The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1880-04-27

other. Lend the manuscript of your
last sermon to old Miss Dadd to read.'
But hadn't any manuscript to read
only half a dozen memoranda.
preached entirely ex tempore, last Sum
day."
"Couldn't you just write II Off from
memory p'' said Mrs. Caryl, piteously.
"The poor old lady seems so anxious.
She said the sermon impressed her so
deeply"
Really, mother, l think that's q
little unreasonable" said the pastor.
"Suppose every old lady In the parish
were to require me to write out twelve
page sermon for her especial benefit
give Miss Hits list of hymns for
next Sunday Yes, I'll do that-as
well now as any time. Speak to Mrs.
Prune's Sarah p Who Is Mrs. Prunes
Sarah : And what am l to speak TO
her about, I'd like to know 7" demanded
this young clergyman, in sort of mild
desperation.
Don't you know" explained Mrs.
Caryl. It's Mrs. Prune that lives
down by the steam sawmill, in the big
white house, with the poplar trees In
front of 1t. And it's her step.daughter,
that's come home from the third situa-
ton, all on account of the ribbons In
her hat, and her pride in her own pretty
face"
And l am to speak to her, ELI 2"
said the young pastor.
Yes, you are to speak to her." said
his mother.
81 shall do nothing of the Sort" de-
clared Mr.. Caryl, with some emphasis.
"But you must, Charles I" pleaded
the old lady. It's in the line of your
regular duty"
Mr.. Caryl hesitated, and wrinkled his
brow in sore perplexity.
"Do you think so 7" said he.
"I'm sure of It'll" declared the old
lady.
Conscientiousness was one of the
strong points of Mr.. Caryl's character.
He took up his hat
eff it's got to be DONE" said he, des-
perately, the sooner the better !"
But you'll stop for your tea first,
Charles ?" urged Mrs. Caryl "Hot
corn-bread and strawberry jam"
"I'll stop for notbingp" said Mr..
Caryl. Don't fret, little mother; cit
won't take me long to speak to Sarah"
And he disappeared with laugh.
AS it happened, he never before had
been called upon to practice this particu-
lar branch of his profession, pleading
with the rebellious lambs of his flock
who thought more of their bright eyes
than they did of their hymn books; and
he turned the matter over in his mind
as he walked along the frosty woodland
path, where the young moon cast a
fitful, evanescent light, and the dead
leaves sent up faint odor beneath his
feet.
"Speak to Sarah," he muttered to
himself, not without certain percep-
ton of the ridiculous side of the matter.
"And what am 1 to say to her, won
der ?"
He knocked softly at the big front
door of the Prune mansion. A shut
fling, untidy girl of fourteen or fifteen
opened it, hiding behind shawl and
fringe of curl papers.
is Mrs. Prune at home ?" said he.
"No, she ain't," retorted the girl.
Mr.. Caryl paused. He scarcely knew
what question to ask next.
I" Is Sarah at home 2" he demanded,
after little.
Miss Sarah ?"
swell I suppose it can hardly be
'Mr.' Sarah" said the young clergyman,
halfsmilingly. yes, Miss Sarah of
course"
''She's at home," said the girl, un-
graciously, opening the door little
wider. "Came this afternoon. Settin'
in the parlor. Walk in, please"
And without further ceremony, Mr..
Caryl found himself ushered into
semi-dark apartment, where tall,
slender young beauty of eighteen sum-
mers or so, sat before the fire, in a plain
black dress, with the simplest of cuffs
and collars, and single pale blue rib
bon fastened into the thick, dark braids
of her hair-aperson so entirely different
from what he had expected to see that
he stopped short in some perplexity.i,
$ Is this-ahem Sarah 7" he asked.
I" 1 am Sarah Fielding" she respond
ed.
~ have called = to speak to you,D
said he, with q desperate rallying of his