Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1872-05-15

night, so you wouldn't be lonesome
Sunday, but we broke down, and got
here half an hour ago. Then to think,
after walking through town from the
cars, and folks looking at me on their
way to church
''To think, Samuel" she broke in,
CATER that dreadful trial, you should
walk in at your front gate and find your
wife hanging out clothes in your front
yard, and you deacon of good stand
ing in the church, dear dear! what
do you suppose the Lord will do to me
for thinking it was washing day? I
don't think" she added,' ''he'll be
very hard with me, because yesterday
was my Sunday, though I had such a
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 tonight, and you can go to
meeting, and then piece out your Sun
tomorrow; won't that do?'
But the deacon couldn't get over it
his heart was heavy: and while his wife
was busy in the kitchen he put on his
hat, and with his hands clasped reyer-
emily behind him (his Sunday way)
slowly and solemnly he walked out to
the clothes lines. Most of the clothes
were dry, for the sun was very hot, and
one by one he dropped the snowy
things into the basket, unconsciousiy
humming to himself. "Have pity,
Lord 0 Lord, forgive"
Mrs. Flint was washing dishes, and
nearly dropped her best glass dish,
when the deacon walked in with the
clean clothes, could not stand it
Martha he said in explanation.
"Guess [ must sprinkle and iron
them, to-day, Samuel-would you2
she said archly.
The deacon merely calculated dis
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-
ed interest they seemed to have taken
in his household premises; they gazed,
and stared, and looked back. and gazed
again, but the deacon 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
A little while after two arms
stole softly around his neck, and dear
voice said. Forget all about it, dear,
and Tll-" a knock at the door inter
rupted, and she went to open it.
She had brushed her brown, wavy
hair, and dressed in cool white mus
lin dress, with far between dottings of
pink, and looked not a 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 a piping voice said:
"YOu must excuse, Deacon Flint,
our coming on such a day, but we
thought it best that some explanations
should be made before our people again
gather for evening service !"
ooh, l knowwhat you mean, 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
discount of the days somehow, and I
was so busy settling, and so yesterday
was my Sunday, though [ was in bed
all day with a sick headache, and SO
didn't find out my mistake at all.
Then, wasn't it funny [ got up at 5
this morning, and went to washing,
it was Monday, and I'd get all
through before the deacon came home;
L declare I've laughed so about it that
| fairly ache" and the little feminine
laughed again and so contag-
iously that the three laughed with her
"I've been so 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, s'it is Our
meeting, tonight, brother,
and little explanation from you there
will set the matter right, [ guess"
Up spoke the feminine again, "Oh,
yes, Deacon Frost, Samuel was intend
ing to explain, tonight. [ only wish [
could be there, but | can't leave the
babies"
"If 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.
S'Oh, thank you, that would be so
nice, you are very kind - and she bow
ed them out of the room.
''Ain't you glad you married me,
Samuel, instead of Abigail Howe 2"
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.
80, Samuel, [ 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 Ha Hal" and they laughed
together till the tears came.
Supper over, dishes washed, baby
asleep, Susie telling stories to the twins,
the deacon and his wife started for
church. "Don't be too humble, Sam
uel, . she whispered at the door, "work
in a 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 for
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 out
clothes before our very eyes as we
walk TO the house of God! [ call for
an explanation"
Deacon Flint tried to rise, but some
body pulled him down, and the next
minute the whole congregation was ell
ectrifed by the sound of sweet Wo-
manly voice saying" Now, 0, Lord
establish thy word unto thy servant SO
shall [ have wherewith to answer hlm
that reproacheth me; for trust IN thy
word" Then turning to him she SAID,
" Ny brother, you shall have an expla-
nation" and in simple, almost child
like way she told the story OF her mis-
take, and the deacon's delay, then add
ed & My brother, Judge nothing before