The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1877-07-13

VI have seen some of them at the Indus
trial School," saidEllen, with n sudden
CLEAN of merriment; "can this be one Of
fathers curious tricks 2"
at certainly is" said Adelaide, "for here
he comes himself out of the omnibus"
And in fact the good Deacon was now
seen making his way through a crowd. OF
poor people, Who stood humbly waiting
near the gate, and offering his arm to a
withered old lady in rusty black bomba-
zine, who had been amSng the first arrivals.
He presented her and the foremost of his
guests to his lady, who stood in rustic OF
establishment, and stiff brocadc, on the
veranda steps, and his elegant daughters,
who were half way between laughing and
crying Mt the novelty of the scene before
them. Mrs. Goodman fortunately had the
good sense and philosophy to perceive that
a state Of things which was not to he cur
ed, had better be endured with the best
grace possible; and her innocent guests,
| though somewhat awe.struck at such I'M
dreamed of magnilicence of apparel, were
| all unconscious of the struggle-and
triumph, too-of grace that was going on
| beneath the studied hospitality with which
she received them.
| There was the old lady in black, who
proved to be widow, and utterly alone in
the world; about the supply ofwhose wants
the Deacon probably knew more than any
man living.
| And here was an old man with one
wooden leg, and blind man, who was
strongly suspected to have been seen at the
way-sidc begging, until some benevolent
| individual--name unknown-had supplied
| him with basket of saleable articles, by
means of which he was now able to sup
port himself and family. There were
| women, too, with wan faces, who seemed
to have never enjoyed the freedom of Gods
blessed air; and puny children in their
arms, whose heavy eyes frightened at the
sight of green grass and waving trees. The
Older people were soon seated in the house
| and on the piazzas, while the children I'M
der convoy of Miss Ellen, who entered
heartily into the spirit of the occasion,
scattered about in merry games on the
green lawn. Never was there such play
before, and to Ellen herself it seemed that
the little birds never sang so sweetly, nor
the fresh summer air breathed so delight
fully as on this very day.
The company once disposed of, sober,
second thought occurred to the lady
hostess, more distressing, doubtless, than
the first. An appealing look brought her
husband to the corner, "What in the world
am I to do ?" she said II have not half
enough for them to eat"
"That is all right" replied the Deacon,
pointing to wagon which was just I'M
loading at the kitchen gate. "There is
abundance for them ALL and / have given
the directions to the cook"
Anxiety was needless; every arrange
ment had been completely made and the
entertainers devoted themselves again to
their guests. Happily passed the hours of
the golden afternoon. The ladies of the
family recovered speedily from the shock
of disappointment, and could not help adj
hitting that they had never so thoroughly
enjoyed a company. 1t was a lesson worth
learning
At six, the company was assembled
around the long table, which, by the Dea-
cons direction, had been spread upon the
shady lawn; and never probably did guests
more heartily unite in Thanksgiving for the
bounties of Providence. Before they rose
from the banquet, there was a gorgeous
sunset, all in full view, to be enjoyed by
many who, within the narrow wall, were
almost as etfectually excluded from Gods
free picture gallery in the heavens, as from
mans aristocratic ones on earth. At the
same time the moon was rising in the cast,
and there was delightful evening, with
the CHANGING fire flies among the grass, and
the cool breeZes that never dreamed of
brick walls and heated pavements-and by
nine o'clock the whole company had de-
parted in their train of conveyances for
home.
The lady hostess was too tired or too
thoughtful to demand explanations now
When children and servants had quietly
assembled in the sitting room at the hour
of prayer, the worthy father of the family
read from the great Bible the story of
great feast given of old at the house of a
chief Pharisee and his voice fingered
with special emphasis on the following
words:
"When thou makest dinner or sup
per, call not thy friends nor thy brethren,
neither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich neigh
bors; lest they also bid thee again, and II
recompcnse be made thee But when thou
makest feast call the poor, the manned,
the lame, the blind; and thou shalt be
blessed, for thou shall be recompensed at
the resurrection of the just"
He was certainly strange man, that
Deacon Goodman, and unfortunately very
different from the rest of the world.