Daily globe., 1879-02-09
LISBETH'S MISSIONARY.
TT Q butchers bill, papa"

NiuSo, tAS C1eIN NJ PAShAoOA oOISh1AS
stepped everything in yellow brightness
Within the country parson sat at his 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 a 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-lookine
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 q puzzled air-"we've had NO
butchers meat this month. We have
striven to be in tae last degree cconomi-
CAL"
eyes, I know, papa.r said Polly, knit.
ting her pretty brows; 'but we ordered
three pounds of steak the day the district
missionaries dined here, and there was the
joint for that Sabbatarian society day,
and the evening the bishop was here
dom you remember?"
II remember, my child-I remember, y
said the country parson, with sigh.
''Hospitality is an agreeable duty, and
one that the good book enjoins upon us,
but it cost money, Polly-lt 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, papa,
and the account has really mounted up
beyend everything. And he says that be
hopes you will please TO settle it at once
and that hereafter he is determined to
do business only on a strictly cash basis
The Reverend Mr.. Fem smiled a sick
ly smile.
"Then I am afraid, Pelly," said he,
"that he won't do much business with
me. For as long as the vestry are SO
dilatory with their payments
eyes, papa, that's just what told
him." said Polly; "but he says that busi-
ness is business"
''He is rignt, my DEAR" said the parson,
"and am wrong; but it is through no
fault of mine. Now run away, and leave
me to nv books"
Polly Fem silently withdrew, with her
pretty brovs still knitted, as if she were
utterly hopeless of comprehending the
problem of the worlds way. The butch.
er, white aproned and burly, stood at the,
door living impersonation Of the fate
which could neither ignore nor avert.
swell, miss?" said the butcher.
papa will attend to it at his earliest
convenience, Mr.. Brisket," faltered Polly
but his earliest convenience has been
such a mortal long time comm, miss,
grum bled Mr.. Brisket. "And times is
dull. and I've got notes to meet"
I'm very sorry, Mr.. Brisket, but"--
"'Tain't no good stanuin' here" said
the butcher, irritably scratching his head.
II might ha' knowed what answer
should ma got afore crossed the 1hresh-
old. But it's hard OF poor man, that's
what it is, and them as calls themselves
gentry hadn't ought to eat if they can't
pay. III call again this day week, miss,
and them
And with this the butcher whisked
himself away under the arch Of the morn
ing glory vines, where the lccusts were
singing, and the pink and purple cups
swung to and tro in the morning wind.
And Polly, with crimson cheeks and
heart beating with vague resentment,
turned back into the sunsh1ny kitchen,
where Lisbeth was swaying nervously to
and fro in the splint- -bot,omed rocker,
with week old newspaper in her hand,
her yellow hair catching the sunbeams
like coronal Of gold as she rocked.
'Lisbeth, "said the elder sister, austere-
ly, "are the wild grapes ready for pre-
serving"
"Wild grapes?" repeated Lisbeth, fling
ing the newspaper into the window seat; :;
Il haven't thought of them since you
went away. Oh, Polly, how I wish we
were richw
Pol y advanced soberly to a flat wick
er tray of clustered grapes, full of subtle
perfume, and busted over with pale
bloom, and began to separate them from
their stems with deft, quick fingers.
"Why?' said she.
II would 60 to New York and see this
new play" said Lisbcth, still swayine
back and forth in the splint-bottomed
rocker. "O]ivia was country parsons
daughter, and so are we. I should like
to see my own counterfeit presentment
on the stage.
"Nonsense," said Polly. "You had
better come here and help with these
grapes.
It's such wretched business to be
poor" said Lisbeth. She was 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 its neighbor-
hood. "Just look at US, Polly, you and
me, two girls of nineteen and seventeen,
that ought to be enjoying ourselves and
having a good time, and here we are,
washing and scrubbing, and turning
wretched rags of dyed silk, and cleaning g
faded ribbons, counting every pound Of
rice and every potatol Even these wild
grapes, Polly, that you and I gathered
down by the edge of the swamp; we
shouldn't venture on the extravaganza of
preserving them, if Mrs. Deacon Blod-
gett hadn't offered to supply the sugar on
halves. Oh, I do hate this lifel Even
Brisket the butcher thinks he can insult
us with impunity."
"Yes,' said Polly, thoughttully, "we
mustn't order any more meat at pres
emit"
"But we must live," flashed out Lis
beth.
"There is salt mackerel," said Polly,
''and eggs, and vegetable soups, and Mrs.
Pullett always sends us nice cut of
pork andssome fresh sausage when they