Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-01-08
"a TROUBLED NIGHT.

Some few aUtumns ago the rector of a
little seaside parish sat coming his books
in the quiet Of his own study.
1t was a wild October evening, the wind
twirling and rushing up the short drive
tnat lay between the frontdOOr of the
house and the gate in the shrubbery
which divided the grounds from the high
road; dashes of rain beat against the win
dow; and underlying all came the faint,
monOtOnOus break Of the waves upon the
shore, some half mile distant.
Mr. Ferguson was puzzled over his
work bothered by it, in fact; finally, be
sought assistance Of the inferior order of
ereatiOn-to wit, his wife, who sat opposite
to him busily knitting children's socks.
'Kate!" he calculated, in an injured
tone
''Well, 'Johng"
The knitting-needles kept going, though
the plier thereof moved to her husbands
side, and stopped to glance at what
troubled him.
"1hese accounts are q frightful nuis-
ance | wish | had never undertaken
such a piece of business; it's no end of
work for me, and not half dozen of the
people will thank me for it, after ALL"
Mr. Ferguson perfectly reveled in all
sorts of parish work. "Clubs, schools,
feasts, fasts, and festivals" : nothing
came amiss to him if he thought he saw
his tlOck's welfare furthered thereby; but
he was man who delighted in a good
hearty gTumble now and then, and his
wife, understanding such moods well, al
ways found it an excellent plan to treat
them homeopathiCally SO tonight she
proceeded on her usual tactics.
"Suppose you shut the books up, John,
and let us chat for an hour. You'll be
sure to make your head ache, and then
you won't sleep properly, if you go on.
The people won't be coming up for their
money before Thursday or Friday, and
this is only Monday"
The people a05U be coming up for their
money, you most procrastinating woman"
answered the husband. Suppose you
were to help me, now, instead Of going
on with that eternal knitting. We might
manage this between US, and have the
gossip you are longing for afterward.
Now, then, who is Simeon Green-the
one on the Common! And did he have
his money out in April to buy pig?
Non we shall get on, perhapsr'
The knitting vanished, and the pair
were sOoned immersed in club accounts,
Mrs Fergusson's capital memory supple
accounts admirably. An hours work
brought them to the end of their labors
and Mr.. Ferguson, on going to a large
old-fashiOned desk, and drawing therefrOm
three canvas bags full of gold and silver,
had the satisfaction of finding the sum
they contained Tailed exactly with what
was required to pay all the depOsitors in
the club their proper amounts.
Il shall be glad when we get rid of it,
he said, as he replaced the bags 81 am
so unused to having such sum as $40 in
the house that don't feel quite safe with
it. It's to be hoped we shall never be
rich, Kate I've been accustomed to $500
year so long now that | should feel out
of my element with larger income"
When the day was done, and the two
children were asleep, they talked of their
parish, their church, their home, and their
children, and of what a terrible rough
night was coming on.
"By-thc-bye, was not Sarah to come
home tonight" asked the husband.
mot till tomorrow; she wanted one
more day to see sailor brother who was
coming home. l think, if you don't mind
John, | shall not keep Sarah longer than
Christmas / cont like some of her
ways"
"Then, my dear, it's your duty to try
and improve them. You took the girl
out Of charity; don't give her up in q
hurry"
I'm not in hurry, indeed; it is quite
two months since ] found her reading a
letter of mine, which | left open on the
table, and that's not pleasant habit for a
servant to have, is it, l talked to her
kindly, but | believe she does the same
~ 81 -,
chance
''Then don't give her the chance, Kate.
You never find me leaving ma letters
about cob, John !'); "or if do, they are
such as are not OF the least consequence.
As a matter of course, servants are inquis-
tive, women-servants particularly; their
mistreSseS are not half careful enough in
guarding against this natural curiosity,
and then all the blame falls on the servant.
Women are SO nnreasonablep
Disregarding the unciyil comment on
her sex, Mrs. FERGUSON went on.
Il did not know so we'll when ! engaged
Sarah what y bad character her flmily
bore; one brother has been in prison
twice"
"All the more reason for keeping this
girl safe from evil influence. l hope
Who's that, | wOnder?''
A heavy step passed the window, follow
ed by a ring at the hall bell. Mrs. Fer
gusson opened the study door as Jane,
their steady elder servant passed down
the stairs, candle in hand
.'Tve been sitting by Miss Rosie,
ma'am; she seems feverish like and rest
less: and [ like being with her better
than sittin' all alone in the kitchen"
~ wonder if that's Sarah come home
tonight instead of tomorrow" said her
mistress.
"Lawk, no, ma'am, not likely" answer
ed Jane; "but We'll soon see who it is y
and pulling away the chain from the
door, She opened it, disclosing mans
figure without. He was dripping. wet,
and had to hold his hat on with one hand
or the wind would have driven 1t far
away; the other hand he extended with
large, damp, yellow envelop therein. "A
teiegraft!' cried Jane, taking the mlsslve
from him and passing 1t on to her mis-