The River Falls journal. (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1857-1861, 1857-10-21
honest folks, and l don't keer who knows

ayes, it's all that; but must be goin
its nigh on to ten o'clock. and l want
to call On Miss Barker and Miss Kelly and
Miss Roberts and Miss Giles, and tell
them about it. Sich ongrateful works
ought to be knowed, think. Dew call
round soon, Miss Perkins. | am always
SO rejo;ced to see you, Good morning"
Aunt Sally bounded down the grass
grown path with the elasticity Of sixteen,
and soon lest her pretty form to view in
the shrubbery of white hazel which shs-
ded the road, while Mrs. Perkins, with a
! long face, and heart full of indignation
against the deceitfulness Of man, returned
to her ironing.
The day of rest. Sabbath day, came at
last-a day most anxiously looked for in
Tattletown-the day which was to afford
them q SIGHT of the minister's new wife
the woman who was to lead in the female
prayer meetings, take the Presidents
chair at the sewing society, be first in all
charitable moves to assist the heather be-
yond the South Pole, entertain every
wandering vagrant that CHANGED to he
nerambuiating the country under the
guse of a book agent col porteur, or itn-
Grant, and keep peace and quietness a.
mong the female portion of the commu-
nity, without offending man, woman or
chill.
No wonder there was q great sensation
on the appearance of such q wonder.
Spies, who had been stationed at the
/, railroad depot the previous night, testified
to having seen the minister alght from
the cars with lady, closely yelled, cling
| ing to his arm. In the darkness they
| could not tell whether she was hoped or
not, but it co,,ii5a. loe sworn, if necessary,
that the lady's dress was ''ruffied and
trimmed with fringe"
Sunday morning, at half past ten
o'clock, saw the little church of Tattle-
town filed to oyerhowing. Whitfield or
Sturgeon would have been astonished at
the maen tudo Of the audience.
Every eve in the assembly was rasten-
ed upon the door through which the min
lister usually made his entrance, an / every
face was drawn down with orthodox pre-
cision. The time rolled slowly away
the little bell ceased tolling-the humble
reed organ struck up a voluntary-the
closely scrutinzed door opened, aud in
walked the Rev. Mr.. Leonard Haskell, nc
c nnpanied by one Of the pretticst ladies it
had ever been the privilege Of che Iattle-
towncrs to lock upon.
She was evidently not more than TWEEN
ty years old, small AMI slight, with chest
nut colored ha which (abominable to
rclatc) she wore in curls; deep hazel eyes,
pure red and white complexion, and
hands and feet like mountain sylph's.
She was dressed exquis.tely in fawn-color-
ed silk, Cher wedding dress, the villagers
said,) the skirt WE It'll of pale blue en-
broidery. Her mantle was drab brocade,
and her bonnet white Grape with feath
erS.
This lady took the head Of the minis
ters pew, and listened with the most de-
vout attention to his discourse Imnedi-
ately on the close of the service, she took
Mr.. Haskell's ann, and, without stopping
to be iltr oduc,d to any one, walked by
bis side to the parsonage.
| Tattletown WAS outraged! Such a pal
pabie s i.;h. LIS, never been heard OF be-
fore Why didn't she stop an be intro
duced to her husbands people, and invite
them to the parsonage to supper.
A ''grand feeling, city high-hyer," said
the women, Indignantly.
"A deuced handsome woman! Lucky
fellow, that Haskell" said the men admi-
r.ngly.
The little green in front Of the church
was alive with all the ladies of Tattle-
town, gathered there to discuss, each with
her neghbor, the astounding occurrence.
''Good looking, but proud as Luc;fer,"
said Mrs. Barker, the lawyers wife.
"Curls and minister's wife tool She
had ought to lie ashamed of her sinful
vanity" calculated pjous old grandmother
Barber, with melancholy shake of h;r
venerable head.
"And ruff1ed gown and feathers in
her bonnet" said the widow Grab.
'And a furbelowed white cape, all
bows and tassels," putin old Keziah Good
all, the crazy woman, feeling the need of
saying something.
"She'll run Mr.. Haskell's income out in
less than six months, exclaimed a tall
scraggy woman, with droop in her right
eye. "She ought to take lessons in econ
omy. Tattetown amt made of gold, or
! bank bills either"
'.That's the truth. Miss Wriggleswhit-
tam, and l think Me-. Haskell ought to be
ashamed Of hisself = putting upon good
honest people in sich y way! For my
part | amt gwine to slave myself to wait
on budget of flowers, feathers and ruff
fed silk, if it is the minister's wife," 1t
was evident to all that Mrs. Perkens felt
what she said.
GAIL men are decetful, ministers as well
as other folks simpered aunt Sally, wi
ping corner Of her eye with her white
cambria handkerchief.
To this eloquent truisin, the ladies cold
Of course. offer no disclaimer, and after a
/ little more aigh-spiced gossip, they seper-
ated, each one expressing !; wish that Mrs
| Haskell No. 2. would attend the evening
prayer meeting.
Evening came and saw the prayer meet
inc fully attended. Old and young, 'lame
halt, and blind" were represented, all on
the oui viue to see how the minister's fash
ionabls wife would acquit herself at pray
er meeting. BY snd by Mr.. Haakell and