Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1872-02-22

poor Mrs. Beverly went on her way
signing for the hesh-pots of Egypt.
But ever as the wintrv davs passed on,
the minister's wife cousoled herself and
her little ones for the wants OF the
household with the generous bounty
that was to fall upon them so soon. Let
johnny eat his bread aud molasses now, ,
and he snould have plenty of butter bv-
and by; aud ii little Nell would be care
tul with her pinaiores while longer.
size should have new ones with a pretty
lace irill about the neck.
The days grew darker and colder.
Even from their little store of blankets IA
few were taken for those who had none.
and many meal was stiuted in the par
sonage TO render poorer table les,
bare. Tie miuister laborcd constantly
al bis Christmas sermon. liking il a
masterpiece ot rhetorical elsQaence.
Al last the great dsy came. and the
little family were up betimes, all eager
ness aud expectancy. Even the face OF
Reverend Sampson betrayed faint
glinmer oil curiosity, and he did not be-
take himself To his study while breakfast
was getting ready. The baby crowed
upon his knees. aud Jphnney clambercd
by his side. while little Nell solemuly
watched the browning OF the Christmas
mullins. Suddenly loud knock re-
rounded through the hall. aud for mo-
ment the pulse of The family stood still.
Then there was IA great rush for the door
but, reaching IL there was nobody there.
Only ifai, squaLe paper box on the
door-sill, with q neatly folded note slip
ped under the cord that bouui 1t.
Mrs. Beatty lifted the pox quite east
ly, and her heart sank little when she
iouud i, SO light.
Il wonder wha, il can bcl' she said
a. she handed the note to her husband.
The Reverend Sampson read il
aloud.
'Rerercnd and Dear Sir:-Accept
this little Christmas gilt as token OF
esteem from your pari-hioncrs, and
please wear il in theig honor Mt the
Christmas service.
Wear it !. cried the minister, with
flaming eyes. What new insult j.
thiS:'
Then he tore open the box. and all
the little brood, pecping over, saw the
hopes of week. and month, dwinlic
down into square black COMPASS
little.
cy. Here Is the brand-ncw silk gown
that promised YOU
Lucy took il up with atrembling hand
aud let it suddenly fall.
lit is a minister's robe, sampson, ;
she said, aud her voice ialtered. tor her
husband s,rode over aud lifted tae shin
ing isbric from the box. scanning it
savagcly, while his face whiicued to his
very lips.
Once. twice they opened. but the
words refused to be uttered Taxing
the robe ia his two strong hands. he rent
II from top 10 bottom; then tllnging il
upon the floor, he went away TO hi, stu
d.
Poor Lucy chokcd back her tears. an,l
gathering up the robe aud the box. pul
them well out OF sight. The mufIi 4,
were burned, the coffee was spoiled.
the Christmas breakfast was ruined
aud away in the study they heard the
step, OF the enragel minister posing Ia
aud fro. Blu, after the fr-i great shoe <
the sturdy heart ot the ministers wife
began to take courage; aud aitAough
many sigh escaped from her lips, sne
went about heating more coffee, and
making more mufiiAs, 50 that in half an
hour the little folks had q lite forgotten
The black spectre that hai doomed up be-
fore them in the shape OF minister ;
robe. Leaving them at the tat le, the
little woman went softly 10 the study,
and found that her husband was no;
quite so violent ia his displeasure a,
she had feared. The Reverend Samp.
sou was ashamed OF the bur-l OF rage
that had overpowered him, and lelt ii
his heart that il he had been sinned
against he was also siuning.
The fact is. Lucy he said, turning L
the dear face that WAS so sweet rest tc
his eyes and heart, Il begin to fear
must give up the ministry, am untitled
for it-at least here, dear. We do not
understand each other, the people and
Let then, get block from the city that
they can shape and dress TO suit them
selves. and you and I, little woman
will gofarther into the wilderness, wher,
the souls of men are nearer to God.
But his wife shrank a little from tn,
wilderness of which he spoke, aud un.
derstandiDg the people better, PLEADED
| tor longer stay among them.
But, Lucy, how can we ever reconcile
this ridiculous matter of the gown be.
tween us?
Then Lucy made him pause in hi
walk, and seating herself upon his knee
she unfolded to him plan that she had
been concocting while baking NOR,
mullins end heating more coffee; ant
though the parsOn shook his head ant
said nay dozen times, he ended bv 90
ing out to breakfast with smile upo,
| his face.
When upon that Christmas mornins
the congregation had assembled at tn,
church. there was an air OF conscious
ness among them that made it Amos
like social gathering. Many o pew
was filed that was ordinarily empty
and even the front seat of the SOUR,
bent under his formidable weight. Mrs
Beverly, in velvets aud furs, looked
down upon her gilded book with an at
tempt at serenity; but there was an evi
dent restlessness about her when there
was stir at the door, and whisper
that the parson was coming. At las
she looked back with the rest. Their,
was the tall, gaunt form of the Reverend
Sampson in his threadbarc coat, the
1 "hatC 1>0uAo VI Ills Wclt-WOEu tIOWS
shining in the wintry sunlight, the mus
cles OF his strong arms plainly seen from
under his short, tight sleeves, and q
every step the ungainly trowsers hitch
ing up and down, showin. the white
loose stockings. The same as ever
stern, angular, uncompromising, awk
ward, stiff, repelling-was there eve
such discouraginy ma ? Mrs. Beverl,
frowned with vexation.
But who was the dainty little woman
that tripped after him, rustling in stiff
heavy silk, dragging up the aisle rich
shining train? 1t was an odd dress sht
wore. Mrs. Beverly put up he. ey,
glass to examine it more closely. Not
unbecoming, certainly. TheNiong flow
ing sleeves made her little hands lool
wonderfully pretty; then the materia
itself was Of excellent texture, lustrou:
and heavy. 1t hung very full from the
shoulders, looped up in voluminou,
folds about her slim little figure, ant
widened out in graceful sweep as sh,
walked. 1t was made with yoke-yes