Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1872-04-26

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 interrupted, and she
went TO open it.
She had brushed her brown wavy hair,
and dressed in cool white muslin dress,
with far Letween dottings of pink, and
looked not bit like the guilty little wash
erwoman she was. She opened the door,
and Deacon Frost and Elder Cummns in
troduced themselves and walked in with
stately bows. Deacon Flint rose from his
open Bible, and more introductions follow
cd, whereupon Elder Cummins cleared his
throat and in piping voice, said:
"9ou must excuse, Deacon Flint, our
coming on such a day, but we thought it
best that some explanation should be made
| before our people again gather for evening
/ service-l"
"Oh, know what you mean, 1 guess,
/ Elder Cummins, you want to know why I
kept yesterday for Sunday, instead of to-
| day, don't you? Well, the fact was, the
deacon was away, and made a mistake in
the days somehow, l was so busy settling,
and SO yesterday was my Sunday, though
1 was in bed all day with sick headache,
and so didn't find out my mistake at all.
Then, wasn't it funny2 I got up at five
this morning and went to washing, think
ing il was Monday, and I'd got all through
before the Deacon came home decl re,
I've laughed so about it fairly ache" and
the little feminine offender laughed again,
and so conta2ously, that the three laughed
with her
1--WE been so good, though, Elder, the
rest of the day, Pm sure the Lord has for
given me for it," and sho smiled so sweet
ly, they both were completely won. When
they rose to go, Deacon Frost said to Dea-
con Flint, at is our missionary meeting
tonight brother, and a little explanation
from you there will set the matter right,
guess"
Up spoke the feminine voice again. "Oh,
yes, Deacon Frost, Samuel was intending
to explain tonight. l only wish l could
be there, but can't leave the babies"
"If You have no objections, Mrs. Flint"
replied the Deacon, "my Susie will come
and stay with them, and let you go, she
would he so delighted"
"Oh, thank you, that would be so nice;
you are very kind p and she bowed them
out of the door.
"Ain't you glad you married me, Samuel.
instead of Abigail Hover" 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 out into another merry
laugh.
"What's the matter, now dear2" said the
Deacon.
80, Samuel, l vas thinking how you
must have looked, coming up the street
with your Sunday walk, your hands clasp
ed solemnly behind you, till you got to the
gate and saw me hanging up your shirt in
the front yard, thon how suddenly you
, broke into your week day stride'r Ha!
hn and they both laughed together till
the tears came.
supper over, dishes washed baby asleep,
Susie telling stories to the twins, the Dea-
con and his wife started for church. 'Don't
be too humble. Samuel" she whispered Mt
the door, "work in little spice if you can,
and I'll step on your corns when it's time
to stop
The meeting was opened as usual; then
Brother Dean was called upon for report
from India.
a little wiry, black eyed man rose and
said, "Brethren, it's not much use report
ing from heather countries, when right in
our midst Deacons travel on Sunday, and
Deacon's wives wash and hang out clothes
before our very eyes as we walk to the
house of God! I call for an,explanation."
Deacon Flint tried to rise, but somebody
pulled him down, and the next minute the
whole congregation was electrified by the
sound of a sweet womanly voice saying -
"'Now, o Lord, establish thy word unto
thy servant, so shall I have wherewith TO
answer him that reproacheth me, for I
trust in thy word.'" Then turning to him,
she said, ''my brother, you shall have an
explanation" and in simple, almost child
like way she told the story of her mistake.
and the Deacon's delay, then added, "My
brother, judge nothing before the time, un-
til the Lord come. For we shall all stand
before the Judgment seat of Christ, and ev-
cry one shall give an account of himself to
God let us not therefore judge one anolh-
or any more ! Your sleep will be sweet
tonight, my brother, if your heart is at
peace with God, as mine is, for I am per-
suaded that neither death nor life, nor an
gels, nor principalites, nor powers, nor
things present, nor things to come, nor
height, nor depth, nor any other creature,
shall be able to separate me from the love
of God which is in Jesus Christ our Lord "
The next morning the Rev. Henry Brown
and his wife called very unceremoni0usly
on the new Deacon. "We knew it wouldn't
be wa shing day here" laughed Mrs.
5rown, $50 we came early. | could hard
| ly wait TO get here and talk over the funny
affair. Henry said AFTER you sat down last
night, he felt like Inviting you into the
pulpit"
"Why, bless mer' said the astonshed
little body, blushing like girl. II felt so
ashamed Of myself afler l got under the
Deacon's coat twas the first time | ever
spoke in my life"
IL hope it won't be the last Mrs. Flint,
if you always speak as much to the purpose
as you did last night r. said tho minister
coming forward.
"Yes - broke in his wife, "Henry said
he'd always advocate women's speaking in
meeting after this"
at was capital ~ said Mr.. Brown, re-
crossing the room to whore tho Deacon
stood. Just what job Dean has needed
for long time, good roproof but no one
had the courage to give 1t to him. Your
little wife has done just what the whole
parish will thank her for"
Everybody I've seen since. is lust en-