Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1872-05-09

WITH MALICE II
AU STIN, MOWER co
clean clothes, 81 could not stand it
Martha" he said in explanation.
"Guess I must sprinkle aud iron
them, to-day, Samuel-would you
she said archly.
The deacon, merely calculated dis
approving MY dear !" and went into
the other room to read his Sunday pa
per.
By and by the people began to come
from church. What a sudden, surpris-
cd interest they seemed to have taken
in his household premises; they gazed,
and stared, and looked back, aud gazed
again, but the deacor was an humble
man, it did not fatter him: he read his
paper and sighed, opened his Bible to
read and sighed again, and then fell to
thinking. A little while after two arms
stole softly around his neck, and dear
voice said. "Forget all about it, dear,
and I'll" a knock at the door inter
rupted, and she went to open it.
She had brushed her brown, wavy
hair, and dressed in a cool white mus
lin dress, with far between dottings of
pink, and looked not bit like the
guilty little washer-woman she was.
She opened the door, and Deacon Frost
and Elder Cummins introduced them
selves and walked in with stately bows.
Deacon Flint rose from his open Bible
and more introductions followed, when
Elder Cummins cleared his throat, and
in piping voice said:
"You must excuse, Deacon Flint,
our coming on such day, but we
thought it best that some explanations
should be made before our people again
gather for evening service r.
"Oh, I know what you mean,I guess,
Elder Cummins, you want to know why
kept yesterday for Sunday, instead of
to-day, don't you2 Well, the fact was,
the deacon was away, and I made o
discount of the days somehow, and
was SO busy settling, and 80 yesterday
was my Sunday, though T was in bed
all day with a sick headache, and SO
didn't find out my mistake ut all.
Then, wasn't it funny2 Igot up at
this morning, and went to washing,
thinking it was Monday, and I'd get ali
through before the deacon came home {;
declare I've laughed so about it that
fairly ache," and the little feminine
offender laughed again and so contag-
iously that the three laughed with her.
"Tve been 80 good, though, elder,
the rest of the day, I'm sure the Lord
has forgiven me for it," and she smiled
so sweetly, they both were completely
won. When they rose to go Deacon
Frost said to Deacon Flint, sit is our
missionary meeting, tonight, brother,
and little explanation from you there
will set the matter right, I guess"
Up spoke the feminine again, "Oh.
yes, Deacon Frost, Samuel was intend.
ing to explain, tonight. I only wish
could be there, but I can't leave the
babies"
"H you have no objection, Mrs..
Flint" replied the deacon, "my Susie
will come and stay with them, and let
you go, she would be so delighted"
"Oh, thank you, that would be so
nice, you are very kind |" and she bow
ed them out of the room.
"Aint you glad you married me,
Samuel, instead of Abigail Howe9''
said the small woman, smiling up to
him. No matter what the deacon said
and did.
As she was setting the tea-table, that
night, she broke into another merry
laugh.
"What's the matter now, dear?'
said the deacon.
20, Samuel, I was thinking how you
must have looked, coming up the street
with your Sunday walk, your hands
clasped solemnly behind you. till you
got to the gate and saw me hanging up
your shirt in the front yard, then how
suddenly you broke into your weekday
stride! Hal Hal" and they laughed
together till the tears came.
Supper over, dishes washed, baby
asleep, Susie telling stories othe twins,
the deacon and his wife started fol
church. "Don't be too humble, Sam.
uel, she whispered at the door, "work
in little spice, if you can, and I'll
tread on your corns when it's time to
STOP"
The meeting was opened as usual
then Brother Dean was called upon fol
a report from India.
A little wiry, black eyed man rose
and said, Brethren, it's not much use
reporting from heather countries when
in our midst deacons travel on Sunday,
and deacons' wives wash and hang ou1
clothes before our very eyes as We
walk to the house of God! I call TO,
an explanation."
Deacon Flint tried to rise, but some.
body pulled him down, and the mex,
minute the whole congregation was ell
ectrified by the sound of sweet wo
manly voice saying" Now, O, Lore
establish thy word unto thy servant, sc
shall I have wherewith to answer hin
that reproacheth me; for I trust in thl
word" Then turning to him she said
my brother, you shall have an expla
nation," and in simple, almost child
like way she told the story of her mis-
take, aud the deacon's delay, then add
ed j" My brother, judge nothing befor,
the time until the Lord come. sFo
we shall stand before the judgement
seat OF Christ, and every one shall civ
an account of himself to God; let u
not, therefore, judge one another IN,
more! Your sleep, my brother, viii
be sweet tonight, if your heart is a
peace with God, as mine Is, for I. I an
persuaded that neither life nor death
nor principalities, nor powers, no
things present, nor things to come, no
height, nor depth, nor any othe
creature shall be able to separate me
from the love of God which Is in Jesu
Christ our Lord. >"
The next morning Rev. Henry Brow,
and his wife called very unceremonioue
~ on the new deacon. 1--WE knew i
wouldn't be washing-day here, laughe,
Mrs. Brown, $50 We came here early
I could hardly wait to get here to tall
over that funny affair. Henry said at
ter you sat down, last night, he fel
like inviting you into the pulpit"
"Why bless me - said the astonish
cd little body, blushing like a girl, {"
felt so ashamed of my self after I 70
under the deacon's coat! Twas tn,
, first time ever spoke in my life."
81 hope it won't be the last, Mrs
, Flint, if you always speak as much t
! the purpose as you did, last night !!
said the minister, coming forward.
"Yes," broke in his wife, "Henr
,. said he'd advocate women's speaking Il
meeting after this"
"It was capital" said Mr.. Brown