Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1880-05-08
THE PARSONS LEAP YEAR.

don't think, if | had possessed the
privilege of selecting for myself, I
could have found more delightful
position" Mr.. Roderic Racquet was
six and-and-twenty, with straight
nose, pleasant blue eyes, and gener-
al talent for being satisfied with ev-
erybody. He was located in his first
parish, picturesque little knot of
houses, over hanging brisk cataract,
which made work for mills and fac
tories, and filed all the adjacent
woods with its noisy melody aud SO
far he was one OF those exceptions in
life a perfectly satisfied man.
"Ahl !" said his friend, Mr.. Alton,
WHO was misanthrope. "The ladies,
eh ?"
Eyes" said Mr.. Racquet, quietly !;
"for, Of course, you know that much
of the prosperity of country parish
depends upon its female members" ="
"Yes," Observed Mr.. Alton dryly,
"You are an unmarried man, I be-
lieye2"
IL am an unmarried man-yes, GER
tainly."
"And this is--Leap Year"
"Nonsensel" cried the parson,
briskly.
81 hope you may find it nonsense" p"
said Mr.. Alton, pursing up his lips
but | am told that there are good
many single ladies this year who are
driven desperate by the prospect Of
spinsterhood-"
Nonsense again exclaimed Mr..
Racquet. "My dear Alton, this is a
little too much of a burlesque. You
don't seriously believe in this-thia
atsurdity ?"
Mr.. Alton only shook his head, as he
rose and reached for his hat.
"I'll get my book, Racquet" said
he, as ho looked lugubriously around
the room, "and go out for stroll in
these delicious pine-scented woods
My doctor says that pine-sap is very
healing for lungs that are consump.
lively inclined"
Every WE'LL" said the Rev. Mr.
Racquet, with glance at the scatter.
ed sheets of the half completed ser.
mon that lay ON his desk. "And
will join you after a little period o.
time"
He took up his pen, dipped it de-
terminedly in the ink-stand, and
went reaolutely to writing; but, in
spite of all his industry, the words oi
his iconolastic friend rang psrsistently
in his ears.
"If there should be any foundation
for Atoms absurd idea |" he ponder
ed, with his pen suspended above the
partially written sheet. "But, o.
course, there can't be; but if such &
possibility did exist-and a married
man is really better member of 30
society than a single one. I never
did adhere to the rigid doctrines thai
clergymen should be celibates |"
And all the while Rosa Appleton'<
cherry cheeks and tangled yellow
Lair were daacing a human will o.
the-wisp, before the horizon of his
minds eye.
"She's young" he said, to himself,
"and perhaps triAs inclined to be
giddy, but tshe's certainly very charm
ing. And, since the Appletons have
failed, and the mother has opened a
boarding.h house, and Lucilla has gone
to teaching, I don't think l could do
better than to marry"
"Rosa Appleton, sir, if you please. "
It was a timid little voice that
broke in upon the thread of his reaec-
tions, AMI Rosa herself stood before
him, coloring all over, like pink car
nation, with a basket Of late peaches
in her hand, and white futtering rib
bons in her hat.
i've called on business, sir" said
Rosa.
The Rev. Roderic moved forward a
chair.
"Pray be seated, Mrs Appleton, !"
said he not without some confusion on
his own part.
If they had been living in the Pal
ace of Truth now, and Rosa could
have seen into the deeps Of his heart !
And Miss Appleton sat down, pull
ing nervously at the fingers of her
brown thread gloves.
"It's about our Lucilla," said she.
Indeed ?" said Mr.. Racquet.