The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1871-12-23

about the neck.
The days grew darker and colder. Even
from their little store of blankets few were
taken for those who had none, and many a
meal was stinted in the parsonage to render
poorer table less bare. The minister labored
constantly at his Christmas sermon, making
it a masterpiece of rhetorical eloquence.
At last the great day came, and the little
family were up betimes, all eagerness and ex-
pectancy Even the face of the Reverend
Sampson betrayed faint glimmer of curiosi-
ty, and he did not betake himself to his study
while breakfast was getting ready. The ba-
by crowed upon his knee, and Johnny clam
bered by his side, while little Nell solemnly
watched the browning of the Christmas muf-
fins. Suddenly loud knock resOunded
through the hall, and for moment the pulse
of the family stood still. Then there was a
great rush for the door, but, reaching it,
there was nobody there. Only fiat, square
paper box on the door-sill, with a neatly fold
ed note slipped under the cord that bound it,
Mrs. Beatty lifted the box quite easily, and
her heart sank little when she found it SO
light.
81 wonder what it can be?'' she said, as
she handed the note to her husband.
The Reverend Sampson read aloud:
ssREvEREND AND DEAR SIR,-Accept this lit
Christmas gift token of esteem from your parish
toner's, and please wear it in their honor at the
Christmas service"
"Wear itp' cried the minister with fam
ing eyes. "What new insult is this ?''
Then he tore open the box and all the lit
tie brood, peeping over, saw the hopes of
weeks and months dwindle down in a square
black compass. But the voice of the minis
ter softeneda little.
cit is, after all, present for you Lucy
Here is the brand-new silk gown that l pro-
missed YOU"
Lucy took it up with trembling hand,
and let it suddenly fall
'It-it is a minister's robe, Sampson" she
said, and then her husband strobe over and
lifted the shining fabric from the box, scan
ming it savagely, while his face whitened to
his very lips Once, twice they opened, but
the words refused to be uttered Taking the
| robe in his two strong hands, he rent it
from top to bottom; then, flinging it upon
! the floor, he went away to his study
Poor Lucy choked back her tears, and gath
erlng up the robe and the box, put them well
out OF sight. The mullins We're burned, the
coffee was spoiled, the Christmas breakfast
was ruined; and away in the study they
heard the steps of the enraged minister pa
cling to and fro. But after the first great
shock the sturdy heart of the minister's wife
began to take courage; and although many O.
sigh escaped from her lips, she went about
heating more coffee, and making more muf-
fins, so that in half an hour the little folks
had quite forgotten the black spectre that had
doomed upon them in the shape of a minis
ter's robe. Leaving them at the table, the
little woman went softly to the study, and
found that her husband was not quite so vi
olent in his displeasure as she had feared.
The reverend Sampson was ashamed of the
burst Of rage that had overpowered him, and
| felt in his heart that if he had been sinned
| against, he was also shining.
No foa ic T.,
the dear face that was so sweet rest to his
eyes and heart, 81 began to fear must give
up the ministry. | am untitled for it-at
| least here, dear. We do not understand each
other, the people and l. Let them get a
block from the city that they can shape and
dress to suit themselves, and you and L, little
woman, will go farther into the wilderness,
where the souls of men are nearer to God"
But his wife shrank little from this will
derness ofwhich he spoke, and, understand
ing the people better, pleaded for longer
stay among them.
but, Lucy, how can we ever reconcile
this ridiculous matter of the gown between
us? '' - ..-1-
Then Lucy made him pause in his walk, aud
seating herself upon his knee, she unfolded to
him plan that she had been connecting
while baking more mullins and heating more
coffee; and though the parson shook his head
oiiu ooblu Idly d oOLGu lie 6lUGu DV 60
ing out to breakfast with smile upon his
| face.
| When upon that Christmas morning the
congregation had assembled at the church,
there was an air of consciousness among
them that made it almost like social gather
ing. Many pew was filed that was ordi-
narily empty; and even the front seat of the
squire bent under his formidable weight
Mrs. Beverly in velvets and furs, looked
down upon her gilded book with an attempt
at serenity; but there was an evident restless
ness about her when there was stir at the
door, and whisper that the parson was COM
ing. AT last she looked back with the rest.
There was the tall gaunt form of the Rever-
end Sampson in his old threadbare Coat, the
white seams of his well-worn trowsers shin
ing in the wintry sunlight, the muscles of his
strong arms plainly seen from under his
snort, tight sleeves, and at every step the I'M
calmly trowsers hitched up and down, show
ing the white loose stockings. The same as
ever-stem, angular, uncompromising, awk-
ward, stiff, repelling-was there ever such a
discouraging man? Mrs. Beverly frowned
with veXation.
But who was the dainty little woman that
tripped after him, rustling in stiff, heavy silk
dragging up the aisle a rich, shining train?
1t was an odd dress she wore. Mrs. Bey-
erly put up her eyeglass to examine it more
closely: Not unbecoming, certainly The
long, flowing sleeves made her little hands
look wonderfully pretty; then the material
itself was of excellent texture, lustrous aud
heavy. 1t hung very full from the shoulders.
topped up in voluminous folds about her slim
little figure, and widened out in a graceful
sweep as she walked. 1t was made with a
yoke-yes, and square collar. Why, GER
tainly it must bet was the minister's robe.
and this was the minister's wife!
After Mrs. Beverly had recovered from the
surprise OF the discovery, she could but con-
TESS that the little lady did it honor. How
quaint and sweet she looked, surely, with her
brown eyes full of tender light, her cheeks
glowing from the cold air, little quaver of
subdued glee about her dimpled mouth!
And now was heard the minister's voice.
and every eye is bent upon him, every ear
listens attentively.
- Il will take my text he said, ''from the
Gospel according to st. Mark:
And he called unto him the twelve, and
began to send them forth by two and two:
and gave them power over unclean spirits:
and commanded them that they should take
nothing for their journey, save staff only:
no scrip, no bread, no money in their purse
but be shod with sandals; and not put on two
coats"
Now, my dear friends" said the Reverend
sampson, zone word as to your generous
Christmas gift; you see it is expressly forbid
zen me TO wear two coats. Ihave one. there |
fore have given the other to nv wife. as il |
seemed best and befitting so to do,
Then, altogether disregarding the sheets
u with rhetorical eloquence at home he |
4egan a fervent and glowing description of |
u me mission given to the apostles of Jesus-of
sLeir purity, their selfsacrifice, their earnest
deV01lon, and enthusiasm He spoke of the
blrth on that Christmas long ago of its hno
mility and touching simplicity. There 1ro,
power and pathos in his voice. thrill p, "~t
through the congregation, and with electric "ic
touched the heart of the minister
filing it with an unspeakable joy. A tbrono,
Of words fell from his lips, simple, soul-felt as
rom man to man and heart to heart. Not
IN eye closed, not an ear failed him. Tears
,ame into his eyes, and sprang unbidden into
hose of his listeners. A mysterious power
eemed to reign in the little temple. The fat
I'D squire saw tall marble spire looming I'D
rom the church-yard, and for the first time
n years he thought of his dead wife. Even
Mrs. Beverly's thin lips relapsed from their
lsual grimace, and an unwonted emotion
howed through her artificial complexion.
Cor nearly an hour the little throng of people
emalned rapt and spell-bound; then the book
,losed, the minister paused: there was muir
i io9 and stir in the congregation. Up bus
WITH the ne, squire to the pulpit, and shook hands