Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1876-06-26
called her in to prayers.

Johnnie came stealing into the kitchen
on tip-tOe.
care they through praying, Melissa
What are you crying bout? Did you
break a dish p
Johnnie sympathized with any one
who was so unfortunate as to break
dish. He had broken one or two himself.
"No, Johnnie" she answered.
did you burn your finger, then ?' he
asked, anxiOusly, with his little face up
turned to hers. "If you did, I'll wash
the dishes, every one of EN-. and you can
wipe EN-, Melissa"
She declined his offer of help. but he
staid with her until the minister went
away, and by steady coaxing, found out
the reason why she wept.
Mr.. Ridgely walked slowly home from
the deacon's He boarded with an aged
widow, and he knew by the dim light
burning in the parlor when he reached
there, that she had retired. He was too
restless to study or to sleep, so he walk
ed up and down the little garden in the
starlight, with his hands clasped behind
him in the style peculiar to ministers in
thought. There we're a great many ros-
es blooming in the widows garden. The
soft night was laden with their perfume,
and they made him think of Melissa.
Of course there was no resemblance
between the flowers and Deacon Osgood's
''help," for she was white and dropping
like lily, and they were in full, rich
bloom but she was pure like them, and
sweet, like their breath, and they made
him think of her. With the thought of
her came memory of what his old aunt
said to him the night he came to Lynton.
"Judson," she said, in her broad Eng
lish, you're going away with the grace
of God iu your heart; you've got the old
Ridgely muscle, and the marrow of the
spirit is in your bones, and your feet are
well shod, but you lack one thing, you
need a helpmate. Ay, my boy, you're
not complete. You'll find it out some
day, and when you do, follow the lead
ings of your heart You've got an hon.
est Ridgely heart, my boy, and it'll not
lead you amiss."
Why did the roses make him think of
Melissa? Why did the thought of her
bring his aunt's words to his mind 4? He
certainly could not have. loved her when
he had only spoken to her once, did you
say ? No, suppose not. 1 believe ii
isn't called love in the beginning.
Johnnie and the minister became very
intimate after that night. Johnnie liked
him because he had once been a little
boy, and he often went to the widow;
to visit him. He told him about Melis
sa's crying the night he was at theil
house to tea, and he also told him tha
she had lot of books In her bedroom
that used to belong to her father-ht
guessed there was as many as five hund
red, altogether.
One day the minister plucked two o
three posies, rose and few geraniun
leaves from the widows flower bed, ant
sent the neat bouquet to Melissa b,
Johnnie Johnnie told him the next da,
that she had kissed it after she had sup
posed he was out of the room, but b
peeped through crack in the door, ant
saw her do it. He went to the deacon
often after that, but he never could ge
: a chance to talk to her alone.
One night, when none of the famil
! were at prayer meeting but her and th
deacon, he undertook to 60 home wit
: her alone, but before they had gone tw
; squares the deacon came putting up
them, and talked "new pulpit unit
they reached the gate.
| By the last of September the minister
e like everything else, had ceased to b
e new Martha Samson tried to get hin
e but failed; Aramantha Peabody ha
r tried, and failed; Fannie Gauss had ais
e tried, and failed; and he was looked Ut
!. on as belonging to ''the church
a But he was not the church's. He va
t not his own. Next to the Master he lo7
: ed and served, he belonged to Meliss
Perry. But he did not know it then.
One bright October day the knOwlede
n came to him with its burden of swe,
s hopes and trembling fears. Would M
n lissa take what belongs to her ? he VOL
4 dered. How would she ever find out
The Lord, through the mouth of Johnn
e Osgood, told him how.
, One morning Johnnie went to the Wi
) ow's and stayed with the minister unit
n the clock struck twelve, when be caugl
+ up his hat and started for home.
N stay and eat dinner with me, job
I. ME" said the minister.
+ IL can't" said Johnnie; Il have
get home. have to wipe the dim
(. dishes for Melissa, she's gOin' to {
Dr. butter-woman this afternoon. WI
d don't you 60 and see her p
II ii will" said the minister.
5 Johnnie meant the butter-woman, b
,e the minister meant Melissa.
s. He went TO the butter-woman's Is