St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1878-03-29

the village men, like Bryce ana Pnlpps,
treated him with profound respect.
Mr.. Harbour did not precisely describe
his position in Kerr's Ford as "gOod,
fat ground on which to camp;" but he
certainly did think of it with cOmpla
cency. 1t seemed to him direct rec
ognition of his virtuous life by Provi-
dence; though, being a genuine young
fellow at bottom, he did not put this
idea into words.
His father had been noted banker,
in New York then defauter, then
convict. He had died in prison. His
elder son John had inherited the taint
of blood. At twenty he was old, and ex
hausted in dissipation and vice. Mich
olas had turned his back upon both
father and brother, and with the money
left him by good, Christian mother,
had fitted himself for the ministry, and
taken this charge on the hills of Penn
sylvania. Nobody in Kerr's Ford knew
the history of his family. Why should
they ? He had washed his hands cleal
of the accursed stain. Now and then
he had received begging letters from
his brother John, and always sent him
money. But the gulf was like that be-
tween Dives and Lazarus, and Mr.. Har-
bour had little doubt as to which broth
er was secure for all eternity.
There were many minor causes to-
day TO contribute to his comfortable
cOmplacency. Just below Bryce's store
he met committee of the ladies from
the church fair; there were two or three
portly matrOns in black alpacas and
blacker fronts; Miss Ann Hyde, thin,
watchful and aggressive as cOlley
driving stnpid, fat ewes; and little
behind, a group of pert, pretty girls.
They surrounded him, eager, vehement,
all talking at once. The Rev. Nicholas
listened with an anxiety which he strove
to subdue into a benign attention. 1t
hardly suited the dignity of his calling
to he concerned about the raff1ed cake,
or grab-bag, and yet it was all impOr-
tant that the church should have a
stained rose window.
"Pierce has agreed to charge nothing
for the dishes, and what do you think,
Mr.. Harbour, ice cream should be a
plateP We don't want to be eXOrbi-
tant, you know. But people ought to
he generous, considering the cause is
the Lords"
"Certainly, certainly. Very good in
Pierce, Pm sure" calculated the be-
wildered pastor.
'And Miss Sarah Clevedon has con-
sented to assist" The pastors wan
dering eye grew steady ut this. "NOt,"
pursued Miss Hyde. "that the girl will
he of any real use. The most eccen-
tric, unreliable person! But it will give
tone to the affair to have her name.
The social status of the ClevedOns will
induce many to take interest in our eff
foIts, who care nothing for Il well cook
ed supper, or even for our noble pur-
pose" Miss Hyde was Corresponding
Secretary of the Female Missionary So
ciety. Her language was noted in Kerr's
Ford, for its scope and dignity of eX-
preston.
eve ought not to reckon on such
things" said Mr.. Harbour gently. "The
Master, you know, is no rcspector of
persons"
And yet, as he walked on with them
to the hall where the fair was to be
held, he knew that he did reckon on
these things. "The social status of the
ClevedOns' weighed not a little with
him, even in his feeling for Sarah. 1t
illuminated all his thought of that beau
tiful young person as the gold back
ground does the pictures of the med
i9val MadOnnas. He was angry to
himself. Could he not keep even his
love pure and high-above the paltry
level of caste consideration The young
man knew his own weakness. He re-
membered that once in London, when
his cab was stopped at the entrance to
Il certain street, belonging to noble
Duke, because none but liveried equip
ages were allowed to pass, how he stood
foI an hour, looking at these privileged
conveyances and their occupants with
homage nearly akin to awe. 1t was
absurd to pay this same homage to this
village aristOcracy-tO SaIah's family,
with their ancestry of a circuit judge, IL
country squire, and far-off signer of
the Declaration. But, with the whole
population of the county, he did it.
Miss Hyde drew him aside when they
were within the hall. For twenty years
Miss Hyde had been manager of village
etiquette, Indispensable at wedding, fan
or funeral. She had a claim to speak
with authority in church matters, diff
ferent from that of pastor or deacon,
but quite as distinctly recognized by
the people.
''The HOlts and Burwells are talking
of applying for pews," she said tri-
umphantly. "The good cause moves. y
Mr.. Harbour bowed. The blood
mounted to his cheek with pleasure.
"With the Clevedons, we shall then
have all of the best people in Kerr's
Ford" she continued. ''It's quite right
With such church and such preaching
we ought to fill our pews with certain
class"
Mr.. Harbour skilfully separated him.
self from Miss Hyde. Her vulgarity
and snobbishness annoyed him. Yet
he was just as pleased as she that the
influx to the church was to be of ''a
certain class.n
Mrs. Wilcox next seized his arm.
''See the post office, Mr.. Harbour. An
arch of evergreen, paper flowers, col
ored lamps-you understand the de-
sign? Lille Bassett inside in white
muslin and blue wreath-oh, it will be
charming! You have done so much to
elevate our aesthetic tastes and love OF
the beautiful sit in the church now
on Sunday, and look up at the carved
arches and the stained glass and crimson
cushions, and remember the days OF
poor, dear Mr.. Stone, when we worship
ped over the market house The old
gentleman was always so busy with
those wretched miners of Coalport that
he had no time to think of cushions OF
carvings. They used to crowd in and
fill up some of the best seats in the
church. Dear knows, beautiful churcl
would have been thrown away OF
them !"
Mr.. Harbour glanced at her sharply
Did she intend covert sarcasm? But