Litchfield enquirer., 1875-05-20


 lngly accusing her of -offciousness, quietly took them out of her hands and restored them to their rightful owner And all this was done so sweetly by the amiable law-giver that neither party could gainsay her, and the mystifed minister actually felt she was sustaining him in his rightful authority. Indeed, he was mor- ally and physically better. happier, and more useful man for the healthy out-of- door employments to which her sagacious administration had subjected him. He dawdled less with his pen, and wrote bet ter when he did write.
 One fine day young Mrs. French called to take the parson out for 8 long drive. ''You will have to let him off to-day, my dear lady," said Mrs. Briant, very sweetly, before the minister had time to accept. ''He has just been telling us he must go into the study and begin his sermon at once; but" she said, as if the sudden thought had just struck her, "why cant you take Lucy with you? it would do hel world of good; and you know. Mir. Hol- land, you said this morning she was look ing pale. Thank you, my dear madam. Run away, Lucy, and get your hat and gloves; will take care of the baby"
 And Lucy, excited by the unwonted en- joyment, and full of eager delight at all she saw, made herself such an engaging little companion that her society was cov- eted in future drives quite as much as her husbands.
 ''Are you going to be at home this af- ternoon, my dear MT. Holland?" asked Mrs. Briant upon another occasion, in her most persuadable tones.
 ''I think so, madamT' replied the son. in-law, who, 1n spite of himself, was al- ways won upon by her gentle, lady-like address. "But why do ask? Is there anything can do for you?
 ''Ohi" laughedhthe sweet, musical voice, ''we are about to confer great and hith- erto unknown honor upon you: we intend to make you keeper of the kings treasure for an hour or two."
 ''I do not understand" said the bewil- dered listener: he did not understand very often, but he rarely owned it.
 ''Lucy and are going out; it is the meeting of the Mothers Mission,' and it is Lucy's turn to preside. She ought to go, of course, as the minister's wife-the lady of the parish. l tell her it is unjust to you for her to shirk her little share of the parish duties. She is bound to up hold your popularity; but, as she has so little experience in cutting out, she wants me to go with her and assist her; and we propose leaving the baby with you. I hope you will appreciate the high trust reposed in you; the little fellow is getting to be so fond of you, am sure he will be as good as little angel-aOiM YOU.
 "Yes, but" faltered the nominee to this high calling, who did not feel half pleased with the honor thus thrust upon him, 'why not leave him with Katie?"
 "Oh! because Katie has asked leave to go out too"
 ''But can't she put it off? I should think some other time would do for he-.
 ''I think not, as the occasion is funer- al. am afraid they would not wait for her. Who did she say it was, Lucy? Her Grandfather's second wife's first husband's s cousins nephew's baby, was it not? At any rate" continued the soft, laughing voice, ''I know the relationship was near enough to make her feel she must go, and indeed she has already gone; and, besides, the baby does not like he1. Lucy will get him to sleep, and dare say he will sleep all the afternoon, and he is always good-natured when he wakes up. Ohi you will get along famously!"
 So the little crib was lifted into the study, and the sleeping boy laid in it, and then, having supplied abundance of milk, instruction, and good advice, the ladies departed, leaving behemoth bound and captive!
 On their return they found the baby safe and sound, and growing in his fathers arms, and decidedly pleased with his strong handling; to be sure, the child's dress was rather demoralized with milk and ink, having, in the course of the after noon, managed to upset both; but that was easily repaired; and though the Rev. erend Boswell looked tired and flushed, he was evidently proud of his success; and it was noticeable that the good will be- tween father and child took decided new growth from that day.
 By the time Mrs. Bfiant's visit drew near it's intended close, the gentle little tactitian had her little leviathan pretty we'll in hand; for, though quiet in her ad- vances as the incoming tide, she was quite as irresistible. Lucy, cheered by her mothers presence and silent support, and set free from the household bonds that had so oppressed and enthralIed her, was herself once more. She had regained her natural elasticity of step and feeling, and brought out by her mothers judi cious management, she had taken and worthily filled her proper place in the parish as the minister's wife, and was be- loved and respected by the congregation.
 But how would it be when the skillful hand that guided and the judicious check that restrained were removed? This cost her some anxious thought. and for Lucy's sake she made one more attempt.
 'I have been thinking, my dear MT. Holland,' she said, in her most mellifu- ent. tones, one day, when the soup she had presided over had given him great satis- fIction, "that after leave you, Lucy had better have a second girl"
 Mir. Holland looked up in blank sur- drise, and calmly and sweetly the lady went on: Katie, though a good girl as far as she goes, is very inefficient. She is honest, but she is miserable cook, and very wasteful. But all such young girls are; they waste half enough to keep a family. And the washes are very heavy; gentlemen and babies" she said, with 8 rippling laugh, "make a grest deal of washing, you know, and Katie is very slow; and if you have to put it out, that is very expensive. And then there Is so much sewing to be done. Lucy is as bnsy as little bee, I know, but even with my help she has but just managed to keep it under. I did hope we should find time to made up your new linen before left, but 1t is not cut out yet, and Lucy will never get through dozen shirts alone. Poor girl! the parish and the baby make such heavy demands upon her time, think she will have to put your shirts out to be made" And with few pleasant remarks about the parish and the weather, she sm1lingly withdrew. ..s....-
 But the good seed had been carefully sown. The parson, though not overwise in general, was sharp aud shrewd where money was in question, and knew the full value of dollars and cents. He took the matter into consideration, and nicely bal anced the pros and cons. He knew that Mrs. Briant, in her quiet, lady-like way, had been very efficient Tn his family; she superintended the cooking, and under her direction were prepared the savory meats that his soul loved. He knew, too, that since her advent among them his weekly expenses had been lessened, mot increased.