Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1881-09-12

the hustle among the poultry, the low
ing of some impatient cow. or the sound
Of her companions nipping the short.
juicy grass, the unwilling creak of
rheumatic pump handle, and here and
there the dull thud of an improvident
axe preparing the kindling for the
kitchen fire.
The day was we'll under way in Silas
Rogers household before the majority Of
his neighbors had reached this point.
The cows were MIXED and turned into
the green lane to make their own way
to the pasture, the steady whirl of the
grindstone and the sharp ring of steel
told that the moments before breakfast
were being made the most of, and even
at table there were few words spoken,
and no useless lingering. But after
breakfast Silas Rogers took down the
leather-covered Bible that had been his
old mothers daily companion for eighty
years, and all the family sat reverently
down to worship. The golden moments
might speed as they would, but no day
in that household began without its por-
tion from the Bible. 1t might have
been lingering recollection of Hetty's
song. it might have been one of those
celestial providences which we call
chance, which led him to read from the
gospels the story of the wandering
sheep and the lost piece of silver. 1t
is doubtful if any of them were very
deeply touched by it. 1t was a famil-
lar story to the good wife, and she could
not keep her thoughts from straying
anxiouslY to the loaves perilously in the
pans, while Hetty glanced at the clock
and secretly hoped her father had not
CHANGED upon long chapter. The
reading came abruptly to an end with
the heavenly rejoicing over one sinner
that repenteth, and with an earnest
though homely prayed the service was
ended.
Abner and Reuben almost stumbled
over 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 was
tall and not uncomely woman of
about thirty. but with something in
definitely evil about her face. The
hard mouth, the bold, defiant eyes, re-
PEELED her, yet seemed as if at any mo-
ment they might break into scornful
tears.
"Who are you?' asked the good
wife. coming nearer with her pan OF
bread in her hand. Again the face
lightened, grew hard and then yielded,
with the sudden declaration:
81 am the piece that was lost"
Martha Rogers had not particle Of
poetry in her nature, but she had the
most profound reverence for the Scrip
ture, therefore the words both puzzled
and shocked her. But she was WON.
an not to refuse bread to the hungry
so she placed food upon the table and
motioned the woman to chair, with ;
brief "Set up and eat.
All the time that the woman wa
eating. and she did not hasten, her eye
followed the mistress and Hetty. unit
Martha Rogers grew nervous, and sen
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 p sh
demanded rather than asked.
"Who are you ?" asked Mrs. Roger
again. simply to gain time.
81 thought you knew. l am Mol
Pritchett; they have turned me out Q
my house; burned it over my head,
and the eyes grew lurid with evil.
.'What can you do? asked Mrs. Rog
ers, feebly.
Anything that woman can do, Q
man. l can work in the field wit
the best of them | have done it man
time; but should like to do what
to be like other women"
"Are you good woman 2"
The question came straight an
strong. without any faltering. She ha
heard of this Moll Pritchett, woma
who lived alone in an old tumble-dow
hut below the saw-mill, and won a mea
gre living by weaving rag-carpets, picl
ing berries for sale. and it was suspect
ed in less reputable ways; but Marth
Rogers took no stock in idle rumor
If she had not divine compassion st
had something very like divine justic
which is altogether sweeter thing
its remembering of our frame than tt
tender mercies Of the wicked.
The woman looked at her curiousl
At first with mocking smile, the
with sullen, and at last with de6ar
expression.
| ''Is it likely ?" she said fercely. s'
good woman ? How should | be GOO
woman? | tell you I'm the piece th
r was lost and nobody ever looked f
+ me. If | was good woman do yo