The Worthington advance., 1879-02-13
1,1SBETH'S MISSIONARY.


The good he should not live to see.
1ISBETH'S MISSIONARY.
"The butchers bill, papai''
Outside the locusts were piping shrilly
among the blue cups Of the moraing-glory
vines; the bland September sunshine
stepped everything in yellow brightness.
Within the country paIson 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 bis two
hands, after a fashion whichI involved
considerable rumpling Of his iron gray
hair.
"Eh9" said the parson, letting his head,
a. it were, out of custody, and coming
slowly down from the world of polemics,
Is he stared at the pretty, slender girl in
faded calico and Observation-Disclosures, who
stood beside him with an ominous-looking
piece of paper in her hand.
1.-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'ye had no
butchers meat this month. We have
striven to be in tho last degree economi-
CAL"
Eyes, 1 know, papa" 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 habbatarian society day,
and the evening the bishop was here
don't you remember?"
~ remember, my child remember"
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 Briskct that will attend to it
at my earliest convenience"
Still blue eyed Polly hesitated. sand
the grocer was here this morning, papa,
and the account has really mounted up
beysnd everything. And he says that he
hopes you will 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 sick
ly smile.
"Then am afraid, P>lly," said he,
"that be won't do much business with
me. For as long as the vestry are 50
dilatory with their payments
"Yes, papa, that's just what l told
him." said Polly; "but he says that bust
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 my books"
Polly Fem silent y withdrew, with her
pretty brows still knitted, as if she were
utterly hopeless OF comprehcndlns the
problem of the worlds way. The butch
er, white aproned and burly, stood ut the,
door q living i'm personation uf the fate
which could neither ignore nor avert.
"Well, miss2'' said the butcher.
"Papa will attend to it at his earliest
convenience, Mr. B1iskct." faltered Polly.
"But his earliest convenience has been
such a mortal long time comm, miss,
grumblcd Mr.. Brisket. "And times is
dull, and I've got notes to meet"
"l'm very sorry, Mr.. Brisket, butt
'''TaiH't no good standin' here" said
the butcher, irritably scratching his head
II might ha' knowed what answer |
should ha' got afore crossed the ,hresh.
DID,. But it's hard OF poor man, that's
what it is, and them as calls themselves
gentry haon't ought to eat if they can,
pay. I'll call again this day week, miss
and them
= And with this the butcher whiskcd
himself away under the arch of the morn
ing glory vines, where the locusts wert
singing, and the pink and purple cup!
swung to and tro in the morning wind.
And Polly, with crimson checks and
heart beating with vague resentment,
turned back into the sunshlny kitchen
where Lisbeth was swaying nervously tt
and fro in the splint- bottomed rocker
with week old newspaper in her hand
her ye How hair catching the sunbeam:
like a coronal of gold as she rocked.
"Lisbeth, said the elder sister, austere'
ly, '.are the wild grapes ready for pre-
serving"
"Wild grapes2" repeated Lisbeth, fling
ing the newspaper into the window seat
II haven't thought of them since 80,
went away. Oh, Polly, how wish w
were richr $50
Polly advanced soberly to a fiat wick.
er tray Of clustered grapes, full of subtle
perfume, and busted over with pal,
bloom, and began to separate them frou
their stems with deft, quick fingers.
"Why2" said she.
II would 90 to New York and see thi
new play" said L,sboth, still swayins
back and forth in the splint-bottomet
rocker. "Olivia was q country parson,
daughter, and so are we. I should lik,
to see my own counterfeit presentmen
on the stage.
"Nonsense,' said Polly. "You hat
better come here and help with thes,
grapes.
tits such wretched business to b,
poor!" said Lisbeth. She was spark
ling little creature, after the humming
bird style of damsel, with yellow hal
curling over her forehead, intense haze
brown eyes, and small red mouth will
dimples lowering shyly in its neighbor
hood. "Just look at us, Polly, you ant
me, two girls of nineteen and seventeen
that ought to be enjoying ourselves an(
having good time, and here we arc
"oS6 "AN OIL SAuD1HAB, Auu tuInl0)
.wretched rags Of dyed silk, and clcanin!
faded ribbons, counting every pound o
rice and every potatol Even these vii,
grapes, Polly, that you and l gathere,
down by the edge of the swamp; W
shouldn't venture on the extravaganza q
preserving them, if Mrs. Deacon Blod
gett hadn't offered to supply the sugar O.
halves. Oh, do hate this litel Eve
Brisket the butcher thinks he can insu]
us with impunity."
"Yes," said Polly, thoughttully, "w
mustn't order any more meat at pres
ent."
"But we must live," flashed out Lii
beth.
"rhere is salt mackerel," said Poll,
land eggs, and vegetable soups, and Mr.,
Pullett always sends US nice cut c
pork and some fresh sausage when the
kill their pig. Oh, we shall get alon
somehow, Lisbeth; anything is bette
than debt"