The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1878-02-15
THE MINISTER'S PARTY.--A Les
SON OF TRUE CHARITY.

street with tall brick blocks upon it.
two brick school houses, half dozen
handsome churches, few back lanes
with licensed eating saloons upon the
corners, two large cotton mills and the
usual mixture of good and bad, rich
and poor, among its inhabitants.
The pastor of one of these churches
at the time of which ! write, was Rev.
Ernest Noble. lie was young man,
full ofzeal for his work, and accounted.
among the young ladies of his flock, II
model of perfection, until one day he
requested that the unused parsonage be
put in order, and soon after brought
from Boston bright little woman to
rule over it, From that time much OF
the special interest in regard TO him be
gan to wane, and he was no longer
overwhelmed with slippers, pen wip-
ers, paper-weights, etc.
And the poor man, dazzled by the
bright eyes of his merry little wife,
seemed never to notice the change, but
pursued the even tenor of his way,
preaching, if possible, with greater fer
vor than before.
Thus six months passed, and the hol-
idays drew near. One day in the sew
ing circle, 1t was announced that the
minister was going to have party.
There could be no mistake, for Sister
Grundy'k niece, Sarah Brown, the
seemstress, while sewing at the parson-
age, had overheard the minister and
his wife talking in his study. She was
in the next room, but, sitting near the
crack of the door, could not help hear
ing the words ''invite," "refresh-
ments," "games," emusic" and some
thing about dancing" and she guessed
they were going to have a high time.
"You don't say sop cried the horri-
fed sisters in concert.
"Just as cxpectcdln said one.
81 told you sol" said another. OTIS
all the doings of that Boston wife of
his'n. Why couldn't he have been con-
tented to have taken good pious sister
from his own church, Instead of going
way TO Boston after such dollf"
81 shan't be surprised at ANYTHING
after this. l never'-but here the
christian conversation was interrupted d
by the summons to tea, and the unex-
pected appearance in their midst of the
pastor and his "Boston wife"
You may be sure that after this the
parsonage was closely watched. No
sentinel in time of war ever kept closer
guard over an unsuspecting enemy
than did these faithful sisters over the
movements of the clcrgyman's family.
Little Mrs. Noble Wondered twenty
times day what had so suddenly inter-
ested the sisters in her behalf; for
during the next two weeks she receiy-
ed more calls than during her previous
six months stay with this people.
But never a hint did they gain from
her of what was going on in her do
mains.
Yet, certainly, preparations Of some
sort were steadily progressing, and It
was suspected that the "timc" was
coming off Christmas day.
Christmas came on Friday. Mon
day, watchful eyes had seen load OF
evergreens deposited in the minister's
cellar. Tuesday, Mr.. Noble was very
busy all day, but what was the nature
of his business no one could learn; for
when Squire Cheatum's daughter had
stopped her sleigh on purpose to invite
his wife to ride with her on Christmas
day, he politely informed her that she
had previous engagement, and has
tened away to oyertakc littlo boot
black
Their conversation evidently had an
exhilarating effect on the little fellow,
for as soon as Mr.. Noble had turned
the corner, he turned several somer-
saults and pirouetted up and down the
Icy pavement on his hands, his feet
suspended in the air.
Wednesday, the piano-tuner came and
for two long hours vexcd the pc aceful
air in the vicinity of the parsonage
with most unearthly sounds. Thurs.
day, the expressman left mysterious
box at the door. Some one entirely
disinterested asked him what he SUP.
posed it contained; he replied curtlv
"Cut flowers, of course" I"
And so the wonder grew! But
what was the most mysterious Of all, II
was impossible to find out who were
invited. Squire Cheatum, who paid
the most towards the minister's salary
knew nothing about it; Mr.. License
who kept the finest eating saloon In the
city, and only few choice liquors fol
certain of his guests, you know; Judge
Sentence, who always tried and decid
ed his worst cases while intently listen.
ing to the sermon, Sabbath afternoon
Deacon Smith, Sarah Brown, tho scam.
stress, and her elderly relative, Mrs
Grundy, were alike excluded from the
invitations, If, in fact, any had been Is
sued.
Friday morning broke cloudless ant
bright, lighting up with myriads o.
sparkling gems the freshly fallen snow
Chow beautiful how delightful !''
exclaimed Mrs. Noble, as she peepet
through the frosty pane. "Don't yor
like to see fresh snow upon the GROUND
Christmas morning, ErnestY
"Yes, dear, 1t seems fitting emblem
of him whose advent we celebrate to
day. He found the world full of mise
ry, wickedness aud strife: he brough
to ita religion of love and peace. III,
finds our souls full of uncleanness: h,
= washes them whittier than snow, anC
clothes them with the pure robe O
righteousness. May all that we do to
day be done TO his glory, my dearr'
"AmenW whispered MAY: and tbt
terrupted, he always passed half a,
hour before breakfast.
'Tls ten o'clock, and Mrs. May Nobl,
stands in hcr pretty parlor, taking
I 1nal survey Of herself and her apart
ments before the arrival OF her guests
The gossips have guessed right fo
once, and there is TO be dinner part,
at the parsonage this Christmas day
Evergreens, trailing woodland mosse
and Hartford ferns adorn the pictur
frames and mirror, and bouquets o
sweet scented flowers greet one a
T. every turn. The dining room look
inviting. Here, too, we find picture
and evergreens, and a table richl,
spread with cut glass, silver-whicl
look susplciously like wedding present
/ and rich flowers which fiji the al
with delicious perfume.
i, No wonder the face of tho younl
9 housokeeper wears satisfied expires
sion, for all the arrangements are per
: feet. From tho kitchen beyond come
the savorv smell of roasting fowl, Will,
tho broad faced German girl bustle
, about. her face aglow alike with hca
! and satisfaction.
al Mira Noble pagse1 thrnuoh all Al,