, 1880-08-02

the pitcher on her shoulder. / haven't
the gold earrings and bracelets to Of
feryou, but have all the rest" she
added, laughing nervously.
Just now the deacon came in. Now
there is in the opinion Of his wife but
one reason why Deacon Shackelford
didn't make the world. He found it
already made. And when he came in
she looked up to him as though Atlas
had come, and she could safely drop
the world on his shoulders, and go of
picking golden apples.
II was just speaking good word
for Mr.. Brodhead to Bella. deacon" +"
said sine.
"Ah and what does Bella say 2"
returned the deacon, locking as though
it were question of investing in real
estate, or the price Of gold.
bella doesn't say anything" l re-
piled. Certainly not before she is
asked.
"You need not wait long. if that is
ALL" answered Deacon Shackelford.
LII ask you now. Have You any OBJ
lection to an offer Of marriage from Mr.
Brodhead? There !"
''He is a very bashful man, NJ.
Brodhead is, Bella. and SO he got us to
help him little. Why he is in love
with. you," interposed Mrs. Deacon
Shackelford; he is in love with You
down to his boots.
LET it run out OF his toes, then,
said L. beginning to feel like new
yeast.
But you can't have any thing against
the man." persisted Mrs. Deacon.
And think after awhile you wont
have your grandfather and your Aunt
Susannah to talk 60, and You will miss
it il you don't have somebody in their
place. 1t is best to think of these
things. And you won't dnd q kinder
man, If you search the world over with
. wax candle, than MIR. Brodhesd."
"Mr. Brodhesd is we'll enough, Mrs.
Shaokelford. I don't deny that. But
the idea of making q proposal of this
sort through middle meu I It 10 too
absurd !" Isaid laughing, and put on
my hat.
So went home to my classes in en-
broiaery and drawing, and wax work
to making Aunt Sdsannah's caps and
grandfather's coffee. Ny life was full
Of monotonous work in those days; and
sometimes had strange, unc0mfOrt-
able impression of machine wound
up and running without any act of its
own.
One evening when I was putting
away the silver after supper, and feel
ing the creak and crank of the whe els
more than usual. as though the ma
chine needed oillng, the front gate
slammed, and steps came along up the
walk.
~ knowed some one was coming.
I've knowed all day some one was talk
ing of coming" said City Pullen, who
Ito accommodate, as sue often told
us, had kindly consented to rule over
our kitchen and us with rod of pine
I'm the form of crutch).
As City had ne home, Go money,
and only one foot of her own, but as
good rs four ears and two tongues, it
might seem sometimes that the accom-
modatlon was two-sided. However,
things are not what they seem.
II knowed it was Mr.. Corliss !" pur-
sued Gritty, triumphantly, as grand
father opened the door and disclosed
the figures of our minister aud his
wife. Il can tell his step as far off as
Can hear it. Did you ever notice his
e, p she continued. "They look
like two holes burned in a blanket.
And he holds his heao just like Deacon
Sbackleford's s old white horse"
And then she disappeared into the
kitchen with her crutch and the Cat,
while Aunt Susannah put i'll her teeth,
put on her black silk apron, and went
with her meeting step into the parlor.
When I followed her soon after, l
found her talking in as steady flow
as the waters came down at Lodore, to
Mrs. Corliss, who sat by the woodbine
window, with hands folded in black
netted mitts across her lap, and her
tea-colored curls shaking their heads.
as it we're, at the world and its vanities;
while grandfather, who had been senior
deacon for fifty years, and had no idea
| even the church edifice could stand
| without him, was already in deep dis
cussion with Mr.. Corllss upon the
question then absorbing and disturb
ing us, as to whether our Sabbath school
should hereafter be called Sunday
school.
"I can never consent to have re-
llgious organization known by heathen
name," grandfather was saying, as L
heard him say half hundred times
before.
And Mr.. Corliss, with his serene
white head bent toward him, was think
ing how he could braid in one of the
fossilized fathers and the versatile sons
of the church.
So there was nothing for me to do
but to sit and smile and listen; for
grandfather and Aunt Susannah were
not the persons to yield tho floor when
it was once theirs by priority.