Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1876-10-27
dfisceIlamg.
A Camp-Meeting IdyI.
From Susan CooIidge's " Summer
Afternoon.

NOW, mis- W llder, bout them cnlck-
ems ?"
"Just let me knit into the middle of
my needle, Draxy"
Draxy waited, her busy hands finding
something to do in the little pause. The
things on the table were Strengthened,
the daguerreotypes Gt was the best
room) tilted more accurately on their
open covers, a minute speck of dust dis.
lodged from the mantle.piece-all be-
fore the gentle "click, click of the
needles ceased, and Mrs Wilder laid
down her stocking.
"The chickens-let me see. 1t was
those six little broils of the speckled
hens l was a.thinking of and the pep
per-and-salt roasters." Mrs. Wilder
viewed chickens from purely practical
stand point "That'll be enough, won't
it?"
81 don't know doubtfully-" folks
eat heap at camp-meetin'."
$50 they do. Well, then, kill three
of the black Polands, and bake pie.
That'll make plenty"
al guess So" Business thus disposed
Of Draxy assumed chair and waxed
confidential.
How many of our folks is a,goin'
Mis- Wilder?"
You and me, and Mr. Wilder and
Nathan and Ellen that's five; and
Lucy's six"
Lucy"
Eyes. Mr.. Wilder said he guessed
she'd better, and Brother Parker plead
hard about it. He thinks she's old
enough to get religion, and ought to
have it and her pa says there's no harm
/ tryin', only he won't have her fustered
don't know what to say bout it my.
self, but guess pas right" And Mrs
Wilder ended with little sigh.
"Mr. Parker !" There was a concen-
trated and conspicuous sniff in Draxy';
voice. She said no more, and in another
minute got up and left the room, her er
rand accomplished. There were few
waste places in Draxy's life. Satan
might have lodged around her fol
months, without finding one idle chinb
in which to practice her nefarious arts.
Pretty soon the door opened and Lucy
came ina girl Of seventeen, with the
shy beauty of wild doe in her haze
eyes The delicate, cameo,like outlines
of her face was full of an expression Of
appeal. Not that there was anything
to appeal against in her life, the petteC
only daughter of this honest home
Some women possess that look naturally
and before it, when combined with youth
and loveliness, the hearts of men &C
down like ninepins. Lucy as yet did
not know the value of her dover, but
such knowledge never fingers long.
Where have you been, dear "
cover to Esther's, mother. They're
beginning the camp-meeting cake, and ]
stayed to help beat eggs"
Do tell | suppose they're making
great fuss, like all the rest of the folksp
"Oh, yes. Mrs. Robbins has killed 8
turkey and eight pairs of chickens, and
had two pieces of beef broiled and
Esther and Hepsy were making ginger
bread and raised cake, and all sorts OF
pies that you can think of-mince and
apple and custard and Canada plum
can't remember half"
" Lands sake And who's going
Lucy ?"
Mrs. Robbins and the squire and the
girls, and James and his wife, and Aunt
Mirey, and,"-here the happy. girlish
voice sank little; only close observ
er would have noticed the infection
6 and Kane"
"Elkanah !? want to know Well
it's time he got hold of something good
You'll have to help Draxy make our
pies tomorrow, dear. The weather,
splendid 1 guess we're going to have q
good week.
This camp-meeting about which all
Ammonoosuc was in stir, was yearly
affair, planned for and anticipated with
pleasure. After the heat of the summer
and the toll of the harvest, the potatoes
stored, the corn and corn-shucks safely
housed-when the rye and the wheat
had gone to the mill, and the board
ers to their city homes came, in the
beautiful September weather, this holi
day which half picnic, half relig.
ious exercise, brought neighbors togeth
er, frightened the links of church broth
erhood and old friendships, and gave t.
soul and body alike, reireshment. Bu
oh what different thing it was to tn,
different people looking forward to it !
Mrs. Wilder, and other good matron
Of her stamp, viewed it as a species 0
I