Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1878-08-21
THE MINISTER'S CHOICE.

The new minister was spending the
afternoon at Dea, Osgoods, IIe came
to Lynton, q small town in Pennsyl-
vania, In February, aud now It was
June and this was the fist afternoon
he had spent with the deacon and his
family,
Della Osgood looked very pretty In
drab mohair with n tiny boquet OF
yiolets at her throat, aud Mrs. Osgood
looked very molherly and pleasant in
her black alpaca aud millcd white
apron, and Johnnie Osgood (aged
fye) tried 10 look as u dcacon's sou
should, and the minister ought to have
q very pleasant afternoon there, but
he did not.
The first Sunday no preached IN
in Lynton, and every Sunday slncc'
he ha d seen some one in the deacon's
pew whom he did not SEQ in the
doacon's parlor She was a young
woman with sad eyes and face whore
on he had never seen a smile. lie
had tried all the afternoon to find
out who she was, without seeming
curious, Che was young aud unmarried,
you know aud had failed This was
why he had not enjoyed his visit ~
he ought to have done.
At five o'clock Mrs. Osgood left the
room, and soon after called Della out
to help get tea, and the minister was
alone with johnnie.
so your Johnnie Osgood, are your
said the minister to him. Won't you
come here and see me ?
4 can see you from here answered
Johnnie.
4 hope you are good little boy,
said the minister, smiling, 'You
ought to be, for you have a.good
father and mother. Don't you think
so?
oh, l don't know. want to run
away, but they won't let me. My par
talks as if he never was d little boy.
What do you think ! This afternoon
tore you come, he told me If | said
bully while you was here he'd flog
me. Was you ever little boy?
'Oh, yes, answered the minister
'Aint my sister Della pretty
though ? was the next question.
Very said the minister.
But she is the dumbest thing
The other night I wanted her to do
my sums in division for me, and she
couldn't do one of em do you b1ieve.
! made Melissa do EN-
Who is Melissa 2
'Why, she's our help. You've seen
her. She sits in our seat in church, next
TO pap. There's the bell. I'm going
to get, and Johnnie disappeared
through the open door, and was not
seen again until after the blessing was
asked at the well-filled table.
After tea the deacon TUNED to the
minister and said |:
Mr.. Ridgely, it is onr custom to
have family worship Immediately after
tea. shall be glad to have you con-
duct it tonight. g Ha,
The minister assented, and the
deacon raised his voice and called
Melissa J?
Just then johnnie was seen going
slyly to the window.
Johnnie : SAID his mother, reprov-
ingly.
Johnnie said his father, stearnly,
where are you going, sir7'
I'm going to get, answered John
ME, as he slid quickly out of the
window, and rolled over on the fresh
green grass.-rhen Melissa entered,
and the deacon introduced her to the
minister.
Mr. Ridgely,' he said, this is our
ahem this is Miss Melissa Perry,
Melissa, this is Mr.. Ridgely.'
The minister held the little hard
brown hand in his a moment and
looked at the sweet pale face, meek,
like the Masters, and as clearly pale
as white morning glory, and into
the sad, blue eyes. Then he motioned
her TO q. chair next to him, and opened
the Bible. He read a few verses ol