Connecticut western news., 1880-11-24

gle was, as she often boasted, Gone of the kind that never stood on ceremony" Indeed, she didn't consider it necessary door, although she was thoughtful enough, in opening it, to do so softly. The minister's wife was just taking from the oven newly warmed chicken pie, which she nearly dropped from her hands, so startled was she by the sharp, shrill voice that spoke so close to her ear
 "Good-mornin' Mis- Graham. Haint been to breakfast yet, I see. We had ours half an hour ago. I know my mother used to say that janybody lost an hour in the the mornin', they might chase after it all day, an not ketch up with it then.
 "That's a good-lookin' pie,-pretty rich pastry, though, for chicken pie ! I don't never put much shortenin' in anything of that kind; it's rich enough inside ter make up. But you're young, an have got good many things to learn yet. run in ter see if you could spare me cup O yeast mine soured, an the last batch O bread made had ter throw to the hogs"
 Certainly" and roguish smile fit | ted over the fair face of the minister's wife, at this specimen of her meddle- some neighbours own economy. But she had learned rare letter of judicious silence, and taking the cup that Miss Patience produced from beneath her shawl, she bade her visitor be seated while she left the room to get the de- sired article.
 As her steps died away, Miss Patience noiselessly arose from her seat, and ap- preaching the dresser upon which the pie stood, peered curiously into the apertures in the crust, her sharp face expressing eager curiosity. "I'll bet ninepence she didn't know enough ter put crackers in. wislo't I could get one look, jest to satisfy my own mind," sine added. And deter mined to accomplish her object at all hazards, she rau knife deftly around a small portion of the edge, and inserted four inquisitive fingers, lifted the brown crust, and took a glimpse of the con- tents.
 A look of unmitigated disgust passed over her face. Dropping into a con- venient chair, she actually groaned | aloud.
 "Well, never an we payin' that man five hundred dollars year, besides a donation party at christmas. Ough p
 Unsuspicious Mrs. Graham, as she re- turned with the yeast, was somewhat puzzled by the sudden frostiness of her guest, who hurried out of the house as if some dreadful contagion had hunted it but when the minister, in carving the pie that the deacon's wife had sent, made two curious discoveries almost simultaneously, the reason for Patlence's altered demeanor was made plain, and the young pair had hearty laugh that made the old parsonage ring like peal of Thanksgiving bells.
 The Tuesday following wss the regu- lar day for the weekly sewing circle, and seldom had that interesting gathering proved so lively and animated as on this occasion.
 Miss Patience was in the field bright and early, and it was evident at glance to those who knew her best that she was well-nigh bursting with some i'm portant secret that she was only wait ing fitting opportunity to divulge That opportunity was notlong in coming for Mrs. Dea. Farrell, who was 8 con stitutional croaker, took occasion to say in reference to the hard times,-
 "The deacon has been tryin' ter col lect the church tax, and he says he never found money so tight in all the years he's lived here. It's as hard tel get five dollars now as 1t used to be tel get ten."
 "And no wonder," spoke up Mis- Patience, with the stony severity of { sphinx. "You can't expect folks tel feel like payin' out their money whe1 they see it fairly thrown away an wasted"
 1 Everybody looked curious, and some of the younger girls began to bridl' defantly. The minister's sweet young wife was evidently favorite with them at least.
 "What do you mean by that ?" asked Mrs. Deacon pointedly. "Mis' Graham is young and inexperienced, to be sure but, as the deacon was sayin' onl, yesterday, she does very well indeed considerin'.
 Miss Patience tossed her head know ; ingly. "I don't want ter say nothin to hurt her, but, livin' next door as do, can't always help seein' an hearin things that other folks can't be expecte, to know about, and when see an knoy |, things like "-
 l, There was an ominous pause, and tn deacon's wife asked, excitedly,-
 Like what p
 "Chicken pies, with the legs an fee of the chickens baked in p Had thunder bolt fallen among ther , it could not have caused greater surpris to those tidy, thrifty New Englan , housekeepers than this dreadful revela tion of the incapacity of the pastor 7 young wife. "Are you sure of it?" gasped on matron, breaking the ominous silence
 "I know it for fact," was solemnl l returned.
 5 Chickens legs in pie p 5 "She's born fool P calculated tn 7 deacon's wife, indignantly, "and IT thankful for her poor husbands sak 3 that sent her over one of my pies yes 8 terdaY They had to throw hers AWAY