Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1867-06-12
aMistellauu.
Let to the Minister.

Here she had lived ever since, missing her
husband with every breath she drew, but
patient and cheerful, and even happy in "a
calm way
=. wonder what his father would think
about my sending Will to school this sea-
son p" said the widow to her own heart
tor her dead husband was still Il person
and Il presence To her He was never In
favor Of sending Il child too Young; but
then Will l. going on five, and he does
miss Fred and Frank 50 much all the day
long." reasoned the anxious mother
Then there came tap on the open door
Of the wide sittng-room, and Immediately
4 friendly foot sounded on the threshold,
introducing large, comfortable-lo looking
man.
Oh. Deacon Folsom Good-afternoon,' y
said Mrs. Summerbell So you may know
She lived in that part Of the world where it
takes something more than morning and
evening to make the day.
.- Good-afternoon. Madam-Mrs Sum
IncrbelI, good-afternoon How do YOU find
yourself to-day. and how are the little fell
low, ' returned Deacon Folsom, impress
sivelv
lie was a man who could not so much
~ sneeze or take Il drink Of water with
out a due amount Of ceremony and empha-
sis. so now he came forward TO shake
hands, and then went over all the appro-
pirate comments upon the weather. the APP
pcardnce Of Mrs. Summerbell's garden.
the state OF public health. the news of the
parish, aud the prospect OF war in Europe,
before he came, by regular sequence to the
point where he felt he could properly intro
duce his errand. At last it came out
measured and precise, and this was it
II Mr. Bloomfield decides to consider
aur call t;avorably, a appears likely, how
would it he, Mrs. Summerbell. about your
-.viu. up a part Of your house to him 3"
Mr. Summerbell hesitated but only for
4 moment
4. Let my rooms TO the minister" +" No.
could not think Of it. Ny husband new
.r spoke of such thing. and | am certain
D.. would not have wished it."
And then mild and meek a. her nature
seemed, it was a. though the matter had
been answered signed and sealed with the
Kings Sl2uet.
"a 1t Is not likely your late worthy hus-
band tore9aw precisely this exigency,' re-
-u1ued Deacon Folsom. Our success III
procuring the able services of Mr.. Bloom
field seem. humanity speaking. to depend on
Your renting these rooms, which YOU will
certainly admit YOU can spare a. well as
not in Your large house with your small
family There Is really no other house at
E, convenient distance where Mr.. and Mrs
Bloomfield can be comfortably accommo-
dated. considering Mrs Bloomfield is such
au invalid
But 10 was ~ though the good Deacon
had tried 10 turn Niagara back with a ca
noe paddle. Mr.. Summerbell, who wa
clingiu. ana yielding and easily entreated
a~ anv woman under the stars. had dug up
from the ~torc-hOu>e of her memory a
chance remark of her husband to the effect
that no roof was wide enough to cover
two families" and upon this she pitched
her tent 20 the Deacon was obliged to
leave. frustrated, disappointed and sadly
J,ut out in his dignihed way But the next
mail made it all right-if two wrongs ever
did make a right-tor there came a letter
from the Rev Mr. Bloomfield, saying the
health Of his beloved wife. for whose sake
h. was purposing to leave his parish by
the sea. had % suddenly and sadly declined
that leaving would be Of no use. and only
give unnecessary fatigue to the invalid
Then Mrs. Summerbell had rest and the
Meadows pulpit was supplied, as it had
been before by the Deacon, and OCCASION
allv bv migratory ministers. with now and
then an unsatisfactory candidate. So the
summer blo0med itself on and while the
roses were in their prime, news came that
Mrs. Bloomfield had passed away from the
l.
kind-hearted Mrs. Summerbell gave the
deSolate husband few thoughts and tears
ot sympathy and then went on washing
little faces and sewing little jackets. with
her peaceful smile, and her still content.
At last summer lost itself III autumn, and
autumn signing for winter, brought in its
train, along with late pears and early frosts,
% rumor that Mr. Bloomfield had, worn out
hy the loneliness and loss which he could
not forget Oh the spot where his wife sick
eued and died, resigned his pastorate at
Leeds. aud was ready To accept any suita-
bic invitation from some other parish
80 it appears We are likely to hear
what Kind Of a preacher Mr. Bloomfield i,
after all said Miss PIN, leaning over Mrs
SummerbclI'> garden-fencc, with new
calico gown on, and a clean starched sun
bonnet.
Miss PIN, who went out at day y's-work
and felt she conferred a great favor by do
ing 50 on whoever she assisted IL dare say
she dill too,) acted the part of village news
paper in absence of any other; and wha
She said could generally be literally de-
pcnlel on for She was distinguished for
crystal truth although she sometimes re
lated facts a little before they happened
~ now, when Deacon Folsom, as chairman
Of the >ociety's committee, had hardly made
40 hi, mind whether to send a letter Of in
vitatiun or not. But Miss PIN knew wei
enough how his uncertainty would end
and. a. ever, She was quite correct. Ih'
letter traS -ent and Mr. Bloomfield havln.
been ioreordained to 20 to Meadows, went
although the deluded man sincerely be
Iieved that the decision between there an'
Hadam hung in the balance for nigh
and "A day, and the weight of snip o
thread might have turned it either way
But finally il was decreed that he shoul'
90 to Meadows, and that he should finall
ro to board with the family of Dr. Dan
gler. who lived only next door, across tn
garden. from Mrs Summerbell.
Then oh how discreet was the widow
And how melancholy was the minister IL
spite of his Christian faith and hope,
Winter passed, and
Spring came lettering up the way"
The dandelions popped open their brigh
eyes, and the meadows grew yellow wit