Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1872-05-03
NO. lO6.
WASHING ON SUNDAY.
How THE DEACON's WIFE INTRODUCED
THE DEACON.

THE DEACON.
Deacon Flint had decided to move had
decided to commence moving at precisely
) O'Clock, Monday morning, July 1S, and
so on that identical Monday morning you
might have seen the deacon, divested of
his coat and his 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 Cup process
very much as other people do; and not
being endowed with an ever-abundance of
this worlds goods, the deacon's wife and
baby, the twins, and the best room look
| ing-glass, was on its way to the depot at
) o'clock, p NJ.
BLESSED be nothng!n exclaimed the
tired little woman, as the deacon helped
her out'of the wagon. "If we had been
Squire Ransom's folks, Samuel, we
shouldn't have been more than a quarter
through now, would we? Ny! how my
poor bones would have ached though this
time tomorrow night. I'm glad the Lord
knows what's best for me, she added, tax
ing the baby from the deacon, and looking
around for the twins.
1t was but few hours ride to c., and
just in the coolest dusk Of the July twi-
light they walked up the street to their
new home, very tired, and thankful they
were not Squire Ransom's folks, but just
themselves, if they did have to work late
that night putting up the kitchen stove and
unpacking dishes and bedding.
Tuesday was day of many troubles.
The babies were tired and fretful; day
light revealed a coating of dirt on doors
and windows. the depth of which they
knew not before; and the heat was in
tense. But the deacon possessing untiring
energy, and his little wife the sunniest Of
tempers, they succeeded so well that, by
Thursday night, as he came into the kitch-
en- with an armful of wood, where his wife
was washing dishes, she commenced sing
ing
The deacon thinks his work is almost DONE
But feel as if mine had just begun.n
Did you hear that, Samuel?' she said,
laughing and turning around to look at
him.
1t was prayer-meeting night, and the
deacon went to prayer meeting for the
first time in c., took an active part, and af-
ter meeting waited to shake hands with
the minister and some of the brethren, an
swer their inquiries and present their let
ters He had the satisfaction of feeling,
on his way home, that he had made a
good impression it pleased him it would
have pleased us; and he told his little
wife that night, in his grave way. that he
hoped, coming as he did in the midst of
a strange people, there might never be
any occasion of remark against him while
he remained among them
I'm sure, hope not, Samuel, she said.
looking innocenty up in his face, and ad-
ding, as she nestled up her little brown
head on his shoulder. 4 don't feel much
alarmed about it,
The next day, Friday, the deacon went
back to the old home, having some busi-
ness settlements to make there. Cant
tell certainly when shall be back; pro-
badly not till Monday noon; guess there's
enough wood split t. last till then. Good
bye he said, and was gone.
The wee woman went singing back to
her half-washed dinner-dishes, and with
one foot on the cradle-rocker, she secured
the knives, while she told the story of
Jack and Gill to the twins. When the
kettle was washed, the kitchen stove and
table brushed and secured to the usual
shade of black and white, the baby asleep
in her nest of cradle-'bless her!-she
washed the pretty twin faces till they
blushed like red peppers, and then settled
them in their trundlebed for nap.
Dear Ilttle woman. Sne ulu look So urea
as she came out of the bedroom, and stop
ped to brush fly from under the muske-
to net over the baby; it would have made
your heart ache to look at her. But the
CHEEKY heart in the weary body asserted
ITSELF and she smiled with the thought of
all she would do before the deacon came
back.
| Il must slick my hair over a little. SO if
any one should come / wouldn't spoil the
deacon's reputation she said to herself.
going up to little glass that hung be-
tween the kitchen windows. Just then
gem of a sunbeam flashed in at the win
dow ,:and seemed to tangle itself all up in
her wavy brown hair. %, how pretty
she said, with a blush and laugh like
a child's. Guess if somebody had been
at home I'd had kiss, thcn!' 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 daguerreotype of
''Samuel in his best days. never shone
through so clean surface as it did that
day. So the time flew, bringing the dea-
cons return nearer.
One morning she awakened early, en-
tirely free from wretched headache she
had the day before, II want 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, she slipped out into the kitchen
built fire and commenced operations
How she did work! every step told Of
l. something done, and at half-past 10. des-
s. ipte all her hindrances from baby. who
was cross, she was hanging out the
=. clothes, so snowy white they dazzled her
5 eyes as the sun shone on them. One END
of the clothes line ran nearly OUT 70 Ine
!. front fence through the side yard, ana tne
W conrse ..How many people are pass
!. r.; inc" She thought to herself, land how
,hssv ,hhs all stare at me; guess it must be the
clothes @ though instead of me" and she
tendery pinned the rear of one Of the
I. N, I.L;,.- "a tho limo Harl xuas