Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1871-02-09
WOODSTOCK, W.T., THURSDAY, FEB. 8, 1871.

Miss Tamariud was early, and though,
she would 60 in and see what was the
, matter. Dick marshalled her into the
drawing-room, while he called his moth.
} er. She sat down by the round table,
putting her prayer-book upon it.
1t was only bilious attack, Mrs
Lethridge said ; she hoped her husband
would be up for dinner. One of the lit.
tie ones was also not well, aud she
meant to remain at home herself.
See what beautiful present I have
had, said Miss Tamarind, showing the
praycr-book. Dick, my dear, I wish
you'd not jump on and off the back Of
my chair.
Dicks worse than ever cried Mrs
Lethridge, after she had returned the
book to the table. Hes the most troub,
lesomc boy ever born. dare not let
him 60 to church without me-
Miss Tamarind, in her good nature,
had great mind to offer to take Dick
herself. But she dared not. He would
be pitching the hymn-books on the peo,
pies heads below-or something else as
dreadful
Where do you dine to-day asked Mrs.
Lethridge.
AT home
AT home !-alone! Dear me you had
better come to us. We shall be by our
selves, except for the curate-he's COM
ing. Come in as soon as you like in
the afternoon, my dear, and stay to din.
err
Miss Tamarind's heart and cheeks alike
glowed, as she accepted the invitation.
II So she should eat her Cristmas fare
with Rev, Sandy, after all. She rose to
60.
"What a lovely color that dress is
and how we'll the skirt hangs!' cried
Mrs. Lethridge. Turn round, Jemima.
Nothing 10th, Miss Tmaarind submit
ed to be turned about and admired
Then, catching up her prayer-book, and
pushing it into her mutf, she ran home to
tell Bridget not to cook the turkey. AL
together, what with one delay and anoth-
er the bells had ceased ringing when
Miss Tamarind reached St. Johns
Church.
At any other time she would have
been vexed she did not much mind it
now. Her head was full ofthe impres
sion she was going to make. Miss
Tamarind shared the front seat OF the
odd little gallery with the Lethridge
family, and she had i, all to herself that
day. Perched aloft in that projecting
and most conspicuous pew, it would al
most seem at times to Miss Tamarind
that she was nearly nose to knees with
the parson in front of wheather it
might happen to be the rector or the Gu
rate. The pulpit, reading and
clerks seat were all in one, kind of
upright lighthouse, the preachers place
at the top, the readers in the middle,
the clerks at the foot. 1t stood right
in the centre Of the chancel
The Rev. Sandy Macfuscras had be-
gun the prayers when she glided into
her pew, her green gown rustIug, the
gold ,assels in her head gear futtering.
She caught a glimpse of his clean starch
ed surplice and his bald head with its
fringe Of gray hair, as she kuelt down.
The congregation were just kneeling
down then, and as she remained on her
knees, keeping quite quiet. She wish
ed she bad not been late; the green
gown and the rest Of the attire made
her very conspicuous the sun was shin
ing in with dazzling light. In spite Of
herself and her wish TO be reverent, her
thoughts went roaming away--as do
those of the very best of us. The dream
came into her mind-came with rush
of perplexity. Why did this-this-
seem almost like its realization? What,
but bower, could this little front pew
be compared to, with the graceful
wrcaths of evergreeus looped round it,
front, and the holly and ivy entwined
about its corner pillars? Was not she
she and her finery receiving the
homage of the congregation beneath ?
Certainly several of them were gazing
aloft. Glancing up for brief moment,
Miss Tamariud's eye caught that of Rev.
Mr.. Macfuseras
1t was time to stand up again. Miss
Tamarind rose with the rest. Indubit
ably, the whole church looked up now,
for aught so startingly fine had not been
seen in the gallery for many Sunday.
As the curate began GLORY be to Fa-
ther,' Miss Tamsrind slowly took her
prayer book out of her muff.
At her full height stood she, in all
the pride of her conspicuous position.
She felt that she must be looking very
beautiful--as a bright picture amid the
setting of holly branches. 1t might
have been the one eliminating point of
Miss Tamarinds public life; no Lord
Mayor, riding up Cheapsids to West.
minister, his mace and sword bearer
stuck on either side of him, to the ad-
miration Of the populace, was ever more
puffed.out with vain glory than she.
Generally speaking, Miss Tsmarind did