Middletown transcript., 1873-09-20

for six months. Then somebody made
the shocking discovery that tho Wilmots
didn't own sny silvcr--to speak of--and
hadn't any mice Dishes" and most dread
full Of all. ate mush for breakfast. and had
invariably but Eve small biscuit for sup
per. no matter how large tho family was.
And, to crown 81, MIR. Wilmot absolute
ly refused To discharge an old and tried
servant. when hs knew one or two Of the
"leaIiug" members desired him to. on nc.
conn, Of sono personal spite they had
against her.
This was the beginning Of the end
Mr. Wilmot's antcccdcn,s we're hunted up,
tho "spccks' magniicd in manner tha,
put to blush the mos, powerful triumph Of
microscopic art. and blazoned abroad with
zeal worthy Of n better cause. ln ad-
dition, new causes Of offence sprung up
Wilmot fra,crnixcd with the wood.sawycr.
and actually stopped on the street to
speak will, him Instead Of taking up
with the wealthy members Of the parish.
he visited the sick, and destitute. and af-
aicted-always with words Of hope and
cheer. aud where it was needed with
more substantial aid. Theoretically. the
Thorndale parish believed a minister
should visit the widow and the father
less"--prac,icnlly. they preferred i,should
not be their minister. And so one day
Mr.. Wilmot sen, in his resignation. aud
went the way of his predecessors.
For the next eighteen months tic
Thorndale parish "candilatcd' to its
hearts content think | have mention
ed that it was not easy to suit, particular
ly as whole, and So long before tue
opening Of this story. they were cut up
into clilucs and divisions. each favoring
some particular Paul or Apollo, which
the others as promptly rcpudia'cd And
when at last. with a considerable degree
Of uuanimi,y, they decided on Francis
the parish aud out who Eel, secret sense
Of commisera,ion for the young. untried
man. who had--wi,h no small amount Of
heroism. think decided To risk his fate
where his older and more experienced
brothers bad failed,
And this brings me to the beginning
proper OF my story Mr.. Bradford had
been duly called. and installed. and had
begun his labors in Thorudalc, under Gas
one Of the committee frlicitously observed
in little Introductory speech ut the con.
veniional parish party which Thorndale
always gave its new ministcra) 3" the
most favorable and encouraging auspices :"
Perhaps had better state at once ha,
Mr. bradford was a single man This
was indeed n new feature in the expert.
encc Of the paii,h aud. in certain quar-.
."rs. semewha, exhilarating one | was
reading the other day the calculation. Of
nu English divine--bascd on the number
Of COMMITMENTS, in which the relative
numbers Of men aud women in heaven
were computed to be twelve women 10 one
man---a powerful acknowledgements Of the
superiority OF women in goodness, by the
way After the advent Of Mr. Bradford.
the Thnrndnle frs, parish congregation
wern madc up Of very nearly that proper
tim of male aud female attendants The
society had been falling oH for III. as,
year. hut nov every scat wa. occupied.
aud mare than a seofe of yonng mics.
who had long since l,ft the Sunday sehnul
because they were too old. became Sc
riously impressed With the Lcsnis aud
worth Of that institution. aud has,,ned Ia
show their fifth by their works, the more
particularly when Mr. Bradford announced
lha, he should give the school his cons,au,
attention.
PLENTY Of company. now. Ruthie, :
sail Deacon Stone, with an odd smile. us
l. 1,
Clifton. slipped her arm through his, the
better to guide the almost bli.ld old man
through tha pleasant meadow path that
led from the rear Of the church to tho
quaint old homestead where these two
dwrlt alone
why, yes. grandfather" she replied
with innocent enthusiasm. "nll the girl.
are joining the school again am SO
/ glad And. beside, it will be cncoura.
eing to the new minister; know he fell
disappointed the frs, time hs came into
the schaol, he looked so gravcly abou, Al
the empty scais. and asked If only chill
dren attended this school :"
And quite ignored my little woman
did he 7" the old man asked with pre-
tcnce Of anger.
20, no, indeed that il he didn
mind me at all it's no, likely he should.
she explained, eagerly. Il am no, /
very noticeable person. nnd--and | don
really think MIR Bradford has ever seer
me yet." she added, with fan, blush
Il came pas, Lucia May and Della War
ner when left the ves,ry to-day. ,alkin,
with him at the library door. bu. | don
think any Of them saw me Then viii
a little laugh. you are not the onl,
blind person in the pari.h. grandfather.
Il know il. dcar. know it," he sal,
soberly but I'd rather have a clca
conscience aud spirit Of humility thai
all their fine things Man judgr,h from
appearances. but God lookeib at th
heart Always remember that. dear. ant
trus. him for tho rest"
But. grandfather. | was mot com
/ rtusn,ru ~ cha sutopruntad .s0f nennl,