The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1879-02-12
LISBETH'S MISSIONARY.
1.-THE butchers bill, papa!"


vines; the bland September sunshine
stepped everything in yellow brightness.
Within the country parson sat athis desk,
with divers and sundry sheets of sermon
paper scattered before him, half dozen
reference books open at his elbow, and
his head clasped tightly between his two
hands, after fashion which involved
considerable rumpling OF his iron gray
hair.
"Ehq" 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; land he's waiting, please"
"But, my dear"-the parson laid down
his pen, and took the bill into his hand
with a puzzled air-"we've had no
butchers meat this month. We have
striven to be in the last degree economi-
CAL"
eyes, I>know, papa" said Polly, knit
ting her pretty brows; shut we ordered
three pounds Of steak the day the districs
missionaries dined here,an there was the
Joint for that ,Sabbatarian society dag,
and the evening the bishop was here
don't you remember?"
II remember, my child remember"
said the country parson, with sigh.
s'Hospitality is an agreeable duty, AID
one that,the good book enjoins upon RS,
but it.cost money, Polly-lt costs money.
Put down the bill, child, and tell
Neighbo7sBr;skett that I will attend 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 sEp
beyond, everything. And he says that he
hopes you,~ill please to settle it at once
and that hereafter he is determined to
do business only on strictly cash basis"
The Reverend Mr.. Fem smiled a sick
~ smile.
"Then i lam afraid,f Polly" said he,
"that he wont do much business with
nae. For as, long as the vestry are so
dilatory with their payments
"Yes,; papa, that's just what 1 told
him." said' Polly; "but he says that bus;-
ness is business"
"He'issright, my DEAR" said the parsor,
'''and lam wrong; but it is through no
fault of'mine. Now run away, and leave
me to ICY bosks."
Polly 'Fennsllent:y withdrew, with hex
pretty b1ows~still knitted as if she were
utterly hopeless of comprehending the
ser, white apreaed and burly, stood at the,
door living inpersonatien Of the fate
which could neither ignore nor avert.
"Well, :niss7" said the butcher.
"Papa will attend to it at his earliest
convenience, Mr.. Brisket," faltered Polly
'sBut his earliest convenience has been
such mortal long time a comm, miss,
,grumbled Mr.. sErisket. "And times is
dull, and 1--we got notes to meet"
"I'm very sorry, Mr.. Brisket, butt
"'Taint.no COED standin' here" said
the butcher, irritably scratching his head.
III might ,he' kaowed wha. answer
should ha' got afore crosse2rthe 1hresh-
old. But IT'S hard OF poor x:1an, that's
what it is, and them as calls themselves
gentry haoE't ought to eat if they can't
pey. III cell%aga,n this day sseek, miss,
and them
and with thissthe butcher whisked
hlEself away under the arch ot&le morn
Tag glory vines, swkere. the loelsts were
singing, and the pink and purple cups
swung to and tro IN the morning wind.
And Polly, with crimson checks and
heat beating with vague resentment,
turned back into the sunsh1ny sEitchen,
where Lisbeth was ,svaying nerEcusly to
and fro in the spint- bottomed rcocker,
with e week ola newspaper in he- hand,
her yellow hair catching the suEbeams
like ,stcoronal Of ,goldaas she rocked.
"Lisbeth, "said the elder sister, arstere-
ly, fare the wiM grapes ready for pre-
serving"
"Wild grapes?" repeated Lisbeth, saing-
ing the newspaper intothe window seat;
II haven't thought of them since ,gou
went away. Oh, Polly, how I wish we
were rioi!'
Polly advanced ssbeElJ to flat wick
er tray ofclustered srapes, full of subtle
perfume, and busted over with pase
bloom, and began to separate them fIon
their stems with def, quick fingers.
"Why2" .said she.
II would go to New York and see this
new play" said Lisbeeh, <stiu swayino I
back and forth in the splint-bottomed
rocker. "Oli7ia was country parsons
daughter, and 90 are We I should like
ito see my OWE counterfeit tpzesentmentI
ION the stage.
"Nonse1se,s' said Polly. ."You had
better come haze and help with these
grapes.
Its such wretched business to be
poor!" said Lisbeth. She was a spark
ling little creature, after the humming-
bird style of damsel, with yellow hair
curling over her forehead, intense hazel
brown eyes, and small red mouth with
dimples lowering shyly in it's neighbor-
hood. HJust look at US, Polly, you and
me, two girls of nineteen and seventeen,
that ought to be enjoying ourselves and
having good time, and here we are,
washing and scrubbing, and turning
wretched rags of dyed silk, and cleaning !
faded ribbons, counting every pound of |
rice and every potatol Even these wild |
grapes, Polly, thst you and gathered |
down by the edge of tie swamp; we
shouldn't venture on the extravaganza of |