Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1879-04-11
LIsBETH's MISSIONARY.
=. The butchers bill, papar'

try parsOn sat at his desk, with divers
and sundry sheets of sermon-paper
scattered before him, half dozen ref
erence books open at his elbow, and
his head clasped tightly between his
two hands, after a fashion which in
VolYed considerable rumpling of his
iron-grsy 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-looking piece of paper in
her hand.
"The butchers bill, papa," said Polly
Fem; and he's waiting. please.
but, my dear'-the psrson laid
down his pen, and took the bill into his
hand with a puzzled air-"we've hsd
| no butcher's-m this month. We
have striVen to be in the last degree
economical"
''Yes, L know, papa" said Polly,
| knitting her pretty brOws; "butswe or
dered three pounds of steak the day the
District Missionaries dined here, and
there was the joint for that Sabbath
rian Society day, and the evening the
Bishop was here-don't you remem-
ber?''
81 remember, nv child remem-
ber." said the country parson, with a
sigh. Hospitality is an agreeable
duty, and one that the Good Book en-
Joins upon US, but it costs money, Polly
it costs money. Put down the bill,
child, and tell Neighbor Brisket that
will attend to it at my earliest conven-
ience."
Still blue-eyed Polly hesitated. "And
the grocer was here this morning,
papa, and the account has really
mounted up beyond everything. And
he says that he hopes you will please
to settle at once, and that hereafter he
has determined to do business only on
strictly cash basis.n
The Rev. Mr.. Fem smiled a sickly
smile.
Then 1 am afraid, Polly" 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
business is business"
"He is right, my DEAR" said ths
parson, "and 1 am wrong; but it is
through no fault of mine. Now run
away, and leave me to my books"
Polly Fem silently Withdrew, with
her pretty brows still knitted, as if she
were utterly hopeless of comprehend
ing the problem of the worlds ways.
The butcher, white. aproned and burly,
stood at the door, living impersona-
ton of the fate which Polly could neith-
er ignore nor avert.
well, miss?" said the butcher.
Papa viii attend to it at his earli-
est convenience, Mr.. Brisket. = faltered
Polly.
but his earliest convenience has
been such mortal long time a-com-
in, MISS" grumbled Mr.. Brisket.
"And times is dull, and I've got notes
to meet"
I'm very sorry, Mr.. Brisket, but-''
"'Tain't no good standin' here"
said the butcher, irritably scratching
MS head. al might ha' knowed what
answer I should ha' got afore crossed
the threshold.
81 would 90 to New York and see
this new play" said Lisbeth, still
swaying back and forth in the splint-
bottomed rocker. "Olivia was coun-
try parsons daughter, and so are we.
should like to see my own counterfeit
presentment on the stage"
Nonsense" said Polly. You had a
deal better come here and help with
these crap
Its such wretched business to be
poorp' said Lisbeth. She was spark
ling little creature, after the humming-
bird type of damsel, with yellow hair
curling low over her forehead, intense
hazel-brown eyes, and small red
mouth with dimples lowering shyly in
its neighborhood. "Just look at US,
Polly, you and me, two girls of nine
teen 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 faded RIB
bons, and counting every pound of rice
and every potato! Even these wild
grapes, Polly. that you and gathered
down by the edge of the swamp, we
shouldn't venture on the extravaganza
of preserving them, if Mrs. Deacon
Blodgett hadn't offered to supply the
sugar on halves. Oh, do so hate this
life! Even Brisket the butcher thinks
he can insult US with impunity."
IL would go to New York and see
this new play" said Lisbeth, still
swaying back and forth in the splint-
bOttomed rocker. s'0livia was a coun-
try parson's daughter, and so are we.
l should like to see my own counterfeit
presentment on the stage" d"
" Nonsense" said Polly. You had
deal better come here 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 type of damsel, with yellow hair
curling low over her forehead. intense
hazel-brown eyes, and a small red
mouth with dimples lowering shyly in
its neighborhood. "Just look at us.
Polly, you and me, two girls of nine
teen 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 rib
bons, and counting every pound of rice
and every potato! Even these wild
grapes, Polly, that you and l gathered
down by the edge of the swamp, VT
shouldn't venture on the extravaganza
of preserving them, if Mrs. Deacon
Blodgett hadn't offered to supply thu
sugar on halves. Oh, do so hate this
life! Even Brisket the butcher think
he can insult US with imPunity,"
"Yes.'' said Polly, thoughtful,
"we mustn't order any more meat u
present"
But we must live," flashed out Lis
beth.
"There is salt mackerel,'' said Poi
ly, "and eggs, and vegetable soups
and Mrs. Pullett always sends us a mic
cut of pork and some fresh sausage
when they kill their pig. Oh. we sha
get along somehow, Lisbeth; anythin
is better than debt"
Lisbeth looked up with sparklin
eyes.
"Polly," cried she, "why don't tn.
increase papa's salaryP Six hundr
dollars year is a shameful pittan
for such a man as he is"
Polly shook her head over the grapes
Papa isn't young man any longer,
I1isbeth," said she, "and he isn't as
=, L.