The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1872-02-08

lills lnafHifF
Tae Lord. MOLLY
Nes. u course, ibe Lord and you and
ma, ard thg dear 10, G,'d tlyss ihyni
-and sister Belle, aad sur, ard tlleir
iatHng babic- apd eYrra bods 10 %.
wtipie world Thar tormeuiiug Old Nate,
sykes incinied.
lleacon Ciibcrt lsughed-he eouldni
help u. Bot his face cioudrd agaih-- h.
cyuidn't help That eilber--as be aid:
Yuu would never aecriye yunr father
and mother, MOLLY --ueyrr Do anything lo
bring reprvsch upon the fa,niis would
louf
Why, fatl er said Molly, - open.eyed
establishment; and then, a. Il light had
suddenly broktn ~ upon her bewildered
brain. stopped short ior moment, with
one litile finger an her lips, aud white her
rycs danced with FIRE, said Ia whisper;
Nancy Is ont there, isn't she Z pointing 20
the Kitchen.
Yes she Il there, answered tie deacon
With Rroan.
ihought az much, aud she hnsn't been
here long, eitl cr--lhe u, lusy bods III
be blessed II | love her as much as !
lLought ! did. Now, Deacon John OH.
bert look at Your daughter Mary square
Ia the iaee aud speak right strai, inmeet-
ing, aud tell Ter truly whether she looks
a. Il she had been doing anything that
she ought TO b. ashamed Of
No she does not, quickly responded the
deacon.
Well, then, will YOU trust her ill to-
morrow .lop worrs ingl
Yes, | will, but your mother, child
how shall | luauage herI
Tell her yon are satisfied, aud IL that
don't do, then she must fret--lllals all, ]
never In my Lille have given either Of you
reason to lhiIik 80 meanly Of me as this;
| wish Nancy ;, kes was walking the
streets OF the lew Jerusalem the old mar
plot
eacon Gilbert kissed the rosy up.
turntd cheek, and made Tor he Kitchen.
Nancy was mp to her elbows Ia pie-crusl,
" hile Mrs, Gilbert, looking luure torIorn
than ever before IN her life, threw stick
after stick of cracking maple into the
huge country oven.
There, mother, said the deacon, putting
his hand aiIecloualely on her shoulder,
dou'l pile ia any more. II you do, you'll
have the house on fire, ceriain. Molly's
all right I've just been talking with her
aud I'm sure ont.
Who was the strange fellow she had
down ia the march2 inquired Mrs. Gil
bert, her face lighting up little.
Yes, who WAS hep that's the question,
put iu Nancy, very much 10 the deacon's
disgust
You'll find out soon enough, he replied,
irving TO be good natures:, ahd deter
mined upon keeping the fact Of his own
ignorance TO hinlre {.
don't believe he knows any more
about il Than you do, Mrs. Gilbert, put il.
Nancy. lfyOu'd seen what ! saw with
my own eyes, YOU wouldn't he so easy
hoodwinked. Lord! the blindness OF
these fathers Is something terrible to think
on.
Nancy Sykes, keep TO your pies aud
mind your own business. am entirely
content to attend To my own household
When | want any further Information OF
advice from you, III ask for it, answered
the deacon, entiely forgetting what the
bible says about q soft answer iurneth
away wrath, etc.
Molly Gilbert was as gay az lark all
day. She sang over her work, keeping
out of Nancy Slke's way as much as poss-
iblr; aud to tell the truth she saw very
little OF her mother. Nancy's influence
was potent aud Notwithstanding the fact
Of the dcacon's apparent satisfaction, the
thought would make Mrs. Gilbert miser.
able, that Nancy had seen this pcrior-
nance with her own eyes, aud that the
deacon didn't contradict the story.
Heavens aud earth, Mrs. Gilbert, how
can that gal sing Z inquired Nancy, al
least half dozen times that day, as Mol
!, - bird-hke tones resonnded through Il
old kitchen; and the miserable mother re-
ulied that she was sure She couldn't tell.
Christmas dawmed clear, sud cold
Long before daylight the inmates Of the
Gilbert mansion were asiir-Nancy hay-
ing remained over Ia order to be on hand
early IN the morning. The fret train WA
to bring the sons aud daughters, aud thpii
lilu ones home. A magnificent break
fast was prepared, aud at the appointed
time lhey came trooping IN. such shout.
ing aud laughing such capering, suchyell-
OF enthusiastic delight, never we're heard
IA one house--neyer!
All here bot Tom! said Mrs. Gilbert,
with a SIGH.
Tom was the Youngest son and hadn't
been home for year.
VIII he be here by the next train, maj
they all shouted, H. chorus; and ,ht
mother tried to appear like her old self
fhe event Of yesterday siiiI weighed
heavily on her mind, aud the children all
noticed that something was the matter.
Suddenly the strains VI music we're
I heard IL the front yard.
On, come here, grandma! aud see ihi.
p',or Old hand organ man. and this little
( girl play ing the rainbou,ine, said Minnie