Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-03-25
tcoutinned from ,frst paco.1L

fireplace, in front of which was large
Dutch oven containing some of her best
cream short cakes, prepared especially for
Mr.. N, the new Presiding Elder now
momentariy expected.
"Thank you, Ma'am," returned the
stranger, as he took the chair, and drew
close up to the blazing hearth, and remov
ing his thick wooden gloves, spread his
hands to receive the genial warmth.
Nothing more was said by either strang-
er or Mr.. Wade, for the space OF three or
four minutes. Daring this time the good
housewife passed in and out, once or twice
busy as could be in looking after supper
affairs. The lid of the ample Dutch oven
had been raised once or twice, and both
the eyes and nose of the traveller greeted
with pleasant token of the good fare soon
to be served up in the family.
He was no longer cold; but The sight
and smell of cake and other good things.
in preparation by the lady, awakened a
sense of hunger. and made it keenly felt
But, as the comfort of little warmth had
been bestowed so reluctantly. he could
not think of trespassing on the farmer ana
his wife for bite OF supper, ana so com
menced drawing on his heavy wooden
gloves, and buttoning up his old gray
coat While occupied in doing this, Mr..
Wade came into the kitchen, and said
I'm afraid, Jane, that the minister
won't be along this evening. Its after
shutdown, and begins to grow dusr;ish. ;
He ought to have been here an hour
ago." returned Mrs. w, in tone OF dis
appointment.
ats getting late. my friend. and D-'s
a good distance ahead remarked the
|, l. tn bp
fire, and regarding for some moments the
stranger, who had taken of his gloves,
and was slowly unbuttoning his coat
again.
ats three miles, you say -
ayes, good three miles, il not more !;
and it will be dark in half an hour
"What direction must ! take p inquired
the stranger.
"You keep along the road until you
come to meeting house on the top OF the
hill, half mile beyond this, and then you
strike off to the right, and keep straight
on.n
''What meeting-house is it ?
"The D-Methodist Meeting House"
'You are expecting the minister, /
think you just now said?'
Yes. Mr.. ", our new Presid-
was to have been here this afternoon
''He is to stay with YOU ?"
"Certainly he is. The ministers all
stay at my house,
The man got up, and went 10 the door
and looked out.
81 "Couldn't you give me little something
to eat before go,n he said, returning, 81
haven't tasted food since this morning,
and feel little faint"
''Jane, can't you give him some cold
meat and bread ?'' Mr. Wade turned to
his wife, and she answered, just a little
fretfully, "Oh, yes, | suppose so;" and
going to the cupboard, brought out dish
containing piece of cold fat bacon that
had been boiled with cabbage for dinner,
and half loaf of bread which she placed
on the kitchen table and told the man to
help himself. The stranger did not wait
for another invitation but set to work in
good earnest upon the bread and bacon,
while the farmer stood with his hands be-
hind him. and his back to the fire, whist
ling the air of 'Auld Lang Syne." while
he mentally repeated the words of the
hymn of ''When / Can Read My Title
Clear and wished his visitor would make
haste and get through with his supper.
The latter, alter eating for Il short time
with the air of man whose appetite was
keen, began to discuss the meat and bread
with more deliberation, and occasionally
to ask a question or make a remark, the
replies to which were not very gracious,
although Mr. Wade forced himself to be
as polite as he could be.
The homely meal at length concluded,
the man buttoned up his old coat. and
drew on his coarse wooden gloves again,
and thanking Mr.. and Mrs. Wade for their
hospitality opened the door and looked
out. 1t was quite dark, for there was no
moon. and the sky was veied in clouds
The wind rushed into his face, cold and
piercing. For moment or two he stood
with his hand upon the door. and then
closing it he turned back into the house,
and said to the farmer
"You say it is still three miles t. D."
II do said Mr.. Wade coldly Il said
so to you when you first stopped, and you
ought to have pushed on like a prudent
man. You could have reached there be-
fore it was quite dark"
''But was cold and hungry, and might
have tainted by the way"
The manner Of saying this touched the
farmers feeling little, and caused him
to look more narrowly into the strange ;
face than he hal yet done. Bat he saw
nothing more than he had already seen.
lyon have warmed and led me. for
which | am thankful. VIII you not be-
stow another act OF kindness upon one
who is in a strange place, and if he goe,
out in the darkness may loose himself and
perish in the cold p
The peculiar form in whei! this request
was made, and the tone in which il was
uttered, put it almost out Of the power OF
the farmer to say no.
Go in there and ait down." he an
swered, pointing the kitchen, "and viii
see my wife, and hear what she has to
say.'
Ana Mr.. Wutc went into the pulol
where the supper table stood. covered with
a snow-whitc cloth, and displaying his
wile's set OF blue spri@ged china, th1t was
only brought ont on special occasions.
Two tall mould candies were burning
thereon, and on the hearth blaz,d cheer
fu hickory fire.
Hasn't that old fellow gone vet p
asked Mrs. Wad va Ae;4d his