Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1878-12-05
LISBETH'S MISSIONARY.
THE butchers bill, papa !,


shrilly among the blue cups of the
morning glory vines ; the bland Sep
TENDER sunshine stepped every thing
in yellow brightness. Within, the
country parson sat at his desk, with
divers and sundry sheets Of sermon
papers scattered before him, half a
dozen reference books open at his ell
bow, and his head clasped tightly be-
tween his two hands, after fashion
which involved considerable 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,paps,' said Polly
Fem; land 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
yes, know, papa, said Polly,
knitting her pretty brows; but we or
dered three pounds OF steak the day
the district missionaries dined here,
and there was the joint for the Sab.
batarian Society day, and the evening
the bishop was here-don't you re.
MEMBER
Il remember, my child remem-
ber,' said the country parson, with a
sigh. Hospitality is an agreeable
duty. aud one that 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 attend to it at my
earliest convenience.
Still blue.eyed Polly hesitated And
the grocer was here this morning, pa
pa, and the account has really mount
ed up beyond every thing. And he
says that he hopes you will please to
settle at once, and that hereafter he
has determined to do business only
on strictly cash basis
The Reverend Mr.. Finn 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
'He is right, my dear said the par
son, sand / am wrong; but it is
through no fault of nine. Now run
away, and leave me to my books
Polly Fem silently withdrew, with
her pretty brows still knitted, as if
she were utterly hopeless of compre-
hending the problem of this worlds
ways. The butcher, white aproned
and burly, stood at the door, living
impersonation of the fate which Polly
could neither ignore nor avert.
We'll, miss p said the butcher.
Papa will see to it at his earliest
convenience, Mr.. Brisket,' faltered
Polly.
But his earliest convenience has
been such mortal long time aeon
in, MISS grumbled Mr.. Brisket. sAnd
times is dull, and I've got Dotes to
meet
sI'm very sorry, Mr.. Rrisket, but
s'Tain't no good standin' here, said
the butcher, irritably scratching his
head. Il might ha' knowed what an
swer / should ha' got afore / crossed
the threshold. But its hard on poor
man, that's what il 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>
inc-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
spllnt- bottomed rocker, with a week
old newspaper in her hand, her yell
low hair catching the sunbeams like a
coronel Of gold as she rocked.
'Lisbeth,' said lie elder sister, aus
terely, ARE the wild grapes ready for
preserving"
wild grapes?' repeated Lisbeth,
flinging the newspaper ilto the win
dow-seat; Il haven't thought of them
since you went away. Oh, Polly, how
I wish we were rich!
Polly advanced soberly to fiat
wicker tray of clustered grapes, full
of subtle perfume, and busted over
with pale purple bloom, and began to
separate them from their stems with
deft, quick fingers.
sWhy p said she.
Il would 90 to New York and see
this new play said l.isbeth, still
swaying back and forth in the split
bottomed rocker. 'Olivia was coun.
try parsons daughter, and so are we.
! should like to see my own counter
felt presentment on the stage
Nonsense said Polly. You had
a deal better come here and help with
these grapes.
sIt's such wretched business to be
poorr said Lisbeth. She was spark
ling little creature, after the humming-
bird type of damsel, with yellow hair
curling low over her forehead, intense
hazel brown eyes, aud small red
mouth with dimples lowering shyly in
it's neighborhood. Just look at us,
Polly, you and me, two girls -of nine
teen and seventeen, that ought to be
ENJOYING ourselves and having good
time, and here we are, washing and
scrnbbing, and turning wretched rags
of dyed silk, and cleaning faded rib
bons, and counting every pound of
rice and every potato! Even these
wild grapes, Polly, that you and /
gathered down by the edge of the
swamp, We shouldn't venture on the
extravaganza of preserving them, if
Mrs. Deacon Blodgett hadn't offered
to supply the sugar on halves. Oh, I
do so hate this life! Even Rrisket the