Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1881-09-27

1t might have been lingering recollec
tion of Hetty's song, it might have bee
one of those celestial providences whicl
we call chance, which led him to rea'
from the gospels the story of the wan
dering sheep, and the lost piece of silver
1t is doubtful if any of them were yer!
deeply touched by it. 1t was familia
story to the good wife, and she could no
keep her thoughts from straying anxious
ly to the loaves rising perilously in thu
pans, while Hetty glanced at the clock
and secretly hoped her father had no
chanced upon long chapter. The read
ing came abruptly to an end with the
heavenly rejoicing over one sinner thai
repenteth, and with an earnest though
homely prayer the service was ended.
Abner and Reuben almost stumbled over
a woman sitting absorbed in the doorway
Silas looked at her, but did not stay to
question, and when they were gone, she
rose and said abruptly, will you give
me some breakfast"
Mrs. Rogers looked at her. She saw
tall and not uncomely woman Of about
thirty, but with something indefnably
evil about her face. The hard mouth, the
bold defiant eyes rePelled her, yet seemed
as if at any instant they might break in
to scornful tears.
Who are you :" asked the good wife,
coming nearer with her pan of bread in
her hand. Again the face lightened and
darkened. grew hard and then yielding,
with the sudden declaration:
~ an the piece tiai ,ods ioSt!'
Martha Rogers had not particle OF
poetry in her nature, but she had the
most profound reverence for the Scripture,
therefore the words both puzzled and
shocked her. But she was not woman
to refuse bread to the hungry, so she
placed food upon the table and motioned
the woman to a chair. with brief " set
up and eat
All the time that the woman was eat
ing. and she did not hasten, her eyes fol
lowed the mistress and Hetty, till Mar
tha Rogers grew nervous and sent Hetty
to "red up the chambers"
As soon as she was gone the woman
turned abruptly from her breakfast.
"Will you give me work to do:' she
demanded rather than asked.
"Who are YOU asked Mrs. Rogers
again, simply to gain time.
II thought you knew. am Mol
Pritchett; they have turned me out Of my
house; burned it over my head" and the
eyes grew lurid with evil.
What can you do: = asked Mrs. Rog-
ers, ieebly.
Anything that woman can do, or a
man. can work in the field with the
best Of them; have done il many time {;
but should like to do what-;o be like
other women.
Are you good woman: ::
The question came straight and strong
without any faltering. She had heard OF
this Moll Pri,chet,, woman who lived
alone in an old tumble-down hut below
the saw.mill, and Won u meager living
by weaving carpet-rag., picking berries
for sale, and i, was suspected in less rep
u,able ways but Martha Rogers took no
stock in idle rumors. Ii she had not di-
vine compassion, she had something very
like divine justice, which is altogether a
sweeter thing in lis remembering OF our
frame than the tender merc.es OF the
wicked.
The woman looked at her ouriously.
At first with a mocking smile, then with
sullen, and at last with defiant express
sion.
"Is it likely" she said fercely, a
good woman How should be good
woman tell you am the piece that
was lost,' and nobody ever looked for me.
If ] was a good woman. do You suppose
| should be where | be-only twenty
eight years old, well and hearty, and ev-
cry door in the world shet in my face /:
tell ye the man that wrote that story
didn't know women; they don't hunt fol
the piece that's lost; they just let it Co.
There's enough on 'em that don't gel
lost"
Poor Martha Rogers was sorely per.
picked, all the more that her way had
lain so smooth and plain before her that
she might have walked in it blindfolded
If this was lost piece Of money, it wa:
not she who lost it; but what if it were
the Masters, precious to his heart, and q
careless hand had dropped it, and left il
to lie in the dust: And what if he badt
her seek it, and find it for him: Shoult
she dare refuse; On this very day wher
she needed so sorely the help which sh'
had looked for in vain, had not this wo'
man been sent to her very door, and wa:
it not a plain leading Of Providence: Il
is blessed thing for US that we are usu
ally driven to act first and theorize after
wards. even though the after though
sometimes brings repentance. The breae
was ready for the oven and the wood. DO,
was empty.
"You may fetch in some wood" sait
Martha Rogers, and the woman prompt!
obeyed, filling the box with one load o
her sinewy arms, and then stood dumb!
waiting. Hetty came into the kitchen
and began to clear the table, but her mo
ther took the dishes from her hands.
$50 upstairs and fetch big aprol
and one Of your sweeping caps, and thel
you may get at your sewing and see i
you can finish up your dress"
Away went Hetty, her light hear
bounding with the unexpected release