American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1880-10-16
DEACON MARTINS LITTLE MAID.

- ha'n't got no kind o. patience
with folks that's allus lookin' for spe-
cial providences,' said Aunt Jane.
"Take 'em as hull, they're shiftless
lot, an expect to have their duty done
for, en-
The old lady's knitting-needles drove
small lightnings in and out of the stock
ing-heeI she rounded.
Now, there's Deacon Martin. He
makes me so riled settin' an settin', SO
calm-hke, whatever happens. Calm
himself a-a-''
.'Optimist. Aunt Jane, Pr inquired.
.'Meanin', ] suppose continued
the breathIess old lady, "that it's more
other peoples troubles than to stir
about an help 'em when you can. 1
ha' MT got no kind o. patience with such
folks.
IAN optimist, Aunt Jane" said L,
soothingly, sis supposed to be one
who thinks all is ordered for the best,
and who looks on the bright side of
things: sort of laughing philosopher"
.'Deacon Martin don't laugh no
more'n the rest of us, Sarah" respond
ed my aunt, with shake of her cap
ribbons. s'Sakes alive! 1 never seen
him more solemner. An the idea of
him lettin' things go to skies an sew
ems, an expectin' allus somethin'n turn
up at the last mint"
Now, Aunt jane" / interrupted
again, '.you know Catherine, Deacon
Martins little maid, is one OF his .spe-
cial providences,' you say, and she is
certainly a great favorite of yours
81 ha'n't got word to say agin Cath
crime; she's powerful smart little
creetur. But it does go agin my grain
to see how he never appears to think of
her nor help her along. an how She
clean beat out havin' to turn this way
an that to get even the reg lar meals
together. It's every bit cause he's SO
shiftless, kind o. dependin' an depend
in on somethin' outside himself.
declare when go over to that there
house o. hisn, an see her so put to it, 1
lose my Christian patience. An he
shet up-when he am traipsing round
the woods an fields arter what Gather
inc calls 'specymens,' nasty crawlin'
varmin, an weeds Interim up the hull
place-his nose stuck tween books, an
the farm goin' to the dogs under that
lazy hired help he's brought over from
the mill. How the girl stands it is
o. my mind an leave him to find his
own vittals, an cook 'em, toor'
''Why, aunt" expostulated. "Cath-
crime seems happy enough, if that's all
you have against the deacon. She sings
all day at her work, and has smile and
+. word for the very chickens about the
place"
81 dare say, dare say" reiterated
the old lady, with degree of modified
Feasibility. "But the deacon must ae-
grayate her. bein' so helpless an takin'
no notice, to speak of, of her. She s
nothin' but child, though she be SO
spry an KNOWN. She's just eighteen
next Thanksgivin' day.
30 Aunt Jane" 1 pleaded at this
convenient juncture, "you know how
often. since came, you have promised
TO tell me all about her; how she came
to be housekeeper at Deacon Martin s,
and where she got her bright ways and
education. She is not bit like the
rest of the help in the village.''
Now, if Aunt Jane could find a pa
tient auditor and happened to hit upon
a congenial topic. her cup of happiness
was full, and on this special occasion
she was satisfied.
had developed wonderful amount
of curiosity concerning the half-servant,
half-housekeeper at the Martin farm,
and admired the little active, attractive
figure of the girl as she moved about the
place, its very life and propelling
power. To be sure, old "Mother Mar.
tin" as the neighbors called the dea-
cons mother, was living, but a stroke
of paralysis had left her almost helpless,
and she was but an additional burden
to the little maid s many cares.
"I ha'n't no objection to tellin' YOU
all / know bout Catherine" responded
my aunt, with alacrity. cit a mt much,
arter all, but it's jest enough to make
me feel the deacon amt, in my mind,
payin' his dues. III she is one of his
special providences' why ant he more
thankful3''
II am SO anxious to know her story,
aunt" | interrupted.
well, then" she began. settling
herself down in her high-backed rocker
and wiping her spectacles in n slow and
enjoyable way, lyon see GATHERINGS
mother want n native. She came here
jest afore the child was born an took
the Bidwell place down by the mill 1t
want much to brag on, but there was
garden, an she sort o. got it fixed I'D
a bit, an want nowise uncomfortable
when Catherine came. But, somehow,
the widow didn't pear to be o much
account for gettin' on. She tried to do
n little sewin' an little teachin', an
L