Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1860-12-28
Orrmont 00latttlman
II * II n a.
FEIDAY, DECEMBER %, 1860.
TIE DEAcoNs DILEMMA;


-
or, THE USE OF THE BEAUTIFUL
Deacon Tildon had the squarest, noatest
white house that ever showed its keen angles
from the dusky cumps Of old lilac bushes
In font Of it stood, on each side of the door
way, two thrifty cherry trees, which bore
bushcl each every season. Excepting the a
aforementioned lilac trees, there was not a
flower or shrub around the place. Rose bush
os the Deacon thought rotted the house, and
the honeysuclle which his wife tried to train
over the porch was torn down when the paint
ors came and, on the whole, the Deacon said,
what was the use Of putting it up so long as
it did not bear anything?
BY the side Of the house was thrifty, we'll
kept garden, with plenty Of currant bushes,
gooseberry bushes and ounce trees-and the
beets and carrots and onions were the pride
of the Deacon's heart; but as he often proud
ly said, everything was for use'-there was
nothing fancy about it. His wife put in
timorously one season for flower border
Mrs Jenkins had given her petuna, and
Mrs. Simpkins had brought her a package
of flower seeds from New York-and
bed was laid out. But the thrifty Deacon
soon found that the wedding of it took time
that Mrs. Tildon might give to her dairy, or
to making shirts and knitting stockings, and
so it really troubled his conscience. The
next spring he turned it into his corn field;
and, when his wife mildly intimatcd her dis
appointment, said pacidly, After all, twas
thing of no use, and took tme-and Mrs.
Tilden, being meek woman, and one Of the
KIND OF saints who always suppose them
serves mseraoie sinners SPeclaiy cohluSseu
her sun OF oeing in"ardly NeXed ABOUT inc ln-
cident IN her prayers mat night ana prayed
that her eyes might DC turned OH rom oe-
holding vanity ana mat she might De quick
eneu IN the way OF mlndlhg ner WORK
Inc 'front.' pafIor oil 'he Deacon mouse
was inc most higid asylum OF heatness mat
ever ulseouraSed tne eyes ana hearI o. "a Vi
sltor' Inc Tour blank walls were gulItieSs
OF any engraving or painting or oil any adorn-
menI quo an ordinary wall paper ana a ram
eu copy oil inc declaration OF IndePendGhce'
On each Oh inc three SIDES stood io't chaUs
Under the Iookng-gia was a SHINING ma
hogany taoie' with large o'o.G ana "u al
monac on lt--and a PAir OIL colu' sIlslenang
brass anaitona Illustrated 'he hfe-p'ace. Inc
m"nte''ned above had i'F Oh "iBn oTos'
'andI,' ,'N' WIN a pur Oh Su"I'Is "et"'en
-ahI tH"t was aII. Inc Deacon 'Eeu TT
was pi'!h anu sum pic no nonsense ABOUT l'
everything ioi n's ana nothing l'r snow,
suited NM Iils Wie sometimes s'sNeu anu
lnoNeu louhu IT, "heh she was sewing, as II
sho "anled something ana 'heh sung III the
soou Ola P'aln-
from vanity tn,n o4 my yes
or co,et,,i. desire, arise
Within This heart Of mine
The corrupt design, to which this estima-
Bile matron had been tempted, had been the
purchase of pair Of Pariam flower vases,
whose beauty had struck to her heart when
she went with her butter and eggs to the
neighborng city-but rocolectng herself in
time she had resolutely shut her eyes 20 the
allurement, and spent the money usefuliy in
buying loaf sugar For it is to be remarked
that the Deacon was fond of good eating. and
prided himself on the bounties of his wifes
table. Few women knew better how to set
one-and the snowy bread. golden butter,
clear preserves and icllies were themes of
admiration at all the tea-tables in the land
The Deacon didn't mind few cents in
pound more for nicer ham, and would now
and then bring in treat of oysters from the
CITY when they were dearest. These were
comforts he said-one must stretch point
for the comforts of life.
The Deacon must not be mistaken for ty-
rannical man or bad husband When he
quietly put his wifes flower patch into his
corn field. he thought he had done her SER
vice by curing her of an absurd notion for
things that took time and made trouble. and
were of no use: and she, dear soul. never had
breathed dissent to any course of his loud
enough to let him know she had one. He
LAUGHED in his sleeve often when he saw her
so TRANQUILITY knitting or shirt-makine at those
times she had been wont to give to her moor
little contraband pleasures. As for the dow-
er vases. thew were repented of-and Mrs.
Tilden nut handful of sprinp anemones into
cracked pitcher and set it on her kitchen
table. till the Deacon tossed Thorn out of tho
window-'he couldn't bear to see weeds
growing round.
The poor little woman had kind OF chro-
mic Inconsistencies, like the pining of a teeth
ing child, but she never knew exactly what it
was she wanted, If she ever was sick, no
man could be kinder than the Deacon. He
had been known to harness in all haste and