Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1872-03-28

incest clothes were hung there, OF course.
GLOW many people are passing" she
thought to herself, "and how they all
stare at me; guess it must be the clothes
though, instead of me-" and she tcndcrly
PINNED the rear Of one of the Deacon's
shirts to the line. clark was that the
front gate?" Before she had time to turn
around, the Deacon's energetic strides had
brought him close to her; but what was
the matter
"Martha-Pendleto !" he ex-
claimed, "what in the world are you doing?
Come straight into the house"
With a look that defies description,
the little body Strengthened itself up as
high as it would go, as she said, Not till
you speak to me different from that and
tell me Why" her lip quiyering.
"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 c.,
never heard before. ooh, Samuel" she
said, holding her sides, it's so funny no
wonder the folks stared at me and my
clothes. "Oh, ho, hop and she sank
down on the grass in aconvulslon OF laugh
ter
The poor Deacon was scandOlized.
Martha" he said in such sadly anX-
ious tone she only laughed the moro, 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 in
to the house with him.
The door closed behind thom. She went
up to him with little caress, and said,
Samuel, kiss and forgive me, and I'll
20 to work and ravel 1t all out. truly
will" and she laughed again with the
thought of what she had been guilty of,
till the Deacon kissed her ana laughed
too, in spite Of himself. Then ne walked
to the window and looked out.
you're not going to let them clothes
hang out there all day, are you, Martha
Flint"
"Or course I 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 before
sundown. But see here, Mr.. Deacon, it's
about time I called you to account, |
think. How came you to be travelling
to-day Guess there's a little Sunday
breaking on both sides, isn't there I"
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 a good coy,
now, and tell me all the truth remember
George Washington, dear"
The Deacon smiled, just trace OIL
trouble in his smile, and taking the hands
that held him captive, in his own, said
"Well, little woman, | had everything
finished up last night, ready to start fol
home on the five o'clock train. Somehow
| must have been uncommon tired, or else
it was the heat, leastways | dropped tc
sleep in the depot and missed the train
Then l thought I'd take the nine O'Clock
train, and get home at midnight, SOS you
wouldn't be so lonesome Sunday, but VIC
broke down, and just got here half houl
ago. Then to think, after walking through
town, from the cars, and folks a lookin
at me on their way to church Z"
"To think, Samuel" she broke in, "aftel
that dreadful trial, you should walk into
your front gate and find your wife hang
ing out clothes in Your front yard, anc
you a deacon Of good standing in the
church dear! What do you suppose the
Lord will do to me Tor thinking this was
washday | don't THINK she added
hell be very hard on me, because yes
tcrday was my Sunday, though had sucl
sick headache it seems | didn't know
much about the day. I'll tell you what
Samuel, I'll stay at home with the babies
to night and you can 90 to meeting, AM
then piece out your Sunday tomorrow
won't that do?'
But the deacon couldn't get over it
his heart was heavy; and willie his wifi
was busy in the kitchen he put on his hat
and with his hands clasped revercntly be
hind him Chs Sunday walk slowly an
solemnly he walked out to the clothe
; line.
Most of the clothes were dry, for tn
y sun was very hot, and one by one he droT
= ped the snowy things into the basket, un
consciously humming to h mself, " Hay
: pity, Lord 0 Lord, forgive"
: Mrs. Flint was washing dishes, and neal
!, ! ly dropped her best glass dish, when tn
!, Deacon walked in with the clean clothe
81 couldn't stand it, Martha" he sale
y in explanation.
"Gucss | must sprinkle and iron thel
to-day, Samuel, would you?" she sal
: archly'
The Deacon merely circulated disal
u proving, "My dear!" and went into tt
y other room to read his Sunday paper.
+ By and by the people began to CON
from church. What a sudden surprisir
interest they seemed to have taken in h
q household premises they gazed and stare'
and looked back and gazed again. Bl
i the Deacon was a humble man, it didn
natter him; he read his paper and sighe'
n opened his Bible to read and sighed aga
h and then "fell to thinking"
4 A little while after two arms stoe soft
+ around his neck, and dear voice SAT-
Forget all about it, dear, and rll-"
q knock at the door interrupted, and 81
). went to open it.
Sue had brushed her brown wayy hal
a and dressed in a cool white muslin dres
v with far between dottings Of pink, ar
!. looked not bit like the guilty little wasI
4 woman she was. She opened the doc
and Deacon Frost and Elder Cummins il
q troduced themselves, and walked in wit
4 stately bows. Deacon Flint rose from h
:. open Bible, and more introductions FOLLOW
o ed, whereupon Elder Cummns cleared b
Q little throat, and in piping voice said:
: "You must excuse, Deacon Flint OF
t coming on such day, but we thought
II best that some explanations should be mad
l.nC.ro n,,r. ,.nnr.la nnaiI cLntLnr Tor nunnir