Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1878-11-28
LISBETH'S MISSIONARY.
Harper's Bazaar.
THE butchers bill, papa!"

"The butchers bill, papa"
Outside, the locusts were piping shrll
Nv among the blue cups of the morning
glory vines; the bland September sun
shine stepped every thing in yellow
brightness. Within, the country par
son sat at his desk, with divers and sun
dry sheets of sermOn-paper scattered
before him, half a dozen reference
books open at his elbow, and his head
clasped tightly between his two hands,
after a fashion which involved con-
siderable rumpling of his iron-gray
hair.
"Eh ?" said the parson, letting his
head, as it were, out of custody, and
coming slowly down from the world OF
polemics, as he stared at the pretty,
slender girl in faded calico and washed
out ribbons, who stood beside him with
an ominous-looking piece Of paper in
her hand.
"The butchers bill, papa" said Polly
Fem; and he's waiting, please"
"But, my dear"-the parson laid
down his pen, and took the bill into his
hand with puzzled air-"we've had
no butchers meat this month. We
have striven to be in the last degree
economical"
eyes, I know, papa" said Polly, knit
ting her pretty broWs; "but we ordered
three pounds of steak the day the dis
trict missionaries dined here, and there
was the joint for that Sabbatarian So
ciety day, and the evening the bishop
was here-don't you remembers"
Il remember, my child remem-
ber," said the country parson, with a
sigh. " Hospitality is an agreeable
duty, and one the Good Book enjoins
upon us, but it costs money, Polly-it
costs money. Put down the bill, child
and tell Neighbor Brisket that will at
tend to it at my earliest convenience. .
Still blue-eyed Polly hesitated. "And
the grocer was here this morning, papa,
and the account has really mounted up
beyond everything. And he says that
he hopes you will please to settle at
once, and that hereafter he has deter
mined to do business only on a strictly
cash basis"
The Reverend Mr.. Fem smiled a
sickly smile.
"Then [ am afraid, Polly" said he,
that he won't do much business with
me. For as long as the vestry are so
dilatOry with their payments"
Yes, papa, that's just what | told
him." said Polly; "but he SAYS that
business is business" sf
He is right, my DEAR" said the par
son. "and / am wrong;b but it is through
no fault of mine. Now run away, and
leave me to my books"
Polly Fem silently withdrew, with
\, ,>,o4txr l~Nu,e ,~,Itfo5 iF ho
were utterly hopeless of comprehend
ing the problem of the worlds ways.
The butcher, white-aproned and burly,
stood at the door. living impersona-
- ton ofthe fate which Polly could Meth
er ignore nor avert.
"Well, miss ?" said the butcher.
Papa will attend to it at his earliest
convenience, Mr.. Brisket," faltered
Polly.
But his earliest convenience has
been such mortal long time a-comin',
miss" grumbled Mr.. Br;sket "And
times is dnll, and I've got notes to
meet"
81 am very sorry, Mr. Brisket, but
"Tain't no good standin' here, said
the butcher, irritably scratching his
head. 81 might ha' knowed what
answer l should ha' got afore l crossed
the threshold. But it's hard on Il poor
man, that's what it is, and them as
calls themselves, gentry hadn't ought to
eat if they can't pay. I'll call again
this day week, miss, and then"
And with this the butcher whisked
himself away under the arch of morn
ing-glory vines, where the locusts were
singing, and the pink and purple cups
swung to and fro in the morning wind.
And Polly, with crimsoned cheeks
and heart beating with vague resent
ment, turned back into the great sun
shiny kitchen, where Lisbeth was
swaying nervously to and fro in the
splint-bottomed rocker, with a week
old newspaper in her hand, her yellow
hair catching the sunbeams like Il cor
onal of gold asshe rocked.
Lisbeth," said the elder sister, aus
terly, "are the wild grapes ready fol
preservingw
"Wild grapes?" repeated Lisbeth
fiinging the newspaper into the window
seat; Il haven't thought of them since
you went away. Oh, Polly, how | wish
we We're rich!"
Polly advanced soberly to a fla
wicker tray OF clustered grapes full O.
subtle perfume, and busted over with
pale purple bloom, and began to separ
ate them from their stems with dett
quick fingers.
"Whyf' said she.
:" 1 would so to New York and see
this new play" said Lisbeth, still sway
ing back and forth In the splint-bottom
ed rocker y Olivia was country par
sons daughter, and so are we, / should
like to see my own counterfeit present
ment on the stage"
Nonsense" said Polly. "You hat
q deal better come here and help will
these grapes
&c It's such wretched business to b,
poorl" said Lisbeth. She was spark
ling little creature, after the humming
bird type of damsel, with yellow hal