The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1881-09-08

W MRS. pEIoos own

A1' HtH MshfshF AAA Noh4sf eHa
course eS.ry Que Was snIious 10 bccon
acquainted with him. ~ soon AS possibl
In woodlcigh. the recognized way Of doir
that was TO have him come 10 tea Al
spend the evening. Accordingly 4
nearly monih the Rev. John Dent
face had been missing from the tes ishI
OF Mrs. Dodd. In whose family he ts
been received ~ member until his plan
for the future had been decided upon, !
that time he bad been handed sroun
from one member Of tho congregation I
another in much the same way that pe'
book or the latest style in millinery woul
have been. He had talked literature. ar
and fashion with the dsughters aud moth
srs. and politics and church finances will
The fathers and sons He hsd sat down i
daily suppers Of fried chicken and wafiles
until his stomach began TO rebel. and Il
insist on rest or change Of diet. Thel
he began to look around TO see how mucl
longer it was going to last Tuesday
Deacon Smith had spoken for him. Wed
nesdsy he had promised TO the Martins
while Thursday had been set apart by tn,
Lawsons rs tho day on which the new pas
tor should break bread with them.
This would take him nearly around
True, there were . number OF families
whom he had never visited beyond mere
calls. but they belonged to the poorer part
OF his charge. and were OF the class who
scorned 10 make q feast unless they could
make it in every way ~ good ~ their
wealthiest neighbors. Mr.. Dent hoped
most devoutly that they might not see
their way clear, until he had, by Judi
cious use Of crackers and tes, restored his
stomach TO something like his natural
tone.
Deacon Smiths supper and the night
mare that followed it, were both safely
past, and he was on his way to fulfil his
Engagement with the Martins, walking
briskly along with the light step and
,heerful countenance OF man who had
made mp his mind to do his duty, no mat
er what it costs him. Suddenly the brick
walk ceased, and Mr. Dent stood staring
lown at an spparition which had unex-
risen from thicket OF weeds by
he roadside. 1t was not one from which
dr. Dent, or anybody else was likely TO
ecoil, for it was small and frecklsd faced,
nd moreover, was 80 badly frightened it.
eli, that it barely had breath to make the
ollowing announcement:
Please sir, aunt Polly has been took aw-
ul sick, and mothers had TO go of in
earin' hurry, an il you don't mind you're
o go to La sons this evenin' an come to
ur house another time.
Olcourse Mr.. Dent didn't care, and an
'ther time would do quite as well il not
title better, and having quieted small
'ommy Martins fears by winning smile
earty hand shake, he turned around, aud
tartsd off in the direction OF Law son 9,
Tithout even asking himself whether or
ot this sudden change Of arrangements
Tould mako any difference to them.
1t was foreordained. ! suppose. At
east that WAS the only way Mr. Dent
ould ever account for his doing such an
tterly stupid thing Is cutting across lots, |
aulting the back fence, and presenting |
imsslf ct Mr.. Lawsons back door, At An
our when he was supposed to be calmly
ating chicken off Mrs. Martins best
hina.
The Lawsons were about to partske of
heir evening mexl. Mr.. Lawson. Sam
nd John were already in their places.
[rs. Lawson was arranging the cups and
'ucers, and Mary Jane was filling up the
70 pot preparatory to sitting down, when
10 double rap was heard at the door.
The Grimeses to borrow some thing!
ish we could get through one meal with
1t them, said Mrs. Lawson, tuckip 9 her
'iled apron aside, ~ she went to 0 pen
% door
Pefore she gets 1t open, Iwould like TO
troduce you little more fully to the
awson family, that you may understand
w matters stood on that Novem Der even
8. when fate sent Mr.. Dent 10 their v
OK door.
Mr.. Lawson was an intelligent, Sellto- o
man, honest in his dealings, social in d
, relations with his fellow-men, and Of O.
nsiderable influence in the church.
rs. Lawson was kind and motherly, in I.
liable in the sick room, and authority II
oil matters relating to pickles and pre- n
'ves. Mary Jane was quite society
der, and her way Of draping her dresses b
4 doing up her hair, was always accept b
- ''styls" by her girl friends. The Ii
- were good nstured and fond Of fun, b
4 were decidedly popular, as such boys A
re apt TO be. v
u family they would have beeu re-
'ded a. perfect, II It had not been for u
I'd habit they had-in, common with . b
at many other good people of putting u
best foot foremost. @
Vhen company was coming they spared pl
no labor or trouble. that every.
ng might be as pleasant rs possible. y
~ scrubbed and swept and busted with :. :.
]; got down their best dishes. polished
ir best glass ware, and the Spoons and al
which constituted their stock OF sil. q
. until they shoneagAin; rsnsActej their m
ins TO invent dishes which should :,
ase the palate. and have an abiding 10
CO In the memory OF thex guests for in
=; arrsyed themselves in their best. Of
10 their best and acted their best; in "a
,rt thew did eyerythinr-chseYfuil and :,