be a minister lilte his father and grandfather. What is this that Jane 6aysf lie is obliged to go away immediately on another voyage, and she is not st rong enough to go with him; she has always been delicate, andshehasn't any own folks, and he can't bear to leave her among strangers, and he wanted hi father and mother to take her home. Land sake! Of course Lemuel wouldn't hear to it. and just think of the scandal 'twould make a play-actress! Well, well!" Cynthia plaited and puckered her bonnetstrings nervously, the letter fell down at her feel, and as she reflected her expression changed. "Let's have her here, Priscilla! Let's have Joe's wife right here! We've got a comfortable, pleasant home, and we could take such good care other while Joe is gone. 1 feel as if-He had let the wrath of man praise Him, Priscilla. fori never should feel so charitable if I hadn't yielded to temptation, going there rben I thought 'twan wrong I did, Priscilla; end if I hadn't seen, too, that play-actorsv)me of 'em, at least wa'n't so bad as I thought they were." "But, Cynthia, people will know they'll be sure to find out what she is!" "Let 'em!" Cynthia drew herself up to Lr full height. "I've been too much afraid of the face of clay; that's been borne in upon me. too. to-day. I ain't going to be any more, if I can help it." Her voice faltered a little on the last words. The sisters fell to planning eagerly how to make their prospective guest comfortable and happy. I'horbe, the cat, washed her face vigorously, and the gray parrot shrieked "Amen" (which he had learned from tho family prayers), until Cynthia, who thought him profane, muffled his cage. "It's a little strange that Abby 6honld 6tay so late," eaid Cynthia at length. "I'm afraid her cousin is sick again. And Jonas hasn't come to milk yet. I suppose he h.n gone over to bring her home, as he did the last time she went to Plumtield." When at length Abby did arrive she seemed much perturbed in mind: but then she "always was upsot by bein' behindhand," Ahoy declared. "I expect yon must 'a' come home consid'able early?" she remarked, interrogatively. "Yes, we came in an earlier train than usual." replied Cynthia. "There. Priscilln.' she added, "we might have gone np to th Atheieuin os well as not, if we'd only thought of it." Abby started and st.ired at her. "Where'd you say. Miss Cynthy?" she said. "To the AthVu.euni; it's up on Beacon street: there are books and pictures there, it's a beautiful place to go. "Oh." said Abbj with a lingering ascent. As Cvnthia was going up to bed that night Abby called her back. iPrisciila had gone on before.) "I've got something on m mind, 111? Cynthv, and, 'tain't no use. it's got to come out. I've disgraced my Christiau profession. Miss Cynthy! I've fell into drctful sin. and I've dragged Jonas in too him that ain't a, perfes-or, and that I've been tryin' as hard as I could to set an example to. I didn't calc'late to do it; it was a kind of a mistake; but that ain't a mite of excuse for me, for it come from my own wicked heart a-leadiu me to suspect them that's saints if ever there was any" "Abby, what have you been doihg" "Miss Cynthy. it's worse'u anything vou'd think of if you should guess a hundred times! I've ben to the theater in Boston, Jonas and me! We didn't calculate to. but 1 can't never tell you jest how necoue to. Twas some kind of an Atheiia?um, but it wasn't the kind you go to; 'twas a ie.il theater. And there was what they called a ball-et; Jonas calculated it meant a little ball. There was a terrible sight of women dancin', and they had little mite i