The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1873-05-27

be accepted on as extensive collaterals as
he could exact. Oh,why did people ever
iorsake the simple raimcnt of their FORE
fathers, and robe themselves in garments
grevious in price, and stumbling blocks in
the paths Of their fellowmen
But sleep failed even to follow this
pious reflection. Supposc-only suppose,
OF course--that he were to give--lend that
is-lcnd Hay money enough to dress his
family fit for church-think what terri
bic lot Of money it would take! A CON-
mon neat suit for man would cost at
least thirty dollars, an overcoat nearly
twice as much suit, cloak and other
necessities for his wife would amount to
as much more, and the chldren-oh, the
thing could not be done for less than two
hundred and fifty dollars. OF course it
was entirely out of the question-he had
only wondered what it would cost-that
was all.
Still no sleep lie wished he hadn't
spoken with Hay about his soul-next
time he would mind his own business.
He wished he hadn't employed Hay. lie
wished the meeting for consideration Of
the impenitent had never taken place.
No man can come to me except the Fa.
ther which sent me draw him"-he wish
ed he had remembered the passage, and
quoted it at the meeting-it was no light
matter to interfere with the Almighty
plans.
Blessed are the merciful, for they
shall obtain mercy Hah Could that
carpenter De in the rom, disarranging
his train Of thought with such-such tan.
talizing texts ? They kept him awake,
and at this time Of life restless night
was serious matter. Suppose--
Very early the next morning the vii.
lage doctor, returning from patient S
bedside, met the Deacon with face
which suggested 20 him (the doctor was
pious and imaginative) Abraham on
Mount Moriah." The village butcher,
more practical, hailed the good man,
and informed him he was in time for q
fine steak, but the Deacon shook his head
in agony, and passed on. He neared the
carpenters house, stopped, tottered, and
looked over his shoulder as if intending
to run at length he made his way be.
hind the house, where Hay was chopping
lire-wood-the carpenter saw him, and
turned pale-he feared the Deacon had
found cheaper labor, and had como tc
give him warning.
George said the Deacon, I've been
doin' a heap of thnkin' bout what VIC
talked yesterday. I've come to say that
if you like I'll lend you three hundred
dollars fur as long as yev mind, without
a note. security or intrest, you to spend
as much Of it ez ye need to dress you an
yer null family in Sunday clothes, and
put the balance in the Savings Bank, al
interest, to go on doin' the same wheu
necessary. An all of ye to go to church
when ye feel so disposed, An eff nobody
else's pew door opens, yer alus welcome
to mine. And may the Lord'-the Dea
con finished the sentence to himself
have mercy on my SOUL Then he said
aloud
'IhntS all
The carpenter at the boglnnlng oil tnt
beginning Of the Deacon's speech, haC
dropped his ak, to the imminent danger
Of one of his feet. AS the Deacon con
tipued, the carpenter dropped his head tt
one side, raised one eyebrow inquiringy
and awaited the conditions. But wher
the Deacon said That's ALL George Hay
seized the Dcacon's hard old hand, CAV,
a grasp which brought agonized tears tt
the eyes of its venerable owner, and ey
claimed
Deacon, Gods people are reformin'
The Deacon staggered little-he ha,
not thought Of it in that light before.
Deacon, that money'll do more goo,
than all the prayin' ye ever done *
cuse mel must tell Mary and the car
penter dashed into the house. Had Mrs
Hay respected dramatic proprieties, sh
would have made the Deacon nea
speech but the truth is, she regarde
him from behind the window.blind, an
wiped her eyes with the corner of he
apron, seeing which the Deacon starte
abruptly for home, making less use of hi
cane than he had done in any day 70
years.
1t is grievous to relate-but truth
mighty-that within fortnight the goo
Deacon repented Of his generous actio
at least fifty times. He would die 10 tn
poor-house if he were SO extravagar
again, Three hundred dollars was mol
than the ow.shed-lumber, shingle
!, nails, labor and all-would cost. SUI
pose Hay should take the money and z
,, West? Suppose he should take to drinl
ing, and spend it all for liquor?
One suspicion after another torture
the poor man until he grew thin an
nervous. But on the second Sunday ha'
: ing satisfied himself that Hay was
: town, spber, the day before, he had bee
: to the city and brought back bundles, an
that he (the Deacon) had seldom been
the street without meeting one of Hay
children with paper of hooks and ey
and spool OF thread, the Deacon st
', toned himself in one of his own fro
windows, and brought his spectacles
!, bear on Hays door, little distance o
u The first bell had rung, apparently ,hou
d before, yet no one uppeared-could it
g that he had basely sneaked to the city
q night and pawned everything? No
l. the door opened-there they came
:, couldn't be yes, it was-well, he new
!. imagined Hay and his wife were so fl
81 looking couple They came nearer al
the Deacon, forgetting his cane, hobb
ID ID hurriedly to church, entered his pew al
- left the door wide open. He waited lor
le it seemed to him, but they did not con
y lie looked around impatiently, and the
~ oh, JOY and wonder the President
u pawkin Savings Institution had invit
~ the whole family into his pew j,
10 then the congregation rose to sing I
C. hu,.,n annnp,nnninr