Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1861-02-23
From the BERKSHIRE Gazette,
A Day at the ParSOnagea

Hgr..f ~ ar tra 90 HH. .Iai
The frugal breakfast was over, and he wife
was composing her children and her still
beautiful face for the mornings devotion,
when 3 sharp ring was heard at the street
door, and course rough looking man en-
tered.
Morning, sir" was the friendly saluta-
ton; g coms 10 see Il you'd 70 to Sim
Crawiord's faneral-its this afternoon.
aWhere did be live cir " olvilly inquired
the clergyman. 81 think have not known
the person.
Likely--iOr be never went to nesting
he lives out on the Gore its better than two
miles. But win you come to the funeral At
o'clock @ ''s@ 'i ia hrh /,
Yes, Twill try 70 be there in time, an
sWered Mr.. Norris. b.
q Ny dear," ssid his wife, looking AnxiOusly
at her husband, Il you ought not 70 60 50 far
this chilly day, with your cold, and you must
not think Of walking
al must 90 Mary; and / tear must walk,
for dare not look my bill at the livery stable
In the face But, my children, we viii be
quiet, now, and Clara dear, you may read y
Scarcely had the last petition Of the good
man died away, before another ring at the
door bell startled the little flock, aud a green
shawl and orange scarf made their appear
snce, simultaneously with their owner, Miss
Orump, who was q thin, shsrp-visaged person,
with keen black eyes, which seemed always
70 know If a cap or collar were on the least
a wry; and everybody knew that the thinnest
fabric OF the shiest spider never escaped her
vigilance.
lf;,. C-,,,r ,,,os ocoor,,.n;ad bv bar
friend, Mrs. Drake, who had such q severe
selErighteous expression in her face, that !
always felt in her presence, in spite of my
better Judgment that kLrs. Drake was sitting
aeaF very unworthy person. Her eyes
seemed all the time to be saying, / must
and will do my duty, however painful it may
be- " and for that matter her lips never quar-
relied with her neighbors. srAts
Poor Mrs. Morris looked anxiously at the
uudusted chairs and tables Miss Crump looked
with her two twinkling eyes at Mrs. Norris,
and st the same time seemed to be scanning
every piece of furniture in the room. i-pgI
Mrs. Dlake looked with awful gravity at
her victim for some time, and then she
opened those solemn lips and said that the
had called that morning on very important
business. She was very sorry, but her duty,
however painful, must be performed. She
thought it proper that Mr. Norris should be
present. as it concerned him vitality.
Mr.. Morris, who had gone to his study,
was summoned from his unfinished page To
attend the vitality important matter.
Mrs. Drake looked ct Miss Crump, and Miss
Crnmp twinkled at Mrs. Drake, and that lady
commenced
al regret extremely that I am called here
on such an unpleasant errand, but you know
my dear friend that my duty, however pain
ful, must be performed; and this IS a matter
which effects the church deeply, / feel that it
would be wrong TO keep silent any longer.
MrS Crumps eyes tWinkled now ill they
seemed like two tiny sparks Of Gre. Mrs
brakes severity increased and she proceed
ed:
Ut is reported, Mr. and Mrs. Norris, il
this village, that you keep in your house 2
pack Of cards, and that you are both in the
habit Of spending whole evening with your
children in playing cards. This is praoticing
very different from what yOu preach, Mr.
Norris; and the influence upon our youngei
children must be most awful"
Mrs. Drake, said Mr.. Morris, I am sur
prised that any one knowing me should have
believed the story for one moment. vii
you tell me who your informer was
why" said Mrs. Drake, looking very
much surprised, " am not st liberty to give
names but in the first place a young lady
wentin your parlor in the evening, and saw
you all seated about the centre table playing
cards. She said they were hastily put IL
the drawer. Since that time people have
watched a little and have seen you all doing
the same thing repeatedly
Have watched me p asked Mr.. Morris,
chow ~
aWhy, though the windows, when th'
curtains were drawn aside"
A fash Of indignation shot across Mr.
Norris face; but he was minister, and doWI
went the burning thoughts; they must no
pass his lips. although such impudence des
served reproof
Mrs. Morris hitherto distressed face broke
into q smile, almost sarcastic, as she walked
to the drawer of the shining centre table, anC
took from thence buudle Of cards, each ont
bearing a set OF questions and answers.
Here they are, " said she, giving them t.
the ladies' our children call them the Geo
graphy Cards, and we do often ask and answe
the questions, in order that we may anus
and instruct them at the same time"
Miss Crump gave two or three short coughs
and rose to say good morning.
Mrs. Drake, looking as if she were thr
most persecuted of human beings, also ros'
snd said she felt it her duty to pay SOM
visits in Silver street before dinner.
The pastor went with worn look to hi
sermon, to take up the thread Of though
which had been so rudely broken; and the
wife went with long sigh to the baby sh'
had neglected for the morning cali. She hat
scarcely smoothed it into slumber before sh'
was summoned in the parlOr to meet Mis-
Dutton,
The lady looked ct Mrs. Morris with he
little faded out blue eyes, and said, holding
up at the same time a large green bag dropsi
cal with a large amount Of knitting work anC
balls.
:tWeII Mrs. Morris. I have come to spens