Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1869-08-31

Pargon Howard'S Secret Sin.

Yes, Deacon Pilgrove, you may
well say it is a world Of sin and sor-
row." calculated Mrs. Simon Sweet
ser, applying her handkerchief to her
eyes to wipe away an imaginary drop
of moisture evolved by the sympathy
her generous heart felt for the wick
ed sons Of men.
a. 1t is enough" she continued,
when we poor worms of the dust
that hain't nobody, forget ourselves
and serve the adversary; but when a
minister ofthe gospel--oh dear" and
up went the handkerchief to finish
the sentence.
II don't wonder you're affected,
sister Swcetser," said Miss Anna
Strickland, very proper spinster Of
forty-fve. {" 1t is enough to draw
tears from a stone to see the wicked
ness and depravity of this world; and
of men in particular. Thank the
Lord, I never had nothing to say to
the deceitful critters. Whatever else
I may be guilty of I hain't that to
answer for"
Good reason why Jack couldn't
eat his supper" whispered Tom
Chester to Kitty Malone, very pref
ty black-eyed girl who had taken his
heart captive.
Whispering in company is very
onproper," said Miss Strickland, Sc
verely. {" 1t is strange that young
people can't behave decent. 1 never
had any temptation to let my mouth
run away with my good sense"
let me see" said Deacon Pill
grove, slowly, wiping his spectacle;
as though he wanted the glasses clear
to help him see it. "Its as much as
six weeks since the parson took t(
cutting up hain't it ?"
Just six weeks day before yester
day." soIemnly said Miss Strickland
and Mrs. Sweetser watched hin
every day since, off and on. l TO
one, caIkerlate to be a faithful sent
mel on the walls of Zion"
" Yes, deacon, SO do l." said Mrs
Sweetser, and I think it is tn
bounden duty of some Of US to breaI
down the doors of that house an,
confront the arch deceiver right i
his den"
Dear me ?" exclaimed Mrs. PEI
kins, timid little woman, who bein
something of an invalid, did not ofte
meet with the Spruceville Sewing Sc
ciety. "Deu tell me what Parse
Howard has done?"
"Why Mrs. Perkins, is it possibl
you amt hearn ?" exclaimed Mr.
/ Sweetser, amazed.
"Indeed not? you see l go OIL
very little" apologetical!y.
Hes wolf in sleeps clothing
cried the deacon with righteous il
dignation.
"For full six weeks and two days
began Miss Strickland, oIacularl
there has been seen lights in tt
back chamber of the old Jenkir
house, just below the parsonage, an
nobody has lived there in ten year
Lights in an ontenanted house, an
mp stairs, too"
"Spirits! p suggested Tom Che
ter.
Fiddlesticks T said Miss Stric
land, contemptuously; there amt l
spirits nowadays. Sister Sweets
will agree with me in that; and 81
lived years before | was born, al
ought to know"
"No more than two or three yeal
1t sister Strickland" said Mrs. SweC
ser, mildly, "and l don't believe
spirits generally, but can's help ha
ing some faith in forerunners. WI
= only three days before Jim Johns
had felin come onto his thumb,
b. was looking out of the window o
night, and just as plain as day l Sc
light about as big as candle, s
ing from Johnson's barn right straig
to the house; and all to once it Va
iahed, and it warn't nothing to
= seen. My old man laffed at me, t
ID monster, and said it was nothing /
s. s. some of Johnson's folks out with
lantern, but there was no mortal k
D. risene that made such blue light
n, that-never | had palportation
the heart a week afterward."
es Miss Strickland took up the ma
"a a tive where it was dropped.
Me and Mrs. Sweetser, we wat
Il. ed and the deacon helped US. W.
e, seven nights in succession We SC
% the ParSon steal out of his house
=, the back door, with a bundle of sor
III thing under his arm. and he'd r