Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1872-03-11


With a look that defes description,
the little body Strengthened itself up as
high as it would 60, as she said, "Not
till you speak to me different from that,
Samuel, and tell me why" her lip quiv-
erlng.
don't you see the people all goin' to
meeting, and you a hangin' out shirts /?
it's Sunday morning ?"
Such laugh as rang out then on the
Sunday air, Pm sure the good people of
G. never heard before 80, Samuel"
she said, holding her sides, ''it's so fun
ny no wonder the folks stared at me
and my clothes. Oh, Oh, Oh - and she
sank down on the grass in convulsion
of laughter.
The poor Deacon was scandalzed.!
Martha y he said, in such sadly anx-
ious tone she only laughed the more, and
it was not till she looked up in his face
that she realized how he was touched,
then she stood up, soberly, and walked
into the house with him.
The door closed behind them she
went up to him with little caress, and
said: Samuel, kiss and forgive me- and
I'll 60 to work and ravel it all out. |
truly will p and she laughed again with
the thought Of what she had been guilty
of, till the Deacon kissed her, and laugh
ed too, in spite of himself Then he
walked to the window and looked out
you're not goin' to let them clothes
hang out there all day, are you, Martha
Flint %
''Of course | am; you don't suppose,
now I've got them out, Gods going to
grudge me the sunshine to dry them
with, because it's Sunday do you? Why
it would be wicked to bring them in be-
fore sundown. But see here, Mr.. Dea-
con, it's about time l called you to ac-
count [ think. How came you to be
trareling to-day? Guess there's little
Sunday-breaking on both sides, isn't
there ?''
The Deacon turned slowly around,
and sat down. Then perching herself
on his knee, she took his honest brown
face in her hands, and said: "Be good
boy, now, and tell me all the truth re-
member George Washington. DEAR
The Deacon smiled, just trace of
trouble in his smile, and taking the
hands that held him captive, in his own,
said: "Well. little woman, | had every.
thing finished up last night, ready tc
start for home on the five o'clock train
Somehow, [ must have been uncommon
tired, or else it was the heat, leastways
dropped to sleep in the depot and miss.
ed the train. Then | thought I'd take
the nine o'clock train and get home al
midnight, SOS you wouldn't be so lone
some Sunday, but we broke down, and
just got here half hour ago. Then t.
think, after walkin' through town, from
the cars, and folks lookin' at me OF
their way to church :
ITO think, Samuel" she broke in
LATTER that dreadful trial, you shoulC
walk into your front gate and find you
wife hanging out clothes in your from
yard, and you Deacon of good stand
ing in the church! dear dear what d
you suppose the Lord will do to me fo
thinking this was wash day. L don
think, she added, ''he'll be very har
on me, because yesterday was my Sun
day, though l had such sick headache
it seems | didn't know much about tn
day. I'll tell you what Samuel, II
stay at home with the babies to-nigh
and you can go to meeting and then piec
out yoan Sunday tomorrow, won't tina
do ?"
But the Deacon couldn't get over it
his heart was heavy; and while his viii
was busy in the kitchen he put on hi
hat, and with his hands clasped revel
emily behind him. (his Sunday walk
slowly and solemnly he walked out t
the clothes line.
Most of the clothes were dry, for th
sun was very hot, and one by one b
dropped the snowy things into the basil
ct, unconsciously humming to himsel
''Have pity, Lord, 0 Lord, forgive"
Mrs. Flint was washing dishes, an
nearly dropped her best glass dish, whe
the Deacon walked in with the clea
clothes. Il couldn't stand it, Martha,
he said, in explanation.
) 'Guess [ must sprinkle and iron the
to-day, Samuel, would you?" she sal
archly.
, The Deacon merely calculated di
approving My dear.' p and went in
the other room to read his Sunday pape
+ By and by the people began to con
from church. What sudden, surpri
) ing interest they seemed to have take
in his household premises they gaze
| and stared, and looked back, and gaze
, again. But the Deacon was humb
man, it didn't tlatter him; he read
/ paper and sighed again, and then ''fe
5 to thinking
4 A little while after, two arms sto
softly around his neck, and dear vol
S said. Forget all about it, dear. and /
/; - knock at the door interrupted, al
e she went to open it.
: She had brushed her brown wavy hal
and dressed in a cool white muslin dres
e with far between dottings of pink, al
/, looked not bit like the guilty lit
washerwoman she was. She opened Il
: door, and Deacon Frost and Elder Cul
e Minis introduced themselves, and walk
e in with stately bows. Deacon Flint ro
t from his open Bible, and more introdu
i tions followed, whereupon Elder Gun
j minis cleared his throat, and in pipil
voice said:
n .'You must excuse, Deacon Flint, o
e coming on such day, but we thought
: best that some explanations should
y made. before our people again gather
f evening service ?"
S ''Oh, | know what you mean, | gues
: Elder Cummins, you want to know vi
y kept yesterday for Sunday, instead
n to-day, don't you? Well, the fact W;
n the Deacon was away, and made a M