The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1875-04-30
DEACON OSG00D'S HELP.
BY MARY II. COLBY.

| Hloudir WllH u tlHy DOuQuet OF NlOletS NJ ncr
throat, and Mrs Osgood looked very moth
erly and pleasant in her black alpaca and
ruiiled white apron, and Johnnie Osgood
| (age five tried to look as deacon's son
should, and the minister ought to have pass
ed a very pleasant afternoon there, but he
did not.
The first Sunday he preached in Lynton,
and every Sunday SINCE he had seen some
one in the Deacon's pew whom he did not
see in the Deacon's parlor. She was young
woman with sad eyes and face whereon he
had never seen smile. He had tried all
the afternoon to find out who she was, with
out seeming curious, (he was young and un-
married, you know and had failed. This
was why he had not enjoyed his visit as we'll
ss he ought to have done.
At five o'clock Mrs. Osgood left the room,
and soon after called Della out to help her
get tea, and the minister was alone with
Johnnie.
$50 you are Johnnie Osgood, are your"
said the minister TO him, "Won't you come
here and see met"
~ can see you from here" answered
Johnnie.
81 hope you are a good little boy ?" said
the minister smiling. "You ought to be,
for you have good father and mother.
Don't you think so?"
ooh, don't know. want to run away,
but they won't let me. My pap talks as if
he never was little boy. What do you
think? This afternoon fore you come, he
told me if ! said bully while you was here
he'd flog me. Was you ever little boy ?"
"Oh, yes answered the minister.
"Ain't my sister Della pretty though 2"
was his next question.
Every" said the minister.
"Dut she's the dumbest thing The other
night | wanted her to do my sums in diyi-
sion for me, and she couldn't do one of EN-,
do you b'lieve. | made Melissa 90 EN-
| "Who is Melissa?'
"Why, she'4 our help. You've seen her
She sits in our seat in church, next to pap.
There's the bell, I'm going to get" and
Johnnie disappeared through the open door,
and was not seen again until after the bless
ing was asked at the well-fllcd table.
After tea the Deacon turned to the minis
ter and said
"Mr Ridgely, it is our custom to have
family worship Immediately after tea.
shall be glad to have you conduct it to-
night"
The minister assented, and the Deacon
raised h is voice and called
melissa ~
Just then Johnnie was seen going sly)y to
the window
"Johnnie.' y said his mother, reprovingly.
"John," said his father, sternly, "where
are you going sir?"
"Im a going to get" answered Johnnie
as he slid quickly out of the window aud
rolled over on the fresh, green grass. Then
Melissa entered, and the Deacon introduced
her to the minister.
"Mr. Ridgely," he said, "this is our
ahem this is Miss Melissa Perry, Melissa
this is Mr.. Ridgely."
The minister held the little hard brown
hand in his moment and looked at the
sweet, pale face, meek, like the masters,
and as clearly pale as a white morning
glory, and into the sad blue eyes. Then he
motioned her to 4 chair next to him, and
opened the Bible. He read few verses of
one of the "sweet old chapters" and then
they sang a hymn. Melissa did not sing.
She sat very still and listened, but she heard
only two lines:
| breathe, Oh breathe thy living spirit
| Into every troubled breast
Then the minister prayed, and when they
rose from their knees, the room Was dusky
with shadows, but he was certain that there
were tears on Melissa's cheeks, and some
how his heart ached for her,
''Surely they treat her kindly" he
thought a. they went from the dining. room
to the parlor; "they are a christian family"
He was puzzled, and when few moments
later he heard the rafting of china and
glass in the next room, he inYoluntariiy
glanced at Della's hands; they were too
white, too soft, to he pretty, he thought,
Melissa cleared the table in the dark and
vert quietly all the while. Poor child she
was 50 disappointed. She had been in "a
little tremor OF happiness all the morning,
for she thought Mrs. Osgood would certainly
invite her into the parlor few moments to
get acquainted with the minister, and after
dinner she went to her room aud put Oh a
delicate lilac muslin dress, with a tiny lace
frll, in the neck and sleeves; but at three
o'clock Mrs, Osgood came into the kitchen
and told her to go and put on a dark calico
for she must mix biscuits for supper, and she
would spoil the muslin OF course there
was no parlor for her after that, and she was
rather surprised when they called her in to
prayers.
While she was washing the dishes John
ME came stealing into the kitchen on tip,
toe.
care they through praying, Melissa
What you crying 'bouts Did you break 4
dish ?"
"No, Johnnie" she answered.
"Did you burn your finger, them" h,
f asked anxiously, with his fat little face up
turned to hers. "lf you did I'll wash tn,
dishes, every one of 'em and you can wip,
+ 'em, Melissa
She declined his offer of help, but he staiC
with her until the minister went away an,
by steady coaxing found out the reason VIII!
, she wept,
Mr., Ridgely walked slowly home from tn
Deacon's, lie boarded with an aged widow
, and he knew by the dim light burning il
, the parlor when he reached there, that sh
, had retired lie was too restless to study o
to sleep, so he walked up and down the ltt
garden in the starlight, with his hands clasp
, ed behind him in the style peculiar to minis
ters in thought, There were great man,
roses blooming in the widows garden. Tn