Alas ! Elder Brown knew too well What not say was what puzzled him But as he stood bareheaded sunlight sense of utter desolation came and dwelt His eye rested upon sleeping Balaam anchored to post street, and so as he recalled the treachery that lay base of all his affliction, gloom was added desolation

back and search lost paper worse than useless course was open to him, and at it went the leader people grocery; he invaded the recesses dry-goods establishments; he ransacked the hardware stores; and wherever he went life burden clerks, overhauling show-cases and pulling down whole shelves of stock Occasionally an item memoranda would come to light, and thrusting his hand into his capacious pocket, where lay the proceeds check, pay spot, and insist upon having it rolled up suggestion slave whom he had in charge being articles be laid aside until he had finished, listen

"Now you look here, sonny," , dry-goods store, "I'm conducting this revival, an' I don't need no help in my line Just you tie them stockin's up an' lemme have 'em Then I've got_ 'em " As each purchase was promptly paid for, and change had secured, the clerk earned his salary day

So when, near the heat day, the good man arrived drugstore, the last and only unvisited division of trade, his appearance equipped with half hundred packages, which nestled arms and bulged out sections clothing that boasted of pockets As he deposited his deck-load counter, great drops of perspiration rolled down his face and over his waterlogged collar floor

something exquisitely refreshing great glasses of foaming soda that spruce young man was drawing from marble fountain, above which half dozen polar bears in an ambitious print were disporting themselves There came break run of customers, spruce young man, having swept the foam marble, dexterously lifted glass revolving rack which had rinsed it with fierce little stream of water, and asked mechanically, as he caught the intense look perspiring elder, "What syrup, sir ? "

Now it occurred elder to drink soda, but the suggestion, coming as it did exhausted state, was overpowering He drew near awkwardly, put glasses, and examined the list of syrups with great care The young man, being moment at leisure, surveyed critically the gaunt figure, the faded bandanna, the antique clawhammer coat, battered stove-pipe hat, with gradually relaxing countenance He even called the prescription clerk's attention by cough and quick jerk thumb The prescription clerk smiled freely, and continued his assaults upon piece of blue mass

"I reckon," said the elder, resting his hands upon his knees and bending down list, " gimme sassprilla an' little strawberry Sassprilla's good blood er year, an' strawberry's good "

The spruce young man let the syrup stream glass as he smiled affably Thinking, perhaps, to draw out the odd character, he ventured upon jest himself, repeating pun invented man the first soda fountain With sweep arm he cleared away the swarm of insects as he remarked, "People who like fly in theirs are easily accommodated "

from sheer good-nature only that Elder Brown replied, usual broad, social smile, "Well, fly now an' then don't hurt nobody "

Now anybody who prides himself on knowing thing or two, spruce young man who presides over soda fountain This particular young gentleman even deem reply necessary He vanished an instant, and when he returned close observer seen mixture glass he bore had slightly changed color and increased in quantity But the elder saw only the whizzing stream of water dart into its center, rosy foam rise and tremble glass's rim The next instant holding his breath and sipping the cooling drink

As Elder Brown paid his small score at peace world I firmly believe that when he had finished his trading, little blue-stringed packages stored away, could the poor donkey his appearance door, and gazed meek, fawnlike eyes into his master's, obtained full and free forgiveness

Elder Brown paused door as about to leave rosy-cheeked school-girl was just lifting creamy mixture to her lips fountain pretty picture, and he turned back, resolved to indulge in one more glass delightful beverage before beginning his long ride homeward

"Fix it up again, sonny," , renewing his broad, confiding smile, spruce young man poised glass inquiringly The living automaton went same motions as before, and again Elder Brown quaffed the fatal mixture

What singular power is habit ! Elder Brown entirely innocent of transgression, but old alcoholic fire veins, twenty years dropped shoulders, and feeling came over him familiar to every man who " cups " As matter of fact, the elder confirmed drunkard twenty years before had his wife been less strong-minded She took the reins into her own hands when she found that his business and strong drink mix well, worked him church, sustained his resolutions by making it difficult and dangerous for him toddy She became the business head family, and he the spiritual Only at rare intervals did he ever "backslide" during the twenty years new era, and Mrs Brown herself used "sugar 'n turned to gall backslide ended " People who knew her never doubted it

But Elder Brown's sin during the remainder day contained an element of responsibility As he moved majestically down toward where Balaam slept sunlight, no fatigue glow upon his cheek-bones, and faint tinge upon his prominent nose He nodded familiarly to people as he met them, and saw not the look of amusement which succeeded astonishment various faces When he reached the neighborhood of Balaam it suddenly occurred to him that forgotten some one numerous commissions, and he paused Then brilliant idea rose mind forestall blame and disarm anger with kindness-- purchase Hannah bonnet

What woman's heart ever failed to soften at sight of new bonnet ?

As stated, the elder was man of action He entered store near at hand

"Good-morning," said an affable gentleman with Hebrew countenance, approaching

"Good-mornin', good-mornin'," said the elder, piling his bundles counter " well ? " Elder Brown extended his hand fervidly

"Quite well, What--"

" little wife ? " said Elder Brown, affectionately retaining the Jew's hand

"Quite well, sir "

" little ones--quite well, , too ? "

"Yes, sir; all well, Something do ? "

The affable merchant was trying to recall his customer's name

"Not now, not now, thankee please to let my bundles stay untell I come back--"

"Can't I show you something ? Hat, coat--"

"Not now Be back bimeby "

chance or fate that brought Elder Brown in front of bar ? The glasses shone bright shelves swinging door flapped back to let out coatless clerk, who passed him with rush, chewing upon farewell mouthful of brown bread and bologna Elder Brown beheld for an instant the familiar scene within The screws resolution loosened At sight glistening bar the whole moral structure of twenty years came tumbling down Mechanically he entered the saloon, and laid silver quarter bar as :

"A little whiskey an' sugar " The arms bartender worked like faker's in side show as he set out the glass with its little quota of "short sweetening" and cut-glass decanter, and sent half-tumbler of water spinning along upper end bar with dime in change

"Whiskey is higher'n used ," said Elder Brown; but the bartender was taking another order, and hear him Elder Brown stirred away the sugar, and let steady stream of red liquid flow glass He swallowed the drink as unconcernedly his morning tod had never been suspended, and pocketed the change "But it ain't any better than ," he concluded, as he passed out even seem to he had done anything extraordinary

millinery store up the street, and thither with uncertain step he wended his way, feeling little more elate, and altogether sociable pretty, black-eyed girl, struggling down her mirth, came forward and faced him behind the counter Elder Brown lifted his faded hat politeness, the grace, of Castilian, and made sweeping bow Again element But speak shower of odds and ends, small packages, thread, needles, and buttons, released from their prison, rattled down about him

The girl laughed help it elder, leaning his hand counter, laughed, too, until girls came half-way front Then they, hiding behind counters and suspended cloaks, laughed and snickered until they reconvulsed the elder's vis-a-vis, who making desperate efforts to resume her demure appearance

"Let me , sir," she said, coming from behind the counter, upon seeing Elder Brown beginning to adjust his spectacles for search He waved her back majestically "No, my dear, no; can't allow it You mout sile them purty fingers No, ma'am No gen'l'man'll 'low er lady such thing " The elder was gently forcing the girl back to her place "Leave it I've picked up bigger things 'n them Picked myself up this mornin' Balaam--you don't know Balaam; he's my donkey--he tumbled me over his head sand this mornin' " And Elder Brown had to resume an upright position until his paroxysm of laughter had passed " this old hat ? " extending it, half full of packages; "I fell clear inter it; jes' as clean inter it as them things thar fell out'n it " He laughed again, and so did the girls "But, my dear, I whaled half the hide off'n him "

"Oh, sir ! how could you ? Indeed, sir wrong The poor brute know what doing, I dare say, and probably he faithful friend " The girl cast her mischievous eyes towards her companions, who snickered again The old man was not conscious sarcasm He only saw reproach His face straightened, and he regarded the girl soberly

"Mebbe you're right, my dear; mebbe I oughtn't "

" of it," said the girl "But now don't bonnet or cloak to carry home to your wife ? "