Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1876-06-26

both buned on one day, leaving her pen
niless ard friendless, and how she had
been bound to Deacon 0sgood until she
was eighteen years old.
"They are kind to you, are they not ?"
he asked.
"Yes, they are kind, but and she
stopped abruptly.
"But what Tell me all about it,
he said, ncouragingly.
"They do not care for me" she an
swered. with great tears in her violet
eyes. They do not love me-and nothing
can live without care and love-" she ad-
ded.
The minister's heart was swelling un-
der his coat, but he kept very calm.
"How old are you?" he asked, quietly.
81 am nineteen"
"Why not leave them? You are not
obliged to stay"
81 have no home, no place to go to-"
she answered, sadly.
''COme to me-" said the minister.
She looked at him wonderingly mo-
ment, then understood and went to him.
When she lifted her head from its
nest in his gray coat, her eyes we're glow
ing, and the sweet, pale face was beau
titled, transfgured.
"Where did you get that bunch of
berries ?" he asked, touching it caress-
ingly, as little CLEAN of sunlight look
ed through an opening in the trees and
feasted moment on its warmth and
brightness.
81 found it lying in the road and l
took it up-as you have taken me-" she
answered, softly.
The bright tints that were gathering
in the west warned her that supper time
was approaching, and the minister took
the pail of butter from its resting place
at the end of the log, and they soon were
at the deacon's gate. The deacon was
in the barnyard feeding the fowls, and
the minister went out there. Melissa
went to the kitchen. Johnnie sat on the
steps with piece of apple pie in his
hand, and she bent down and softly kiss
ed his brown cheeks.
"Have you been courtin' Melissa 2
he asked, looking at her wonderingly.
81 bet you have, cause your eyes look
just like Della's when Tom Higgs came
to see her.
Melissa laughed and went into the
house.
"How are you, Mr.. Ridgely," said tht
deacon, as the minister entered the barn
yard. "It has been fine day, sir,
very fine day. How is the pulpit get
ting on p
81 have not been in the church to
day." answered the minister, almost i'm
patiently. 81 came to ask you, deacon
that is, to speak to you about Mis-
Perry"
"About Melissa ?" asked the deacon
with surprise.
"About Melissa" answered the min
lister.
"Mr. Ridgely," SAID the deacon, wit
lengthening face, 81 have tried to d
my duty by that girl. pray for he
morning and night at family worship
and | have several times prayed wit
her alone for more than three-quarteI
of an hour at time. never let Sur
day pass without speaking to her abou
the concerns Of her soul. and yet she rt
mains Indifferent. She is growing harC
ened, and lately / have noticed"
"You have noticed nothing of th
kind, interrupted the minister. The
he said abruptly deacon, | have ash
ed Miss Perry to be my wife, and as 81
had been member of your family fl
several years, l feel that it is my dut
to acquaint you"
} Your wife p exclaimed the astol
r ished deacon. "Why, Mr.. Ridgely, 81
; is my help. my bound girl"
: "She is the daughter of the late Ma
well Perry" said the minister, quietly
But. sir, what will the church say
81 really do not know" answered Il
minister in a tone that meant 81 real
2 do not care"
/ "She is from a good family" cOntil
ued the deacon, .-but she is not a chur'
/ member, and fear the congregation
r "I have thought Of accepting call
q the Bloomington church" said the nj
e lister, slyly.
e "0h, no. no p cried the alarmed de
: con, .'yOu must not think Of leaving !
t Mr.. Ridgely. The church has never be
d in 50 prosperous a condition, spiritual