Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1866-02-14
A Bit of Scandal.
,CHARAoTERs-Mrs. Shaw-Mrs. Prim
deacon Borden-Parsom Stone
n croUd of men and acomen.
sc f N E I.

Mrs. Prim's kitchen. Mrs. Prim
pairing apples at table,
Mrs. Shaw entering in great haste)
morning Mrs. Prim; I de-
clare! I'm eenamost beat out, it's so
warm and sultry. But [ thought |
must come ever, rest or not. Have
you heerd of it?
Mrs. Prim (seating herself and re-
adjusting her glasses of what, Mrs.
Shaw?
Mrs. S.-Why, the dreadful news.
Deary me, how out of breath | am
my forehead is dripping with sweat !!
This is an awful hot summer.
Mrs. P.-Do speak, Mrs. Shaw
Don't be afeared. I'll never tell on
it as long as [ live and breathe.
Mrs. S.-Oh, it's sich an awful-aw-
ful. to happen right here in our quiet
community! | told sister Susan I
hadn't had sich q shock sence our hen
house was burnt, and fourteen hens
and six turkeys into it. It's took all
the strength out of me, and | fee! as
weak as rag,
Mrs. B.-Good land, Mrs. Shaw 4
what can it be?
Mrs S,-Ah, met it's enough to
MAKE MAKE a body doubt poor human ma
tm more'n ever Ivuml told sister
Susan | never should dare to put con-
fidence in nobody ag'in. It's complete
ly upsot me. You hain't got a little
tea in your pot, have you?
Mrs. P.-Land, yes a plenty of it;
tie kittle's billing now, and I'll make
you a good strong cup. Proceeds to
do so.)
Mrs. Swell, | yum, Mrs. Prim, |
didn't mean to put you to all that
trouble, feel so overcome, and tea is
a restorer to me. And no wonder |
an weak! it's terrible--a leading
church member, too! Oh, the heart
is deceitful above all things, and des-
prit wicked.
Mrs. P.-You may well say that
It's astonishing to sec how some folks
90 on. Good land it makes me
trembIe in my shoes to think ont
But you hain't told me about this ere
new breakout, Mrs. Shaw.
Mrs. S.-Wall, you see, it's all
about Deacon Borden
Mrs. P.-My soul and body you
don't say the deacons been and done
any thing,
Mrs. S.--I guess you'll think so
', I.ol4 90. ~ hcal declare, Ia
about as soon expected our Isaac to
have been guilty of sich a thing.
Mrs. P.-Well, | never! but your
tea is stepped now; just set up and
try it; don't be afeared of the sugar
because there amt but little; there is
plenty more in the baled firkih.
Mrs. S. (tasting with great delibera-
ton This tea is nice-frst-rate !
What was it a pound? Tea is awful
dear nowadays.
Mrs. P,-nreadful! | gave two
dollars a pound for this ere; | got il
over to Squire Lanes and paid for il
in butter. Buffers master high, ain
it?
Mrs. S.-Yes, it is; and folks haC
ortter be economical of it, and sell al
they can. don't really think we'v,
eat two ounces in our house for s1
weeks. Sister Susan'8 Benny is hu
morous, and butter is desprit bad fo
humOrS.
Mrs. P.-So It's. But you hahn
told me about the deacon.
Mrs. S.-No, to be sure; but In
agoing ter. | think it ort ter be tol,
on, and carried abroad to the ends Q
the arth, on the four wings Of heving
Only t. ink of the beautiful prayers an
, the stirrin exhortations that man
made and how he's talked to US abou
original sin-and now he's bin an
showed his original sin right out
Mrs. P.-Well, | never!
Mrs. S.--(confdentially)
: Mrs. Prim, jest atwcen us, didn't
never strike you that Mrs. Borden ha
looked kinder disconsultory and me
ancholic like, for considerable of
I spell back along?
E Mrs. P. (reAectively)-Well, yes
, seems to me I've noticed it; yes, L
4 sure | have, and spoke to Nehemia
D about it, and he Topped out Of tt
house, as mad as hornet. He's ALI
f bin dreffully took with the deacon
O folks ever since he bought the stripe
q PIC of the deacon. And | must say
, did the best of any pig we ever ha'
= weighed nigh unto five hundred, wit
p out the fat sassenger meat. Yes, Nh
Il Shaw, [ have noticed that Mrs. Bord
has bin ruther down lately, and sh'
Y dressed sight in green, too; al
f. green's forsaken, you know,
T. Mrs. S.-Humph! no wonder sh'
IN dressed in green; cause .'enon"i
" it, guess.
90 MIS- WHAT do you mean
to Mrs. S.-Yes, ! do mean to say tt
ID Deacon Borden is after other wome
ly Mrs. 2. (sinking back with uplift
in hands)-Well, yum to goodness
IN Mrs. S.-Yes, and what's more
If 9 young gal
in Mrs. P.-Wus and wus, and me
th of it i! l declare, if it was anybo
ID else told me but you, | should N
ID doubt it.
! Mrs SS.-There, that's jest wha
said to sister Susan. But ! seed
MT with my own eyes!
er Mrs. P.-Marcy! you don't say
in Mrs. S.-Yes, and blush to thi
to ont. You are sure thar ant no N
in folks round here to hear me tell OF
hain't you? | should sink to hev q
man know that | ever witnessed s,