The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1875-02-11

Your brothers would be live men again,
And my boy would not be dead.
Perhaps it will all come right at last;
1t may be, when all is done,
We shall be together in some good world
Where to wish and to have are one.
-Harper's Weekly.
DEACON OSGOODS HELP.
BY MARY B. COLBY.
The new minister was spending the af-
noon at Deacon Osgood's. He came to
Lynton, a small town in Pennsylvania,
this was the first afternoon he had spent
with the Deacon and his family.
Della Osgood looked very pretty in a
drab mohair with tiny bouquet of vio-
let's at her throat, and Mrs. Osgood
looked very motherly and pleasant in her
black alpaca and rutfled white apron,
and Johnnie Osgood (aged five) tried to
look as a Deacon's son should, and the
minister ought to have passed very
pleasant afternoon there, but he did not.
The first Sunday he preached in Lyn-
ton and every Sunday since he had seen
some one in the Deacon's pew whom he did
not see in the Deaccn's parlor. She was
young woman with sad eyes and face
wherein he had never seen a smile. He
had tried all the afternoon to find out
who she was without seeming curious
(he was young and unmarried, you know,
and had failed. This was why he had
not enjoyed his visit as we'll as 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.
so you are Johnnie Osgood, are your"
said the minister to him. won't you
come here and see me?"
Johnnie.
Il hope you are a good little boys"
said the minister, smiling. "You ought
to be, for you have good father and
mother. Don't you think so?"
"Oh, l 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 l said
bully while you was here he'd fog me.
Was you ever q little boy:"
"Oh, yes" answered the minister.
"Ain't my sister Della pretty,
thought" was his next question.
Very" said the minister.
But she's the dumbest thing! The
other night l wanted her to do my sums
in division for me, and she couldn't do
one of 'em, do you b'lieve. l made Melis-
sa do EN-"
"Who is Melissa!"
"Why, she's our help. You've seen
her. She sits in our seat in church, next
to pap. There's the bell, I'm agoing to
get" and Johnnie disappeared through
ho door orG mr. 0OoiV
until after the blessing was asked at the
welLtilled table.
After tea the Deacon turned to the min
lister and said:
MIR. Ridgely, it is our custom to have
family worship Immediately after tea. I
shall be glad to have you conduct it to-
night
The minister assented, and the Deacon
raised his voice and called:
" Melissa"
Just then Johnnie was seen going slyly
to the window.
"Johnnier' said his mother, reprov-
ingly.
"John," said his father, sternly,
where are you going, sir?"
I'm going to get" answered Johnnie,
she slid quickly out of the window and
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; Melis-
sa, this is Mr.. Ridgely."
The minister held the little, hard, brown
hand in his a moment and looked at the
sweet, pale face, meek, like the Masters,
and as clearly pale as q white morning
glory, and into the sad blue eyes. Then
70 nntinnol IN a lo3p Tn him
and opened the Bible. He read few
verses Of one of the "sweet old chap
ters," and then they sang q hymn. Me-
lisa did not sing. She sat very still and
listened, but she only heard 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 somehow his heart ached for her.
"Surely they treat her kindly?" he
thought as they went from the dining
room to the parlor; they are q Christian
family" He was puzzled, and when a
few moments later he heard the rafting
of china and glass in the next room he
involuntarily glanced ct Della's hands;
they were too white, too soft, to be pref
ty, he thought.
Melissa cleared the table in the dark
and wept 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. o.
good would certainly invite her into the
parlor few moments to get acquainted
with the minister, and after dinner she
went to her room and put on delicate
lilac muslin dress with q tiny
lace frill in the neck and sleeves;
but at three o'clock Mrs. Osgood
came into the kitchen and told her to 70
and put on . 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 VIXEN they called her in
to prayers.
While she was washing the dishes
Johnnie came stealing into the kitchen
on tiptOe.
What you crying bout! Did you break
Johnnie sympathized with anyone Who
was SO unfortunate 9 to break : dish.
He had broken one or two himself.
"No, Johnnie" she answered.
Ibid you burn your finger, then3r he
asked anxiously, with his let little face
urturned to hers II you did III wash
the dishes, every one Of 'em, and you
can wipe 'em, Melissa"
She declined his offer of help. but he
stayed with her until the minister went
away and by steady coaxin9 found out
the reason why she wcpt.
Ar. Mdgely wslked siowly homo from