Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1879-04-11

Lisbeth stopped short, scarlet and
7onfused, in this rhapsody of hers, for.
aancing to glance up, she beheld in
| . doorway a tall and solemn-faced
| ing man, with an umbrella in one
nj aud travelling sachel in the other.
I'VE don't want anything. please. -
said she, jumping at once to the con-
clusion that she beheld book agent,
OF vendor of patent polish, or some
such itinerant tradesman.
! 81 beg your pardon" said the gen.
/ ;ieman, apparently as much embar-
| rassed as was she herself; Il must
/ haze mistaken the house. | was look
irg for the Reverend Francis Fennr'
My good gracious! another mission
/ ary." murmured isbeth soto UOce, as
Polly stepped graciously forward, say
! ing:
"YOu are not mistaken, sir; this is
| the house. Please to walk into the par
lor, and will speak to papa"
The best room of the parsonage was
cool and dark, with green paper shades
drawn down, a jar of fragrant dried
rose leaves in the fireplace, and q
home-braided rug of party-oolored
cloth laid carefully down before the
sofa to hide the darned spot in the car
pet.
Not that chair, please, 1" said Polly,
coloring up to the roots of her hair, as
the unwary stranger advanced toward
q certain corner; g the leg is broken,
lnd we've glued it, and I'm afraid it s
not quite safe. This one is better"
While Lisbeth, hiding her face in her
apron, murmurs to herself - Is there
world at1Uays to be full of glue and
patches. and mends and make-shifts? s?'
f" Lisbeth," said Polly, returning,
''go and call papa"
''It's another missionary, I'm sure"
said Lisbeth, unwittingly pulling down
the sleeves of her brown calico dress.
''And l know he'll stay to dinner, and
he's got a hungry glare in bis eyes,
and there's nothing for dinner out bar
Icy soup and a cabbage. Oh, Gearm
with a grimace which made Polly laugh
IN spite of herself, al wish the race of
missionaries was extinct"
The country parson looked mildly up
from the second paragraph of his
ulLOlf do A4sOCln liz ELAC44-
ing of wild grapes, with an aureole Of
yellow hair about her face.
Papa" said she, there's a gen.
tleman in the parlor to see you, with q
carpet-bag and white neck-tier'
"Ahp' said the clergyman. "a Wis
itor, l suppose. He is most welcome.
But 1 am just at present deep in the
thread of a complicated polemic theo-
ry. Make my compliments to the gen
tleman, Lisbeth, and beg his indulgence
for a quarter e an hour or So" And
the parson dipOed his pen resolutely
into the time-sLained woolen standish,
as if be was determined TO settle the
subject at once.
but, papar' Lisbeth had crus ht
at his coat-cuf to reclaim him, tempo
rarily, from the abysses of theological
argument.
Yes, my DEAR" looking absently at
"Do you think he'll stay to dinners''
"I shall invite him, my dear, most
assuredly."
Lisbeth's countenance fell. "But,
papa" faltered she, there's nothing
but barley-soup."
1--WE will serve it with the good
fashioned sauce of welcome, my deaI
said the Reverend Mr.. Fem, with a
grave, sweet smile, g and 1 doubt not
it will suffice"
with heightened color and quick, impa-
tient breath. " "Papa's an angel" said
she, to herself; "but angels never were
adapted to get along in this work-a-day
world" She put her golden head into
the parlor-door for an Instant .aPapa
is very busy with his Thirdly" said
she, with roguish twinkle in the deep
hazel eyes. " and he begs you'll be good
enough to wait until he's through"
The stranger bowed, and looked more
embarrassed than ever. as he answered,
"Oh, certainly, certainly. 1 am in no
haste whatever"
And Lisbeth went back to her sister.
Polly" said she, "what shall we
doP Company to dinner, and nothing
10 give them"
Polly. - Put on your things, Lisbeth.
Go out and buy a fowl, and quart of
potatoes, and a loaf of bread. And
stop at Mr.. Dakin's for an ounce of his
best tea and a quarter of a pound of
butter"
Lisbeth opened her eyes very wide a.
this extravagant or'ter.
- Oh, You reckless Pollyp' said she;
land wnere are all the funds to come
frOm?'
Polly sighed softly. a shall have
to take the dried-cherry money!" sail
she, ''that l was saving up for my fall
hat and gloves. But it isn't much
matter. l dare say can manage yer,
well with the old ones for little whit
longer"
"It's a shamer' cried Lisbeth, vehe
mently. "And to think how you tOile,
all those hot summer days to pick anc
dry those black Ox-hearts.'
"There's no help for it. DEAR" sal
Polly, gently. Get your hat on quic
there's no time to lose"
"But it isn't fair" protested Lis
beth. why should all the travelin
preachers and book agents and miSSi'
collectors come here and eat US out
house and home? Why don't thev
to Mr.. Croeus?''
Polly smiled. Because Mr.. Cro,-,
doesn't make them welcome. and pal
Goes said she.
81 do WONDER" cried Lisbeth, i'll
retuously, if there is any other rae.
CT men imposed upon as country mil
isters are? Mark my words, Polly,
lever, neUer, will marry a"
But by this time Polly had tied 2.
eT sisters straw fat, and twisted
Lruslin scarf across her shoulders.
"Do make haste, DEAR" said she, /
accents of gentle entreaty, as she point,
upward to the clock
Scarcely fifteen minutes had elapSe'
when Lisbeth came flying back, wit
yellow tTeSSes streaming behind. an
market basket in her hand.
"There, Polly" cried she, in the
clear, light voice of girlhOOd, as she
deposited plump chicken on the table,
"there's your new hat; and there" as
she laid down a packet of groceries,
are your gloves; and here" rattling
out the potatoes, As my last chance
for new blue neck-tiei And l do hope.
Polly, that they'll give the missionary
the worst kind of a dyspepsia"
"Lisbethr'
"Well, but 1 do,' saucily retOrted
the girl, as she turned to put away her
nat. "And- Oh, PoI-lyr'
Polly turned around with start, at
he changed tenor of her SISTERS voice.
What is it, Lisbeth? You're not
Up"
T:L.,l. I'll . II -. foo,, ,,OiptaI