Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1870-12-29

finish his>work, as if Ruth herself had
been there. When he had completed
his work, he put all tidily away, and
his next proceeding might have arous-
ed Dame Charmberry's suspicious more
than ever, for he took down his old hat
from behind the door, and then, after a
long search, perched her own market
basket on his arm, and, fastening the
door, set off jauntily "down street, :"
with sprig of holly he had picked on
the way. N his button-hole. We will
follow him. and by so doing, we are
brought to the threshold of the general
shop, where he marched in boldly up
to the counter.
claw, Mr.. Charmberry! what can we
do for you9 It's an age since I've seen
you," shouted Mrs. Dubbits, at the top
of her voice. "I've some prime Christ
mas tea just in-Hykey Pekoo, just
such as Missis would like"
"I wan. some ia, if you please, :"
replied Timothy, in his thin, reedy
voice; "but please, to write down the
price of it ON the slate, for I'm harder
of hearing nor ever"
Mrs. Dubbits complied, and then
took Tmothy's order for quarter of
tea, a pound of sugar, best raw, three
penn forth of fresh crumpets, and some
golden syrup, lending him little jar
for the last, and then he wound up his
extravagance actually by selecting a
big Sally Lunn--such plump, we'll
Drowned, fat-looking pincushion of a
tea-cake, that Timothy smacked his
lips in anticipation. He completed his
enormities by packing all these care
fully in his wife's market-basket, and
carrying them off, in spite of Mrs.
Dubbits' offer to send them for him.
'I s'pose you and your good lady's
going to have q treat" roared Mrs.
Dnbbits. "Tm sure / wish you a
merry Christmas.
"N-no," stammered Timothy, ner-
vously catching the first part of her
speech, "not exactly. Please don't
mention it. Thankee. Good night! !"
"Old Tins going to have treat on
the sly!" said Mrs. Dubbits to her
shop-bOy.
"I seed her a-postin' down this arter-
noon," responded the latter; $50 he's
seed her Of, s'pose, and then gone in
for wittlesn
We must now leave Timothy on GER
ts.in further rambles, and follow Mrs.
Charmberry, whom we shall find, not
at her mothers, but sitting in gloomy
state in the small parlor of the Rev.
Ebenezer Scratchlt, the minister of her
own particular denomination, to whom
she has come for counsel and advice in
her sore disquiet. He hasjust propos-
ed to accompany her to her home, in
order to convict the culprit, and bring
him to a sense of his wickedness. 1t is
bitter cold night, and the pastor in
sists on his visitor partaking of some
spiced elder wine, which his helpmate,
Mrs. Scratchit, serves grimly on the
testimonial salver, with some fossil bis
cults of antediluvian bakery, of so
flinty a nature are thev This modest
rejection concluded, the minister and
Mrs. Charmberry set off, and after a
brisk walk, soon reached the cottage,
which they approached silently, and
with some caution Some hours had
elapsed, and the cold white moonlight
was already painting the shadows of
the yew and box-bushes on the path
way; but inside no doubt there was no
lack Of light and warmth, to Judge from
the bright freight that glimmered
under the crack of the door The
checked blue curtains were so closely
drawn over the windows that the watch
ers could find no chink for observation.
81 wonder what vile hussey is in
there, now," muftered Mrs. Charmberry
grinding her teeth at the thought.
"Hushl" replied her companion /;
she's singing, and it isn't hymn!"
"It's what he used to sing when he
came acquiring of me-" said Ruth,
between q sigh and groan-
And verify Timothy's weak voice was
heard heartily carolling:
"The happieet hours that e'er spent
Were spent among the lasses, OIL
"Oh, sinful flesh, sinful flesh y
groaned the Rev. Ebenezer.
"He's a talking" whispered Ruth,
pinching him to enforce silence; "let's
open the door q crack-he can't hear,
nor they can't see, cause the settles
between us and the door"
"Here, Lucy, here's some stunning
tea for you, and hope you'll enjoy it
and here's my love to you, and merry
Christmas, and many of 'em Chez
up, old girl you're looking quite youne
and lively I can tell you" "Brute! =
muttered Mrs. G., o1tside). "such te.
as this will warm up the cookies o.
your heartl And such sugar, too
sparkling like the boughs in a frost
And, Nancy, my dear, here's such I
Sally Lunn for you'll ] fell In low
with it on Mrs. Dubbits' counter, 81
thick aud well-baked, and here's plenty
of butter to haste it well with" 18th,
heatheni" muttered Rush; "there'
two on 'em then!m "Hetty, my lass
I've not forgotten you: do try thes,
crumpets and this golden syrup is TO
the young 'un."
"He's q regular Mormon" growlet
the Rev. Ebenezer.
But Ruth could bear it no longer
In she rushed, dashing open the door
and coming like whirlwind, followet
by the minister, upon poor Timothy
, who was peacefully seated alone by tn
fire, sharing his meagre meal of tea an,
, dry bread-with the cat
"This be a unexpected honor, sir,
said Timothy, recovering his sense
, first, and getting up. 'Ruth, VIII
) don't you dust chair for the gentle
) maui"
, The preacher and Mrs. Chamber
> looked very foolishly one at the Other
{ AT last the Rev. Ebenezer spoke, b
' shouting in Timothy's ear:
eve heard you talking out loud, Nj
a Charmberry: we thoughtyo had CON
' pany."
, Company" said old Tim, icon
panyl Yes, / were in company wit
r my own thoughts. It's a bad habit 9
t I've got, sir, all along of my infrmit,
, / s'pose of talking to myself. And thi
{ here blessed Christmas i sat a-thinkin
{ of all the poor souls about here, and
T wishing of 'em a merry Christmas a
9 round in q cup of tea, as do you, si
. likewise, hoping takes no liberty"
y "Timothy screamed his wifi
9 ssWhat have you done with Lucy an
: Hettyi"
: "They amt a-told, have they2 asl
q ed Timothy, looking sheepish. "Wel
then, I s'pose / must make clea
: breast of it all but, Ruth, my dea