The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1874-01-17
a TROUBLED NIGHT.

Some few autumns ago the rector of lirtl'
seaside parish sat coming his books In The
quiet OF his own study.
1t was wild October evening the wind
twirling and rushing up the short drive that
lay between the front door Of the house and
the gate in the shrubbery which divided the
grounds from the high road: dashcs of rain
beat against the window; and underlying al
came the faint, monotonous break Of the
waves upon the seashore, some half mile dis
tant
Mr.. Ferguson was puzzled over his work
bothered by it, in fact; finally, he sought as
sistance of the inferior order Of crcatiOn-to-
wit, who sat opposite to him, busily knitting
Childrens socks,
Kate" he suddenly calculated, in an IN.
jured tone.
"Well, John?"
The knittingnccdlcs kept going, though
the pllcr thereof moved to her husbands
side and stopped to glance ut what troubled
him.
"Thcse accounts are !righttu nuisance
! wish | had never undertaken such piece
of business; it's no end of work for me- anG
not half II dozen Of the people will thank mt
for it, after all.'
Mr.. Ferguson perfectly rcvcled in all sort.
OF parish work. CLUBS, schools, tcasts fasts
and notwithstanding came amisS to him il
he thought he saw his nock's interests iurh
cred thereby; but he was man who delight
ed in good hearty grumblc now and then
and his wife, understanding such moods well
always found it an excellent plan to trea
them homeopathiCally so tonight she pro
cecded on her usual tactics
Suppose you shut the books up, John and
let US chat for an hour You'll be sure tc
make your head ache, and then you won't
sleep properly if You 90 on. The people
won't be coming up for their money before
Thursday or Friday and this is only Monday
you know
"The people uW be coming up for then
money, you most proCrastinating woman,
answered the husband Suppose YOU wer,
to help me, now, instead of going on will
that eternal knitting. We might manage thi
between us and have the gossip you arr
longing for aflcrward. Now then, who i,
Simon GrcCn--thc one on the Common? Anl
did he have his money out in April to buy q
pig? Nor, then, we shall get on very well
perhaps!n
The knitting vanished, and the pair were
soon immersed In club accounts Mrs. Fergus
sons capital memory experimenting the rec
tors rather careless kept accounts admirably
IN hours work brought them 10 the end of
their labors add Mr.. FERGUSON, on going to
large, Old fashioned desk, and drawing
thcrctgom TIN e canvass bags full of gold and
silver, had Ic satisfaction Of finding the
sum they co lined tailed exactly with what
was require o pay all,thc deposiIorS in the
club their per amounts
81 shall dad when we get i'd of It," he
aid, as H. placed the bags. 81 am so I'M
used 10 hg, such a sum rs go in the house
that dobH cl quite safe with it. It's to be
hoped We ull never be rich, Kate. I've
been accustomed to 600 year so long now
that ! should feel out of my element with
larger income"
When the day was done, and the two chill,
drcn were asleep, they talked of their parish,
their church, their home, and their children,
and Of Wha, terrible rough night was com.
ing on
"By-lhc-by wasn't Sarah to come home to-
night2' asked the husband
Not till tomorrow; she wanted one more
day 10 see sailor brother who was coming
home. | think, if you don't mind, John,
shall not keep Sarah longer than Christmas
/ don't like some Of her ways"
Then, my dear, it's your duty To try and
improve them You took the girl out Cf.
charity; don't give her up in sucn great
hurry"
u IN not in hurry indeed; 1t is quite two
months since found her reading letter OF
NINE which left open on the table, and that
is hu' Pheasant habit for II servant to have,
IS NJ l talked To her kindly, but believe
she does the same sort of things still, when
she las a chance
Then don't give her the chance, Kate
on never ind me leaving mn letters about
con, Johh ~ 'or II do they are such H.
are not OF the least consequence Asamattcr|
Of course servants are inquisitvc, woman
servants particularly; their mi,tressr. are
not half careful enough in guarding AGAINST
This natural curiosity, and then all the blame
fall, ON the servant. Women are so unrc,,
Juablcw
Dl-rcgardiug The unciyil comment ON her
sex, Mr., Ferguson went on:
II did not know SO well when engaged
sarah what bad character her family bore
one brother mas been in prison twice"
All the more reason for keeping this gir
safe, from evil influence. hopc-Who's that
] wonder:'
4 heavy step passed the WINDOW FOLLOWED
ny ring at The hall bell. Mrs. Ferguson
nppncd the study door as Jane, their steady
elder servant, passed down the stairs, candl,
IN hand.
I've been suing by Miss Rosie, ma'am
She seems feycrisli like anu restless and
like being with her better than Sit,in' al
alone in the Kitchen
Il wonder If that's Sarah come home tn
nigh, instead of waiting until tomorrow,
sad her mistress.
"Lawk, 10 ma am, not likely answered
Jane; "but we'll soon see who IL is ant
pulling away the chain from the door, sh'
dpened II. disclosing "a mans figure without
He was dripping wet, and had 10 hold hi
hat on with one hand, or the wind woulC