The Portland daily press., 1872-04-06

The poor deacon was scandalized! ''Mar-
thap' he said, in such sadly anxious tone
she only laughed the more, and it was not
till she looked up in his face that she realiz-
ed how he was touched; then she stood up,
soberly, walked into the house.
The door closed behind them, she went up
to him with little caress, and said Samuel,
kiss and forgive me. and I'll go to work and
rayel it all out truly willp' and she laugh
ed again with the thought of what she had
been plIiltv of. till the Deacon kissed her, and
LAUGHED too. in spite of himself Then he
walked to the window and looked out. q,
you're not goin' to let them clothes hang
out there all day, are you, Martha Flint?"
"Of course / 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 shutdown. But see
here, Mr.. Deacon, it's about time called you
to account / think. How came you to be
travelling to-day? Guess there's a little Sun
dav breaking on both sides, isn't THEREOF
The Deacon turned slowly around, and sat
down. Then perching herself on his knee,
shl took his honest brown face in her hands,
and said: "Be good boy, now, and tell me
all the truth; remember George Washington,
dear"
The Deacon smiled, just trace of trouble
in his smile, and taking the hands that held
him captive, in his own, said: swell little
woman, | had everything finished up last
night, ready to start for home on the five
o'clock train. Somehow, must have been
uncommon tired, or else it was the heat,
leastways dropped to sleep in the depot and
missed the train. Then I thought I'd take
the nine O'Clock train and get home at mid
night SOS you would not be so lonesome
Sunday, but we broke down, and just got
here half hour ago. Then, to think, after
walking through town from the cars, and
folks a lookin' at me ON their way to church
''To think, Samuel she broke in, after
that dreadful trial, you should walk into your
front gate and find your wife hanging out
clothes in your front yard, and you Deacon
of good standing in the church! dear! dear
what do you suppose the Lord will do to me
for thinking it was washing day.
don't think, she added, he'll be very hard with
me, because yesterday was my Sunday
though had such sick headache, it seems
didn't know much about the day. PI tel
you what, Samuel, I'll stay athome with thu
babies tonight and yod can go to meeting
and then piece out your Sunday tomorrow
WON'T that do?"
But the Deacon couldn't get over it: hi.
heart was heavy; and while his wife was busy
in the kitchen he put on his hat, and witt
his hands clasped reverently behind him
(his Sunday way) slowly and solemnly hi
walked out to the clothes line.
Most of the clothes were dry, for the sur
was very hot, and one by one he dropped the
snowy things into the basket, unconsciously
humming to himself, ''Have pity, Lord,
Lord, forgive"
Mrs. Flint was washing dishes, and nearly
dropped her best glass dish, when the Deacon
walked in with the clean clothes, 81 could
not stand it, Martha, he said, in explanation
''Guess 1 must sprinkle and iron them to
day, Samuel, would you?" she said archly.
The Deacon.merely calculated disapprov
ing my dear!' and went into the Other
room to read his Sunday paper.
Ry and by the people began to come from
church. What sudden, surprised interest
they seemed to have taken in his household
premises they gazed, and stared, and looked
back, and gazed again, but the Deacon was
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 think
ing.
A little while after, two arms stole softly
around his neck, and dear voice said, "For-
get all about it, dear, and Pll-" a knock al
the door interrupted, and she went to open
it.
She had brushed her brown wavy hair, and
dressed in cool white muslin dress, with fal
between dottings of pink, and looked not 9
Bit like the guilty little washerwoman she
was. She opened the door, and Deacon Frost
and Elder Cummins introduced themselves
and walked in with stately bows. Deacon
Flint rose from his open Bible, and more in
Productions followed, whereupon Elder Cum
minis cleared his throat, and in piping voice
said:
''You must excuse Deacon Flint, our com.
ing on such day, but we thought it best
that some explanations should be made be-
fore our people again gather for eveing ser
Weep
"Oh, know what you mean, guess, Ell
der Cummins, you want to know why kept
yesterday for Sunday, instead of to-day, dom
you? Well, the fact was, the deacon was
away, and made miscount of the DAYS
somehow, was so busy settling, and so yes
terday was my Sunday, though 1 was in bee
all day with sick headache, and so didn't
find out my mistake at all. Then, wasn't il
funny? got up at five this morning, and
went to washing, thinking it was Monday
and T got all through before the Deacon
came home; declare, I've laughed SO abou
it l fairly ache,' and the little feminine of
fender laughed again and so contagiously tina
the three laughed with her.
of the day, Pm sure the Lord has forgiven
| me for il. and she smiled so Sweetlv they