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

and stay with them, and let you 60; she
would be delighted"
-"Oh, thank you that would DO so nice;
you are very kind" and she bowed them
faint you glad you married me, Sam
uel, instead of Abigail Howe ? " said the
small woman, smiling up at 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, dear?" said
the Deacon,
son, 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 tho gate and saw mo hanging up your
shirt in the front yard, then how suddenly
YOU broke into your week day stride !"
lila, ha! and they both laughed together
till the tears came.
Supper over, dishes washed, baby asleep,
and Susie telling stories to the twins, the
Deacon and his wife started for church.
"Don't be too humble, Samuel" she
whispered at the door, "work in little
spice if you can, and l'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 wlry, 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 their
clothes before our very eyes as we walk to
the house of God call Tor an cXplona-
ton"
Deacon Flint tried to rise, but somebody
pulled him down, and the next minute the
whole congregation was electrified by the
sound of q sweet womanly voice, saying =
"Now, 0 Lord, establish Thy word unto
Thy servant, so shall have whcrewith to
answer him that reproacheth Inc, for
trust in Thy word" Then turning to him
she said ON brother, you shall have an
explanation" and in a simple, almost
child-like way she told the story OF her
mistake, and the deacons delay, then add
ed :-"My brother, judge nothing before
the time until the Lord como. For we
shall stand before tho judgment-Tcat oil
Christ, and every one shall give IN account
of himself to God; let us not, therefore,
Judge one another any more. Your sleep,
my brother, will be sweet to night il your
heart is at peace with God, as mine is, for
| am persuaded that neither death nor lille,
nor angels, nor princlpalitics, nor powers,
nor things present, nor things to come, mol
height, nor depth, nor any other creature,
shall be able to separate me from the love
Of God which is in Christ Jesus, oul
Lord
The next morning the Rev. Henry
Brown and his wife called very uncere.
moniously on tho new Deacon. 1--WE
knew it wouldn't be washing day here,
laughed Mrs. Brown, 50 we came early, ]
could hardly wait to get here and talk ovci
the funny affair. Henry said after you sal
down last night, he felt like inviting yor
up into the pulpit"
why, bless me !" said the astorsheC
little body, blushing like a girl, al felt 81
ashamed Of myself after got through,
wanted to hide my head under the de1cOn's
coat 'twas the first time | ever spoke h
meeting in my die"
Il hope it won't be the last, Mrs. Flint
il you always speak as much to the purpose
as you did last night" said the minister
coming forward.
eyes" broke in his wife, " Henry sale
he'd always advocate womcn's speaking il
meeting after this"
cit was capital! !" said Mr., Brown, re
crossing the room to where the deacon
stood. "Just what Job Dean has needed
for long timc-a good reproof-but NJ
one had the courage to give it to him
| Your little wife has just done what tn
whole parish will thank her for"
Everybody I've seen since is just on
raptured with YOU" said his wife to thu
laughing heroine, who had been rehearsin
; all the funny passages to her. You hay
made yourself famous: look out rplent.
of calls this week !"
, ooh, well,n she said, tossing the baby
"thc washing is done, and | shall hay
. plenty oftimc,"
| Mrs. Brown laughed, and said, 81 thin
S | shall send you word next Saturda
night, that the next day will be Sunday
e and you had better not wash till Mot
= day"
"Mrs. Flint" said the minister, {"
e think you fully competent to monae
your own affairs, without any Of my wife
= Interference" and so, laughing mernly
e they departed
). "Snmuel," said his bonnie wife, as sh
|, closed the door, don't you think Eve il
troduced you pretty well? VIII you eve
n call me Martha-Pendleton-Elint agai
d when | am hanging up your shirt in I'll
front yard 2"
}. Some oody was chased out in the kitche
e just then and laughed so loud it wakene
the baby.