Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1873-07-01

The wee woman went singing back 10
her half washed dinner dishes, and with
one foot on the the cradle rocker, she
secured the knives, while she told the
story of Jack and Gill" to the twins.
When the last kettle was washed, the
kitchen stove and table brushed aud
secured TO the usual shade OF black and
white, the baby asleep in her little nest of
a cradle, "bless her :" she washed the
pretty twin faces till they blushed like red
peppers. then settled them in their rundlc
bed for nap.
Dear little woman she did look so
tired Is she came out from the bedroom,
aud stopped to brush lly from uuder the
mosquito 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
ii any one should come woudn't spoil
the DeacOns reputation" she said to her
self. going up to the little glass that
huug between the kitchen windows.
Just then 4 gem OF sunbeam flashed
in al the window. aud seemed TO tangle
itself up in the wavy brown hair.
"Oh, how pretty !" she said with n
blush and laugh like child's. "Guess
if somsbody'd been at home I'd had kiss
them" and of she few 20 her work.
How like magic the white curtains
went up and the cobwebs came down !;
how the restroom looking glass shone
after polishing. and the old dsguerreO-
/ type of Samuel in his best days" never
shone through so clean a surface as il did
that day. So the Time hew. bringing the
I Dcacoa's return nearer.
One morning she wakened early, cn.
tiiely free from wretched headache she
had the day before. Now for the wash
ing she said to herself II want TO
have il all done. the kitchen cleaned uf
and my dress changed before Samuel
comes at noon.
Quietly dressing 50 rs not 10 awaken the
children. she slipped out into the kitchen.
built fire, and commenced operations.
How she did work every step told OF
something done, and at halt past ten,
spite of all her hindrances from baby,
who Was cross. she was hanging out the
clothes SO snowy white they dazzled her
eyes as the sun shone on them. One end
OF the clothes line run nearly out 10 the
front fence through the side yard, and the
wh,es,. incest clothes were hung there,
OF course.
How many people are passing" she
thought to herself, land how they all
stare at mc. guess it must be the clothes,
though. instead OF me" and She tendcriy
pinned the rear of one O, the Deacon's
shirts to the liue "llaIA! WAS that tue
front gate 2" Before she had time 10 turn
around. the Deacon's energetic strides
had brought him close to her; but what
vas the matter.
Martha - Pendleton-Flint" he cX.
claimed, what in the world arc you do
ing? Come straight into the house
With look that deicS description, the
lJtle body s,raigb;eued itself up as high
as il would 90, rs she said, Not till you
speak to me different from that. Samuel,
and tell me why her lip quivcrius.
Don't you see the people all goin To
meeting. and you hangin' out shirts ?
Its Sunday morning
Such laugh a. rang out then on the
Sunday air, I'm sure the good people OF
/ c. never heard before. "Oh. Samuel"
she said, holding her side. "t's so funny
no wonder the folks stared at me and my
clothes. oh, Oh. Oh" and she sank
down on the grass in convulsion OF
laughter.
The poor Deacon WAS scandalized!
Martha he said in such an anxious
tone she only laughed the more. and it
was not till she looked up in his face that
she realize how he was touched; then
she stood up. soberly. aud walked into
/ the house with him.
The door closed behind them, she went
up 10 him with little caress, and said;
Samuel kiss and forgive me. aud I'll 90
to work and rayel it ell out. truly
will ~ and she laughed again with the
thought of what she had been guilty,
till the Deacon kissed her. and laughed
too. in spite OF himself Then he walked
10 the window and loked out.
You're not goin' to let them clothes
hang og, 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 sup9hine 10 dry them
with, because it's Sunday, do your Why
it would he wicked to tring them in be.
fore sundown. But sec here Mr.. Deacon.
it's about time called you to account l
think. How came you 10 be travelling
TO- day9 Guess there's little Sunday
breaking on both sides, isn't there %
The Deacon turned slowly around, and
sat down. Then perehing herself on his
knee, she took his honest brown face in
her hands, and said: "Be good boy,
now. and tell me all the iruht; remember
George Washington, dear"
The Deacon smiled, Just a trace oi