The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1875-03-04

! through q crack IN the door anu sAs
iIer - went 70 tue Deacon's
often after that, bat he never could get
chance to talk to her alone.
One night, when none of the family
were at prSyer-meeting but her and
the Deacon, he undertook to go home
with her alone, but before they had
gone two squares the Deacon came
putting up to them, and talked "new
pulpit until they reached the gate.
By the last OfSeptember, the minis
ter, like everything else, had ceased
to be new. Martha Jamison had tried
to get him, but failed; Amarantha
Peabody had tried, and failed; Fannie
Gauss had tried, and failed, and he
was looked upon as belonging solely
to "the church."
But he was not the church's. He
was not his own. Next to the Master
be loved and served, he belonged to
Melissa Perry. But he did not know
it then
One bright October day the knowI-
edge came to him with its burdens Of
sweet hopes and fears. Would Melissa
take what belonged to her, he wonder
ed. How could he ever find out? The
Lord, through tine mouth of Johnny
0sgood told him how.
One morning he went to the wild
owls and stayed with the minister un-
til the clock struck twelve, when be
caught up his hat and started for
home.
"Stay and eat dinner with me john
n.y." said the minister.
"I can't,n said Johnny. 81 have to
git. have TO wipe the dinner dish
er for Melissa, she's gOin' to the butter
woman's this afternoon. Why DON'T
you go and see her ?"
"I WILL" said the minister.
Johnny meant the butter-woman,
| but the minister meant Melissa.
He went to the butteT-woman's (she
was a member of his church, and had
been there an hour when Melissa
came. She wore dark calico dress
and carried bright tin pail on her
arm. On her way out of the house Gt
was more than a mile from the town,
she saw little bunch of scarlet ber-
ries lying in the road. There was no
bush near them they were alone in
their warm, bright beauty, and she
picked them up and fastened them in
her dress at the neck, wondering
Il G1CI SdLDC II lilC
minister had often wondered where
she came from. The minister saw the
berries and he forgot whether her dress
was a calico or not.
After she had purchased the butter
she took the tin pail on her arm again
and went out at the kitchen door.
The minister saw her go and he went
out the front door and soon overlook
her, and insisted on carrying the pail.
They talked in q general way until
they reached bit of woods through
which they had to go, and then he
persuaded her to sit down by him on
an old log and rest. Something
haps it was the bright day or the in
dependent autumn air-made her for
get that she was Deacon Osgood's
''help," and she talked unrestrainedly
and with an intelligence that suTpris-
ed him. At last with delicate tact be
led her to talk about herself, and she
told him how her parents were both
buried on one day, leaving her penni-
less and friendless, and how she had
been bound to Deacon Osgood until
she was eighteen years old.
''They are kind to you, are they
not ?'' ne asked. .
"Yes, they are kind, bugn-and she
stopped abruptly.
'iBut what? Tell me all about it,"
he said encouragingly.
"They do not care for me,n she an
swered with great tears in her violet
eyes. "They do not love me-and
| nothing can live without love and
care" she added.
The minister's heart was swelling
under his coat, but he kept very calm.
"How old are you," ne asked, quiet
~.
III am nineteen.U
"Why not leave them ? you are not
obliged to stay"
"I have no home, no place to go
tor she answered sadly.
"COme to me-" said the minister.
She looked at him wonderiGgly a
moment, then she understood and
went to him.
When she lifted her head from its
nest in its gray coat, her eyes were
glowing, and the sweet, pale face
was beautified, transfguIed.
"Where did you get that bunch Of
berries %' he asked, touching it caress-
ingly, as little stream of sunlight
looked through an opening in the
trees aud feasted a moment on its
warmth and brightness. ~
~ found it lying alone in the road
and 1 took it up-ss' you have taken
me,n she answered softly. FH
The bright tints that were gather
ing in the west warned her that sup
4 per-time was approaching, ahd the
minister took the pail of butter from
its resting place at the end of the log.
and they were soon at the -Deacon's
gate. The Deacon was in the barn.
yard feeding fowls, and the minister
went out there. Melissa went to the
kitchen. Johnny sat on the steps
with a piece of apple pie in his hand
and she bent down and softly kissed
his brown cheeks. II z..-..
"HaVe you been cpurEn', Mclis-
sa ?'' he asked, looking at her won
deringly. 'I bet you have, cause
your eyes look just like Della's when
TEN Higgs comes to see her.n
Melissa laughed and went into the
house. ..es-7
"How are you, Mr. RidgeIy,n said
the Deacon, as the minister entered
the barn-yard. SIT has been a fine
day, sir, very fine day. How is the
new pulpit getting on ?''
az have not been in the church to-
day." answered the minister almost
impatiently. "I came to ask Deacon,
I-that is tOspeak to you about Miss
Perry"
"About Melissa ?'' asked the Daa-
con in surprise.
"About Melissa answered the
minister
"Mr. Ridgely, said the Deacon, with
a lengthening face. al have tried 20
do my duty by that girl. 1 pray for
her morning and night at family wOr-
ship, and have several times prayed
for her more than three-quarters OF
an hour at time. 1 never let Sun
day pass without speaking to her
about the concerns of her soul, and
vet she remains Indifferent. She is
growing hardened, and lately have
noticed"
f'You have noticed nothing of the
kind" interrupted the minister. He
then said abruptly .sDeacon. haze
asked Miss Perry to be my wife, and
she has been a member Of your fami-
| ily for several years, / feel that it is
my duty to scquaint you"
IsYour wife ir exclaimed the aston
iished Deacon. 1Why, Mr.. RidgeIy,
she is my help, my bound girl %
''She is the daughter of the lste
Maxwell Perry" said the minister,
quietly.
HBut. sir, what will the church
say T'
81 really do not know" answered
the minister, in tone that meant 81
Il really do not caren
"She is from a good family,D con-
tinued the deacon, "but she Is not a
church member, and fear the con-
/ gregation-"
81 have Thought of accepting q cali
from the Bloomington church," said
the minister slyly.
sob. no, 10 :" cried the alarmed
Deacon, t'you must not think of leav-
ing US, Mr.. Ridgely. The church has
never been in so prosperous a cOndi-
ton, spiritually and temporarily.
, Don'tspeak Of leaving US, Mr. Ridgely.
AS to your marrying Melisss, L am
perfectly willing. 1 only thought