Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1867-08-02
The Minister'S Guests.

nef aHectlOn was reclprOcateQ. 80
they were married.
Mr.. Granger lived in the country,
and if you want to know what kind
of life his was, just you go and change
yourself into a minister, and settle
somewhere, just out of city, with all
the inhabitants of which you are more
or less acquainted, and each and every
one of whom will consider it an es-
pecial duty to come out and take din
ner or tea with you half dozen
times year, and all of whom will
consider it an insult if your wife don't
have three kinds of cake, and fresh
milk eggs, and honey on the table,
Of course, people who live in the
country are expected to have all
these in great abundance.
Mrs Granger was a very pleasant,
agreeable woman, and tried her best
to have everything smooth, and she
was oyerrun with company.
A minister, among other things, is
expected to keep hotel, and to keep
it in a way our modern landlords
don't understand viz without money
and without price.
1t must be open night and day, and
hot meals served at all hours. No
body must be refused admittance.-
People who are too low to stay at the
tavern are sent to the Minister'S
Tract peddlers, book peddlerS, agents,
women'S rights lecturers-evervbody
in fact must 90 to the minister's house
for entertainment.
And then, if the poor clergyman,
thinking of his overworked wife and
the comsumptive state of his larder,
ventures to hint that his salary is a
small one. he is piously reminded that
st. Paul and st. Peter, and those 9th
er fine fellows Of that epoch, did not
dream of receiving any salary what
SOeyer.
Bat whether they kept tavern and
entertained all creation upon free cost
does not appear.
Mrs. Granger was not strong wo-
man, and having been brought up
delicately, her burdens fell heavily.
They were too poor to employ help,
and she did all her work, except her
washing.
The people who came visiting her
never volunteered their assistance
about anything. OF course not. 1t
would have been too vulgar. And
most of the ladies were invalids-(did
you never notice that those people
who 90 visiting most are usually out
of health p
But we. on the present occasion,
have only to do with the Rev. Asa
browne and wife, and their four child
ren, Abel, Priscilla, Rachel Ann, and
Ahasuerus Nicodenlus. Our story is
about them, and the host of other peo-
Iple who visited the minister shall rest
in obScurity.
The Brownies arrived late one Sat
urday afternoon, when Mrs Granger
was almost dead with the headache
having just got rid of three ministers
and colporteur. Mr.. Granger had
just finished his sermon for the NOR
row, the doors were locked, and the
family were about retiring for the
night.
4 ring at the front door Mrs
Changers heart sank. Mr.. Granger
drew a sigh and went to the from
, door.
On the steps were two trunks, a:
; many bandboxes, several bundles, {
poodle dog, a fat, red-faced man, a wo
man of about the same style, and foul
children.
my dear brother Granger" criet
, the man, Seizing Mr.. Changers hand
and giving it a heart-rending ring, q
am the Rev. Asa browne, travelin!
, itinerant, and this is my wife and Ties,
are my children. We came at ono,
to your house, because | knew yol
would be mortally offended if we dit
not My wife is a great invalid!
dreadful sufferer Been sick for sev
eral years! And will speak of i
now in the beginning-we must sleel
where there is a fire! | wouldn'
have Eliza Jane sleep away from tn
, fire for a thousand dollars And
, want your wife to see the sheets ar
we'll aired, before an open fire and lie
= them be fine, very fine My wife i
nervous, exceedingly nervous; sh
, could not sleep wink in coarse sheets
Linen is best, if you have them"
Il should die before morning if
}, had to sleep in coarse sheets! !' erie,
!, Mrs. browne stout, fat-faced woma
: of forty-fve or fifty years; 81 cam
D very near going to my last home abou
e three weeks ago from sleeping on a
unbleached pillow case. They tho
| was dead for over two or thre
o hours p
Mr.. Granger waited on them int
! the sitting room, and then presente
them to his wife.
"Have you stuffed rocking chair
o exclaimed Mrs. browne. Il canno
sit a moment in an uncushioned chair
! My spine would perish! And wi
= take a little tea and a bowl of oysters
. or piece of cold mince pie; | feel S
r. faint"
: "And will trouble you for Gu
g of hot coffee p said Mr.. browne;
will be sort of stay 10 my stomach ii
= supper is ready. What time will 20
y have supper?'
Mrs. Granger retired to the heat o
her stove, her temples throbing t
bursting, and her heart the least b
IL 1f