Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1876-06-14

The County Conference was being held
at the Corners. Father was sick with the
rheumatism, and we were so full of CON-
pany that we were we'll nigh distracted.
1t was nice summer weather-late in July.
The seaside meadows looked like green
velvet Wheat fields rustled in the breeze,
the birds sang in the trees, and you never
saw anything so beautiful in all your life
as my bed of pinks and geraniums under
the south windows. The East Greenfield
minister SAID it was like little slice out
of the Garden of Eden. But had not a
moment Of time TO enjoy all this lowell.
ness. There was never any help to be
had for love or money in conference time,
for the girls wanted to go to the meetings
themselves, as well as anybody, and their
folks had company then with all the rest.
Mother was poorly. she never enjoyed
good health-and that year the spring bit
tiers didn't work AS well as usual, and she
was run down before haying time was
half through, so all she could do was to
tend to father and had all the housework
on my shoulders. Dear me, and isn't it
hard work TO cook for ministers? Mother
was afraid that they wouldn't have every
thing just so nice, and made me put three
eggs into every one of the custards, and
frost every bit of the sponge cake. The
ministerial appetite is amazing. There
was one widower among them as woe-be-
gone as he was hearty, and mother was
delighted because folks said he took a
great liking to me, and was going to ask
me to take the place of the departed.
But though a minister's wife may hold a
very high station IL life, and Tom Bah
son was only second mate of the schooner
Mary Ann, I'd rather have had Tom than
a dozen solemn faces like Parson Hib-
bard, though l was sorry to disappoint
mother and the rest OF my folks, who
grvaned because 1 was so dreadfully
wanting in ambition. But was willing
to do my best to provide for the poor soul,
who vas as thin as rail; and broiled
chicken, and cream biscuits, and cup
custsrds seemed to be the only light in the
midnight of his affection.
Your pie crust is heavy" remarked
mother" doletully, one bright hot morn
ing when was as usual baking for dear
life
Well, can't help it if it is" re-
pied energetically do wish father
wasn't deacon so that We needn't keep
ministerial boarding house; Pm tired OF
devoting NY life to ministers.
-uotleI > uluu WAS UlNcItcu ItUi the
condition of pastry to my impiety, and she
held up both hands in horror And to
tell the truth, | was a little frightened my
self, but then | was so tired and ii was
very hard for young girl like me to be
shut up in the kitchen, while everybody
else was having good time. Tom Bah
son, my lover, was going to sail again to-
morrow, and l had found time to get
only glimpse of him, while he had been
on shore. But ,ast night he detained ne
little while on the door steps, though
Mrs. Deacon Layns was in the window
listening to every word that was said, and
gave me ring with a stone in il which
shifted its colors like the rain bow, and
was wonderfully brilliant. He bought i
across the seas of some Jewish trader, hs
said, and whispered in my ear if would
wear il at the social tomorrow evening
ne should take it as promise TO be BIZ
wife.
He knew that there was DO chance o
seeing me at any other time-i was Away
so busy-and l had tod him that shoulc
certainly be n the social, which was 10 b,
held at Uncle F.aan's, the next door {,
our house. II ~as no wonder that my pie
crust was heavy, tor my heart wasn't ii
my work al all | was thinking Of Ton
al! the while, and wondering if We couldn'
manage TO speak TO each other al tn
social, some way, or if l couldn't see hin