The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1879-12-23


an unreasonable hour,' they said, =
never knew her to do this before, and
when we are all In our worst clothes,
with the parlors shut up, expecting the
soap woman. 1t Is too bad how can
we let her In ~
But the bell rang again rather per
emptorily, Mrs. Manotte saying to her
self, ''as they sent for me, and | have
been at some trouble to call at this
hour, why do they keep me waiting in
this unseemly 'tyle 2"
''I must let her in,' said Mrs Sequin,
"or she may take ofFense, aud Mrs.
Manotte is too good friend to lose,
though it is strange she should call at
such an unseemly hour. Something
particular may bring her."
So blind was hastily opened in the
parlor and Mrs. Manotte admitted, while
Mrs. Sequn excused delay by saying
they had some unusual work claiming
their attention that morning, and told
the girl aside If the soap woman came,
to show her the ashes and scraps in the
area, and set her to work at once. Then
she returned to the parlor with Mrs.
Manotte, who was unaccountably silent
and rather stiff at length.
"Was there anything particular you.
wished, Mrs. Sequin 2" and that lady
answered, " Oh, no, Mrs. Manotte," as
she bowed her visitor out.
Mrs. M. walked home feeling rather
vexed
Il thought you said Mrs. Sequin,
wished to see me-" she remarked to the
Judge in the evening.
So Mr.. Sequin informed me-" was
the response, then she did not see fit
to employ you S'
Employ me-" echoed Mrs. Ma
notte, but the Judge was inscrutabIe.
The very next day Mr.. Sequin sought
out the Judge and said; " Your soap.
woman did not come yesterday jast tell,
me her whereabouts if you please, that
| may seek her OUT
The soap woman has informed me
that she went to your house yesterday
morning, but your wife did not say
~
believe virtually declined them"
-" 1t is not So" said Mr.. Sequn. 81
| fear the woman is not to be relied
on"
" never knew her to break her
| word; she is rather a wilful woman, but
by no means an untruthful one," the
| Judge said, with that sly twinkle in his
eye which his neighbor had learned
| carried meaning of its own.
Mr.. Sequin went home and asked
his wife if she had any callers yester~
day.
"Only Mrs. Manotte,' was the an
swer, and she came before nine clock
| in the morning; l never knew her to
call at so unreasonable an hour before.
| thought something special had brought
her, but she did no Grand"
Mr.. Sequin roared.
"Why she was the soap-woman,
wife," he said.
| Then he related what Judge Manotte
had just been saying to him, and il
seemed plain. The Judge had been
playing practicle joke OH his wife, he
was fond of such, but they were never
instigated by malicious or vindietive
spirit. She proved herself a match for
him in this instance. One day at an
hour when the streets were fullest of
| people, she asked her husband if he
would take something to Mrs. Sequin
for her ?" and he signifed his readiness
| to do so.
| " What is itp" he asked.
" You will find it on the area steps,"
she answered quickly.
II was two buckets of soap His word
was given, and he kept it, as man of
honor and Judge" should do. So
he came within one of being soft soap
| peddler.
| E9TA man had seven sons, and prop
erty of $40 900. Now the younger sons
were jealous because their father spent
more for the elder brother than he did
for them, and they entreated him to
make his will in their favor. To satisfy
their demands he made his will, and
the younger sons were contented. This
is the will; The oldest son to have
| $1,000 and an eighth of what remained