Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1872-03-28
THE DEACON'S WEE.

Deacon Flint had decided to move; had
decided to move to c. had decided to COM
mence moving at precisely five O'Clock
Monday morning, July Is; and so on that
identical Monday morning you might, had
you been an early riser, have seen the
Deacon, divested of his coat and his Sun
day dignity, shaking the best room carpet
in the backyard.
There is nonecd of saying what lie did
next, or what Mrs. Flint was dong then.
They went through the tearing up pro
cess very much as other people do; and
not being endowed with an overabundance
of this worlds goods, the last load OF fur
niture consisting of the Deacon's wife and
baby, the twins and the best room looking
glass, was on its way to the depot at five
o'clock p. NJ.
"Blessed be nothingm SAID the tired
little woman, as the Deacon helped her
out of the wagon.
"Ifwe had been Squire Ransom's folks,
Samuel, we wouldn't have been more than
quarter through now, would we! MY !
how my poor bones would have ached,
though, this time tomorrow night. Pm
glad the Lord knows what's best for me-"
she added, taking the baby from the Dea-
con, and looking around for the twins.
1t was but few hours ride to G. and
Just in the coolest dusk Of the July twi-
light, they walked up the street to their
new home, very tired and thankful, thank
full they were not esquire Ransom'S folks, .
but just themselves, if they did have to
work late that night putt no up the kitch-
en- stove und unpacking dishes and bed
ding.
Tuesday was a day Of many troubles.
The babies were tired and lretiul daylight
revealed coating of dirt on doors and
windows, the depth of which they knew
not before; and the heat was intense.
But the Deacon, possessing untirinG
energy, and his little wife the Sunniest OF
tempers, they succeeded 50 well, that by
Thursday night, as he came into the kitch-
Ell with an armful of wood, where his wife
was washing dishes, she commenced sing
ing
"Thc Deacon thinks his work is most done,
But feel as ii mine had just begun'
"Did you hear that, Samuel ?" she said
laughing, and turning around to look al
him.
1t was praycr-meeting night, and thu
Deacon went to prayer-meeting for tn
first time in c., took an active part, and
after meeting, waited to shake hands Will
the minister and some Of the brethren
answer inquiries, and present their letters
lie had the satisfaction OF feeling on hi
way home that he had made good impress
sion; it pleased him it would have pleas
ed us; and he told his little wife tina
night, n his grave way, that he 'hoped
coming as he did, into the midst of
strange people, there might never be an,
occasion of remark against him willie b
remained among them"
"I'm sure hope not, Samuel" sh
said looking innoccntly up in his face, an
adding, as she nestled her little brow,
head on his shoulder, " | don't feel yer.
much alarmed about it."
The next day, Friday, the Deacon wen
back to the old home, having some bust
ness settlements to make there.
Cant tell certain when 1 shall b
back probably not till Monday noon
guess there's wood enough split to last til
then. Goodby," he said, and was gone.
The wee woman went singing back t
her half washed dinner dishes, and wit
one foot on the cradle rocker, she scoure
the knives, while she told the story G
"Jack and Gill;" to the twins.
When the last kettle was washed, tn
kitchen stove and table brushed and scour
ed TO the usual shade Of lack and white
the baby asleep in her little nest of
cradle, "bless her p she washed the prott
twin faces till they blushed like red pep
pers,tbcn settled them in their trundie be-
for nap.
Dear little woman She did look S
as she came out from the bedroom, an
stopped to brush fly from under the mt
squito net over the baby, it would hay
made your back ache to look at her. But tn
CHEEKY heart in the weary body assert
ed itself, and she smiled with the though
of all sue would do before the Deaco
came back.
al must slick nay hair over little, S
if any one should come | wouldn't spo
the Deacon's reputation" she said to hel
eSIlj SOillS up W ulC lllIlC Sideo Judb nun
between the kitchen windows.
just then gem Of sunbeam flashed
at the window, and seemed to tangIc tse
all up in the wavy brown hair.
ooh, how pretty" she said, with blus
and laugh like a chld's. "Guess ifsomt
body'd been at home I'd had kiss, then
and off she flow to her work.
How like magic the white curtain
went up and the cobwebs came dowr
how the best room looking glass shoI
after its polishing, and the old daguerre
type of" Sumuel in his best days" new
sbone through so clean surface as it d
that day. So the time flew, bringing Il
Deacou's return nearer.
One morning she Weakened early, entir
ly free from wretched headache she h;
the day before. "Now for the washing
she said to herself. 81 want to have
all done, the kitchen cleaned up and n
dress changed before Samuel comes
noon"
Quietly dressing so as not to waken Il
children, she slipped out into the kitche
built fire, and commenced operation
How she did work every step told otsom
thing done, and at half past ten, spite
all her hindrances from baby, who W
cross, she was hanging out the clothes