The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1875-03-10
DEACON OsGOOD's HELP,


For the sun viii shine tomorrow,
And God win aid the right.
DEACON OSGOOD'S HELP.
BY MARY b. COLBY.
The new minister was spending
the afternoon at Deacon 0sgood's.
He came to LyntOn, small town in
Pennsylvania, in February. and now
it was June, and this was the first af-
ternoon be had spent with the Dea-
con and his family.
Della 0sgood Looked very pretty
ia a drab mOhair with a tiny bou-
quet of violets at her throat, and
Mrs. 0sgood looked very motherly
and pleasant in her black alpaca and
ruffied white apron, and Johnnie 0s-
good (age fve) tried to look as a dea-
cons son should, and the minister
ought to have passed a very pleas
ant afternoon there, bat be did not.
The first Sunday he preached in
Lynton, and every Sunday since, be
had seen some one in the Deacon's
pew whom be did not see in the
Deaeon's parlor She was q young
woman with sad eyes and a face
whereOn he had never seen a smile.
He had tried all the afternoon to End
out who she was. without seeming
curious, Che was young and pnmar-
ried, you know and had failed. This
was the reason Yhy he had not en-
joyed bis visit as well as be ought to
have done.
At five O'Clock, Mrs. 0sgood left
the room, and very sooa after called
Della out to help her get tea, and
the minister was alone with little
Johnnie
so you are Johnnie Osgood, are
your said the minister to him,
Wont you come here and see me?n
81 can see you from here, answer
ed Johnnie.
i hope you are good little boy?"
said the minister smiling. you
ought to be, for you have a good
father and mother. Dou't you think
so?n
"0h, l don't know. want to run
away, but they won't let me. NV
papa talks as if be never was little
hoy. What do you think? This af-
ternoen fore you come, he told me
if ] said bully while you was here
he'd fog me. Was YOU ever little
boy?"
"Oh, yes, answered the minister.
Amt my sister Della pretty
thought" was the next question.
VERY" said the minister.
But she's the dumbest thing! Tie
other night | wanted her to do my
sums in division for me, and she
couldn't do one of 'em do you b'lieve.
| made Melissa do 'em."
"Wbo is Melissa,
Why, she's our help. fou'ye
seen her. She sits in our seat at
church, next to Pap. There's the
ball, I'm agOing to get" and Johanie
disappeared through toe open door,
and was not seen again until after
the blessing was asked at the WELL
filled table.
After tea the Deacon turned to the
minister and said;
Mr. Ridgely, it is our custom to
have family worship Immediately af-
ter tea. ] shall be glad to have you
conduct it to night"
The minister assented, and the
Deacon raised bis voice and called;
"Melissag"
Just then Johnnie was seen going
slyly to the window.
"Johnnie!' said his mother, re-
provingly.
"JOhn!" said his father steFnIy,
where are yog going, sir!" =
"Iim going to get" answered
Johnnie, as be slid quickly out of the
window, and rolled over on the
fresh, green grass. Thep. Melissa
entered, and the Deacon introduced
der to the minister.
Mr. Ridgely," he said "this is our
-ahem,-this is Melissa Perry,
Melissa, this is Mr.. Ridgely."
The minister held the little hard
brown hand in his q moment and
locked at the sweet, pale face, meek.
like the masters and as clearly pale
as white morning-glory, and into
the sad blue eyes. Then be motion.
ed her to a ehair next to him, and
opened the Bible. lie read q few
verses Of one of the sweet old chap
ters," and then they sang a hymn.
Melissa did not stag. She sat very
sllll and listened, but she only heard
two lines:
Breathe. oh, breathe thy living splTi;
Into every troubled breast"
The minister prayed, aud when
they rose frOtn their knees, the room
was dusky with shadows, hat he was
certain thst there were tears on
Melissa's cheeks. and somehow bis
heart ached for her.
"Sarely they treat her kindly?" he
thought as they went from the din
ing room to the palor; "they are a
Christian family" Tie was puzzled,
and when a few moments later he
heard the rattling Of china and glass
in tbe ue3t room, be inyoluntarily
fgIanced at nells's hands; they were
too white, too soft, to be pretty, be
thought,
Melissa cleared the table in the
dark and went quietly all the while.
Poor child, she was so disappointed.
She had been in little tremor Of
happiness all the morning, for she
thought Mrs. Osgood would certain
IL invite her 'iRtOrtbe parlor, q few
; moments to get acquainted with the
t,..;,;star end after dinner she raDt