Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-06-11
The DeacOn's Sunday.

Deacon, said Mr.. Hardcap the
other night at one of our after prayer
meeting talks-the parson is insensibly
shortening his prayer meetings and the
deacon is insensibly lenethening his con-
ferences; deacon, how do you manage to
keep your children in order Sunday? NV
children are just rs Wild rs colts. They
just hate Sunday. have taught 'em the
ten commandments and the catechism, and
made 'em learn every verse in the Bible
that has the word Sabbath in it, and it
don't do Il bit of good, and | don't know
what to do really don't.
Humility is not one of Mr.. IIardcap's
eminent graces-after prayer-meeting :;
and it was refreshing and hopeful as well
as pathetic to hear this confession for his
tone was mournful.
Well, now, said the deacon, l used to
hate Sunday, when | was boy; and
don't think | was such very bad boy
either. And l resolved that whatever
happened to Sunday my children should
enjoy it, and really think they do.
When you are at home, said the dea-
cons wife, soto voce.
What makes you like Sunday, Mr.. Hard
cap? asked the deacon.
Well, said Mr.. Hardcap, hesitatingly, as
though he had never thought of the ques-
ton before, that's kinder hard question
to answer. IL don't exactly know.
But certainly do like it. l would not
give it up for any price. You see | get
horribly tired of that old carpenters shop
with its everlasting chips; and tell you
| like to turn the key ON Saturday night,
TO, old f,l
more of you till Monday morning. Then
we kinder lay a-bed a little later Sunday
morning than other mornings. Hannah
she has to get up pretty early every other
day to get my breakfast and get me off 10
work be-timos, and she kinder likes to
take another nap; and don't much OBJ
lect to it myself, though don't need it
so much rs she does. Then we have our
morning baths,a get on our best clothes
and for a man that has been in his over
alls all the week it is kinder nice to dress
up little different And we take our
breakfast leisurely and eat little more,
maybe; at all events, there's no hurry and
furry. And then get an hour to read
my religious paper or my-and the Bible,
of course. And then we 60 to church,
and see my neighbors ;that and Wednes-
day evening is pretty much all the chance
get and | like that. Then, of course,
there is the sermon and the worship and
all that sort of thing beside And then.
when the children are not too noisy, |
generally get nap in the afternoon. And
altogether | would not live in France
where, they tell me, men 90 right on with
their work as other days, for any consid-
Grafton. Money would not hire me.
Well, now said the deacon, what make.
you and your wife like Sunday, and look
for it, and be sorry for it when it is gone,
is that it gives you chance to rest. YOU
are hard at work all the week; you have
all sorts of worries and cares you lock
them all up in your shop till Monday; and
the day that permits you to do this is q
boon.
That is about it, said Mr.. Hardcap.
Now, continued the deacon, your child
rem don't want rest. They are not tired
They have not got any cares and worrie.
to lock up in their shop. They are no,
making chips. They are all full and boil.
ing over with vitality. They are chuck
full of steam, and when you stop the
machinery it Kisses and sizzles at every
Joint.
And that is fact, said Mr.. Hardcap
emphatically.
If they are like my children, said the
deacon, they may lie a. bed later Sunday
morning, but don't believe they take any
eXtro nap.
l wish they did, said Mr.. Hardcap
Some mornings they raise such racke
that cannot get mine.
What are you going 10 do about itp sale
Mr.. Gear. Don't you believe in Sunday
for childrenp
In the first place, said the deacon,
recognize the fact that they don't need th,
rest. At least they don't know they do
so | don't blame them for being littl,
restless and obsteperous.
try to keep them quiet for the sake o
other people, but not for their own. MOI
for the Lords. If tell them Sunda,
morning that their mother is irving to oeI
a nap,they will generally try to keep quiet
But don't say, Hush! it is Sunday. / saw
Hush! your mother is asleep. | think /
: unfortunate that Sunday follows holiday
should like to try the experiment of nut
: ting the holiday in the middle of the weel
and making Saturday the busiest dny O
all. l fancy they would be very ready {,
welcome a change.
That is an idea, said Mr.. Hardcap.
Then in the second place, said the dea
con, l make it fathers day. All tn
week the children have their mother. an,
very little of me. Sunday l try to civ
them father and very little of mother. w