The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1872-04-11
How the Oeacon's Wife introduced the
Deacon.

How the Deacon's Wife Introduced the
Deacon.
Deacon Flint had decided to move;
had decided to move to G.. had decided
to commence moving at precisely five
O'Clock Monday morning, July Is; and
so on that identical Monday morning you
might had you been an early riser, have
seen the Deacon, divested of his coat and
Sunday dignity, shaking the best room
carpet in the back yard.
There is no need OF saying what he
did next. or what Mrs. Flint was doing
then
They went through the tearing up
process. very much as other people do;
and not being endowed with an over
abundance of this worlds goods, the last
load Of furniture, consisting of the Dea-
cons wife and baby, the twins and the
best room looking glass was on its way
to the depot at live o'clock, ?. NJ.
Blessed be nothing" said the tired
little woman, as the Deacon helped her
out of the wagon. 1T we had been
Squire Ransom's folks, Samuel we
wouldn't have been more than quarter
through. now Nv how my bones
would have ached through this time to-
morrow night I'm glad the Lord knows
what's best for me-" she added, taking
the baby from the Deacon, looking around
for the twins.
1t was but few hours ride to c., and
inst in the coolest dusk OF the July twi-
light they walked up the street to their
home, very tired and thankful; thankful
they were not Squire Ransom'S folks
but iuSt themselves. if they did have to
work late that night putting up the kitchen
stove and unpaching the dishes and bed
ding Tuesday was a day OF many
troubles. The babies We're tired and
frettul; daylight revealed coating of
dirt on doors and windows, the depth OF
which they knew not before; and the
heat was intense.
But the Deacon, possessing untiring
energy, and his little wife the sunnest OF
! tempers they succeeded so well that, by
Thursday night, as he came into the
kitchen with an armtul of wood, where
his wife was washing dishes, she com
menced singing:
THE Deacon thinks his work is most done,
But feel a, if mine had Just begun"
did YOU hear that, Samuel ?" she said
laughing. and turning round TO look at
him
1t was praYer-meeting night and the
Deacon went to prayer-meetlng for the
first time in c., took an active part, and
after meeting waited to shake hands with
the minister, and some of the hrethren
answer inquiries, and present their let
ters
He had the satisfaction OF feeling on
his way home that he had made a good
4 impression; it pleased him it would
have pleased lis; and he told his little
wife that night, in his grave way, he
hoped coming a he did in the midst Of a
strange people, there might never be any
occasion OF remark against him while he
remained among them"
/ elm sure | hope not, Samuel" She
said, looking innocently mp in his face
and adding as she nestled her little brown
head on his shoulder, II don't feel very
much alarmed about it."
/ The next dav Friday. the Deacon went
back to the old home, having some bust
ness settlements to make there.
Cant tell certain when | shall be back
probably not till Monday noon; guess
/ there's enough wood split to last till then
! Goodbye" he said, and was gone.
The wee woman went singing back to
her half washed dinner dishes and with
one foot on the cradle p-rocker, she secured
the knives, while shes told the story OF
',Jack and Gill; to the twins
When the last kettle was washed. the
kitchen stove and table brushed and
secured to the usual shade OF black and
1 white, the bapY asleep in her little nest of
a cradle .blesS her :" she washed the
pretty twin faces till they blushed like red
/ peppers. then settled them in their trundle
/ bed for nap.
Dear little woman. she did look so
I tired as She came out from the bedroom,
/ and stopped to brush fly from under the
mosquito net over the baby. it would have
made YOUR heart ache to look at her.
| But the cherry heart in the weary body
/ asserted itself and she smiled with the
thought Of all she would do before the
| Deacon came back.
II must slick my hair over n little, 50 if
any one should come wouldn't spoil the
! Deacon's reputstion." she said to herself,
| going up to the little glass that hung be-
| tween the kitchen windows.
Just then a gem of a sunbeam flashed
! in at the window, and seemed to tangle
itself all up in the wavy brown hair.
"Oh, how pretty" she said with a
| blush and laugh like a child's. Guess
| if somebody'd been at home I'd had kiss
then and off she flew to her work.
/ How like magic the white curtains
went up and the cobwebs came down;
| how the best-room looking glass shOne
| after its polishing. and the old daguerro-
| type of samuel in his best DAYS" never
shone through so clean surface as it
did that day. So the time flew, bringing
the Deacon's return nearer.
One morning she wakened early, entire
| ly free from wretched headache she had
/ the dav before. Now for the washing"
| she said to herself II want to have it
all done, the kitchen cleaned up and my
dress changed before Samuel comes at
| noon.
| Quietly dressing so as not to awaken
the children, slipped out into the kitchen,
| built a fire, and commenced operations.
How she did work every step told of
something done, and at half-past ten,
spite of all her hindrances from baby
who was cross, she was hanging out the
clothes so snowy white they dazzled her
eyes as the sun shone on them. One end
of the clothes line run nearly out to the
front fence through the side yard, and
the whtest, incest clothes were hung
there, of course
How many people are passing" she
thought to herself, land how they all
stare at me, guess it must be the clothes,
though, instead of me-" and she tenderly
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- -Pendleton-Flnt % he ex-
claimed, "what in the world are you do
ing? Come straight into the house I"
With look that defies description, the
little body Strengthened itself up as nigh
as it would 60. as she said, ''Not till you
speak to me different from that, Samuel,
and tell me why" her lip quivering.
Don't you see the people all goin' to
meeting. and you hangin' out shirts
it's Sunday morningP"
| Such laugh as rang out then ON the