The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1860-12-28
aflisteIIancous.
THE DEACON'S DILEMMA ;

Deacon Tildrn had the squarcSt, neatcst
white house that ever showed its keen am
giles from the dusky clumps Of old lilac
bushes. In front of it stood, on each side OF
the doorway, two thrifty cherry trees, which
OOre bushcl each every StasDn.-Exccpt the
aforementioned lilac trees, there was not u
flower or shrub round the place. Rose
bushes the Deacon thought rOtted the house,
and the honcysucklC which his vile tried to
train over the porch was torn down when
the painters came, and, on the whole, the
Deacon said, what was the use of putting it
up 50 long as it did not bear anything?
By the side of the house was Il thrifty,
well.kept garden, with plenty Of currant
bushes, goOscbcrry bushes, and ounce trees
and the bectS AMI carrots, and onions were
the pride ol the Dcacon's heart but, as he
often said, 4" everything was for use
there was nothing fancy about it. His wilc
put in timorOusly one season for u Hover
border-Nlrs. Jcnkyns had given her Il pc
tunia, and Mrs. Simpkins had brought her
package of ilowcr seeds from New York
and 80 bed was laid out. Bat the thrifty
Deacon soon found that the wedding OF it
took time that Mrs. Tilden might give to
her dairy, or to making shirts and knitting
stockings, and 50 it rarely troubled his con-
science. The next spring he turned it into
his cornfcld /; and when his wife intimated
mildly her disappointment, said placidly,
- After all, twas u thing of no use, and
took time''-and Mrs. Tilden, bcinga meek
woman, and one of the kind of saints who
always suppose themselves miserable sim
ners, specially confessed her sin OF being in
wardly ycxcd about the incident in her pray
ers that night, and prayed that her eyes
might be turned of from beholding vanity,
al that she might be quickcned in the way
of minding her work,
The front pirlOr of thedcacon's house was
the most frigid asylum of ncatness that ever
discouraged the eyes and heart of visitor.
The four blank walls were guiltless of any
adornmcnt but dn ordinary wall paper and
"a framed copy of the Declaration of indie
pendence. On each side OF the three sides
stood four chairs-under the lOOking.glaSs
was shining mahogany table, with large
bible and an almanac on it-and Il pair Ot
cold. glistcning brass andirons illustrated
the fireplace. The mantcl-shcli above had
a pair ol bright brass candlesticks with a
pair of snuiltrs between-and that was all.
The Deacon liked il, it was plain and simple,
no nonsense about it. everything for use and
nothing for show-it suited him. His wife
sometimes sighed and looked around il, when
she was sewing, rs if she wanted something,
and then sung in the good old psalm
From vanity turn ofrmy eyes;
Let no corrupt design
Or cOvetOus desires arise
Within this heart of mine"
The corrupt design to which this cstima.
bic matron had been tempted had been the
purchase of pair OF Parian flower vases
whUse beauty had struck to her heart when
she went with her butter and eggs TO the
ncighbOring city-but rcollecting herself il
time, she had resolutely shut her eyes to the
allurement, and spent the money mcfully
in buying Loaf sugar.
For il is 10 he remarked that the Deacon
was fond OF good eating, and prided himsel
ON the bountics of his wiic's table. Few
women knew better how 10 set onc-and tn,
snowy bread, golden butter, clear preserves
and icllics. were themes of admiration at nj
the t,a.tablcs OF the land. The Deacon die
not mind few cents in pound more for 1
nicer ham, and would now and then brin!
in treat of oysters from the city when the!
were dearest. These were the comforts, h
said-onc must stretch point Tor the com
forts of lie.
The deacon must not he mistaken for I
tyrannical man or had husband. Wher
he quietly put his wite's flower patch Int,
his cornGeld, he thought he had done her
service by curing her Of an absurd notion fo
things that took time and made trouble an,
were Of no use (; and she, dear soul, neve
bad breathed dissent to any course of hi
loud enough to let BIN know she had one
He laughed in his sleeve often when he SAY
her 50 TRANQUILITY knitting or shirt-makin
at those times she had been wont to give :
her poor little contraband pleasures A
for the flower Vases, they were rcpented or
and Mrs. Tilden put handful of spring an
emono into cracked pitcher and set 1t o
her kitchen table, till the Deacon tosse
X them out of the window. he couldn't bea
| to $50 weeds growing round"