Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-05-01

ing himself in great haste to study, he prom
ised to publish as well as to marry Josh, and
when his odd parishioner was out of hearing
INDUCED himself with long fit of laughter,
almost inextinguishable, over JOshs patent
ChristianiZer.
Great was the sstonishment of the whole con.
gregatiOn on Sunday, when Joshs intentions
were gwen out from the pulpit; and strangely
nlNed and hcsitatiDg the congratulations he
received after his marriage, which took place
In the following week. Parson Pitcher took q
curious interest in the success Of Josh's project
and had to acknowledge its beneficial effects
rather against his will.
Sail Ran was the best of housekeepers rs
scolds are apt to be is it in the reverse that
the rule began? She kept the farm house
Quakerly clean, and every garment of her hus-
bands scrupulOusly mended and refreshed
but if the smallest profanity escaped Uncle
Josh's lips, he did indeed {. hear thunder. -
and, with the ascetic devotion of a Guyonist
he endured every objurgatory torment to the
end, though his soft and kindly heart would
now and then cringe and quiver in the process
1t was all for his good, he often said and by
the time Sail Ran had been in Miss Eunice e
place for an equal term of years, Uncle Josh
had become so mild-spoken, so kind, so meek,
that surely his dead wife must have reioiced
over it heaven, even as his brethren did on
earth.
life. Uncle Josh was made deacon Sail
celebrated the event by new black silk frock
and asked Parson Pitcher home to tea after
the church meeting, and to such tea as is the
great glory of New England housekeeper
Pies, preserves, cake, biscuit, bread short
cake, cheese, honey, fruit, and cream, were
pressed, and pressed again upon the unlucky y
Parson, till he was quite in the condition OF
Charles Lamb and the omnibus, and gladly
saw the signal Of retreat from the table, he
withdrew himself to the bench on the stoop,
TO breathe the odurOus June air, and talk over
matters and things with Deacon Josh, while
Miss Crane cleared off -
Long and piously the two worthless talked
aud at length came brief pause, broken by
Josh.
Well parson Pitcher. that are calkerlation
of mine about Sail did come out nigh onter
right, didn' it,"
- Yes, indeed my good friend" returned the
parson; .'the trial she has been to you has been
really blessed, and shows most strikingly the
use of discipline in this life
Yes" said Josh, ''if Miss Eunice had lived
L don't know but | should "a been a swearin
man to this day; but Sail, sine rated it out O.
me; and M gettin real resigned too"
The meek complacency Of the confession still
cleaned in Uncle Josh's eyes, as be went in to
prayers; but Sail Ran looked redder than the
Crimson peonies on her posybed.
ParSOn Pitcher made an excellent PRAYER.
particularly descanting on the use of trials
and when he came to an end and arose to say
good night, Mrs. Crane had vanished so he
had to go home without taking leave of her
Strange to say, during the following year n
rumor crept through the village, that " Miss
Deacon Crane had not been heard to scold
once for months; that she even held her tongue
under provOcatiOn this last fact being imme-
diately put to the test by few evil-minded
and investigating boys, who proceeded to pull
her fcnnel-bushes through the pickets, and nip
the yellow heads, receiving for their audacous
thieving no more than mild request not to
. do that which actually sAamed them into
apOlogzing
With this confirmation, even Parson Pitcher
began to be credulOus of report, and sent di-
rectly for Deacon Crane to visit him
How 5 your wife, Deacon - said the Par
son, rs soon as Josh was fairly seated in the
study.
''Well. Parson Pitcher, she's most onsa rtain.
ly changed. L don't believe she's got riled
more N once, or gin it to NE once for six
months"
Very singular" said Parson Pitcher. Il
am glad for both Of you but what seems to
have wrought upon herr"
- Well - said Uncle JOSH with n queer gilt
ter In his eye - L expect she must a ben to the
winder that night you N | sot talkn' on the
ctO'P huOul anu ucT IDe next uAy
| stumbled and split lot o new milk onto the
kitchen floor, that alters riled her so l began
to say Oh dear I'm sorry, Sail - when she
ups right away, and sez sez she You han /
no need to be skeered, Josh Crane; you we
done with fctions in this world; L amt a gon
to he made pack horse to carry my husband
to heaven" and she never said no more to me,
nor to her, but she's ben nigh about as pretty
behaved as Miss Eunice ever since, and hope
L shan't take to swearin'. | guess / shan t,
but | Ito feel kinder crawly about bcin' re-
signed.
However, Uncle Joshs troubles were over.
Sail Ran dropped her name for Aunt Sally
and finally joined the church, and was as good
In her strenuous way as her husband in his
meekness, for there are - diversities of gifts
and when the Plainfeld bell, on autumn days,
tolicI long series of eighty strokes, aud Dea-
con Crane was gathered TO his rest in the daisy
sprinkled burying yard beside Miss Eunce,
the young minister who succeeded Parson Pit
cher had almost as hard a task to console Aunt
Sally as his predecessor had to instil resgna-
tion on a like occasion into Uncle Josh.