Litchfield enquirer., 1875-05-20


 E0ad; we are keeping the young parson Watng, and we have no right to squan- ter his valuable time, that being privi- 4age which he prefers to use himself. On that kfair summer morning he sal alone in his cool and shaded study, clad in his dressing gown and slippers, with loosened vest and discarded neck-tie; he as iolling back in his easy-cushioned chair. with elevated feet, lost in contem- plation of his newest pair of slippers, try ing possibly to study out their strange de- vice.
 He sat near table where an open desk bore snndry sheets of ruled paper. on the top one of which few plotted and half erased lines indicated that there ser mon was beginning to be; but he was en- gagged in the intellectual occupation oi snapping the blade of his knife, or fur lively whistling the air of ''Way down up- de Swannee Ribber" softly on the back of sS, occasionally varying the performance s1y a languid use of a palm-leaf fan which vas lying on his knees
 A gentle step, a timid, deprecating tap at the study door. 'sEyes right attentiont' In one moment, like a soldier on drill, the reverend gentleman had got into po- ssition at the table, snatched up a pen, dipped it in the ink, and held it suspend ed over the paper, as he said, in the half annoyed tones of a person suddenly dis turbed in some absorbing train of thought, "You can come in.'' Softly the door was pushed ajar, and a Esweet young face, fair and fresh as an ap- pie blossom, and framed in braids of soft brown hair, peeped timidly in "Quite alone, dear?' she asked. glanc- ing round the apartment; and then, satis- fled that he was so, the wife came ina giriish figure, though one arm clasped her sleeping baby to her bosom; in the other hand she bore small tray with snowy white cloth. ,e, Pausing a moment on her way odepoif the child among the cushions of the lounge, she came to- her husband s side.
 ssWhat have you got there, Lucy ?" he said, in half-reproachful tones, though his eager eyes contradicted his assumed in- difference.
 'sOn1y little lunch for you, dear. said the Little wife, coaxingly, and she removed the desk and set the little tray before him. .,.-'-...-..,. =.
 ''You silly child what is it?" Lucy raised the cover, and revealed small juicy beefsteak, temptingly cooked, bis- cult. and glass of foaming beer.
 "Oh, have not any appetite; don t want it. said the husband, making a very faint demonstration of pushing it from him.
 'sYes. you do, dear; know best. Did not you tell me yourself that brains need ed food, and that mental labor was more .exhausting than any other? Take little sip of the beer first, dear. and maybe that will bring an appetite. g
 ; ''You are little goose, Lucy" said the Reverend Boswell, as he took the glass from her hand; and so, just to please the affectionate little thing, he ate and drank all she had proyided-and he did it, too, just as If he relished verymouthful. You would never have guessed he did not rel Ish it. Oh, he was such a good man And Lucy sat by, delighted that her idol had condescended to accept her meat and drink offerings. @ ].
 .sThere now; these poor dear, tired brains will feel all the better" she said, laying her soft hand caressingIy on his low brow. It Is too bad for you to.have to sit here, hard at work, all this lovely day; IS not it. Bozzy?" -.
 Lucy" said the gorged despot, with drawing from the caressing hand, and frowning slightly, ''I do wish you would not call me Bozzy; have spoken to you about it before"
 'I know it, dear; but I forget It is not right. I ought not to do it, and I won't If you don't like it; but tell me, have you been very hard at work this morn ihg?''
 Well, no. not very," said the self-con- victed idler. ''It is too warm to do much"
 ''Warm here, dear?" said Mrs. Holland, glancing round the cool, fresh, orderly lit- tie room, and contrasting it with the kitch- en, the heated scene of her own labors ''Then 1t must be because you feel weak: do you2' as
 ''I thought you would come up and read for me, Lucy; have been expecting you."
 "But could not come to-day, you know," said the wife, deprecatingly. "It's washing day!''
 s'Well. what if it is? You do not wash, I presume"
 ''No, dear; not exactly; but Katie does." ...-s. .f..s. "But you are not Katie.'
 'I beg your pardon, but am on wash ing and ironing days. '
 s- What do you mean? .-. ...
 ''Only, of course, that when Katie Is washing, have her daily work to do. 9
 do not see what great amount of work there can be to do in such family as ours"
 That Is because it Is not in your line, Boswell If it was, you would soon find out that there is work to be done in every we'll managed family, however small; and where there is baby, and only one inex- perienced servant, there is good deal of work to be done" "sesas sks .az . !.
 Work, work said the parson fretful- ty.s s'One would think, to hear you talk of your work, that we lived in apalace and entertained company every day of our lives" -s-... ..e.s.- = - -.
 '.I am very thankful that. we do not. 3 laughed the sweet-tempered little woman:
 sWell, Il can't understand it, I'm sure. Do tell me now.what have you had to do this morning?'' tr.,- s1-..',.. .-. .4-----
 "I will. said Lncy, seating herself on the lounge by her child. sIt is fine day. and Katie has a very large wash; so set her at work early, and I made the beds and put the chambers in order; and then cleared away the breakfast things, and swept and dusted the parlor and entry; and E put fresh flowers in the vases, and | picked and shelled the peas, and made the pudding, and cooked your steak, and tend ed the baby--''# oa l-9t bst
 Well, he is asleep" e.z-1. 5ear.e 2 5
 :Yes. he is 'aOa0; but he was wide awake all the morning. and just as cunning as he could be. only wish you had seen him when Is-n se+ .seI ~.5a
 'Oh yes, I dare say; but Idon't care to hear about it." ,.--F = Is Lucy bent down over the sleeping child to pat and kiss him, and when she raised her head there was a tear on the baby's dimpled cheek. Poor little thing Had he been weeping in his sleep? for the mother fair face was as unruffied as be- fore. -.5.4f.l5f i5g s.7-1ll-7- -. ' =. Are you co0ing to read to me, Lucy?''
 Lucy hesitated. ''I will if I can-after
 oh, am going ont to dine with the AlIens.'' not tell nae.r -6 7z1sz- - y
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