Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1881-06-29
aMisfellanu.
The DeacOn's Gift.

less struggle TO fit the button.l ole in hi.
shirt He did not swear but the gray cat,
blinking her eyes drowsily from her sleep
irg place under the stove, suddenly sneak
ed past him and into the sitting room anC
took refuge upon the skirt OF Mrs Frost
calico gown. There were thunders and
hghtenlngs portentous in the atmosphere
and the good woman looked up from the
stocking she was darning barely in time
to escape the storm.
Why father what's the troublee Here
let me button it. Sit right down here and
let me lix you off and the pale, worried
looking woman laid her hand coaxingly
upon his arm.
Well, button it, then, if you re going to!
should like 10 know if I'm ever going to
have button right rs long as live. Two
women folks, and nobody to take n stitch
in NV clothes. Where's MaryP She's al
ways out of sight when she's wanted.
There was no fault with the button or
the hole, but only with the stiff, clumsy
fingers unused To any service 40 small.
But his wife did not tell him that the Sc
cret of his inability to manage his collar lay
in the fact that all his life 1.-TWO women
folks" had done it for him. She only fas-
tened the necktie, brushed his hair, and
helped him on with his overcoat, saying
gently, presume Mary's getting ready to
90 with you. You know you always like
TO have her 90 to meeting with you on the
last of the year.
Then if she's going, tell her to come
along! | can't wait for her to put on all
her furbelows. | want to stop at Squire
Nelson's about that mortgage. Of course
he means to foreclose.
Oh, no! don't believe it Gideon. He
isn't any such man, and the poor woman's
ace grew shade more weary and white
but YOU 90 right along, and Mary will go
when she is ready, It's a beautiful night,
and I'll walk down with her myself. You
will be there to come home with her?
OF course | shall. I'll be there, if for
nothing else than to keep George Nelson
from coming. He needn't think I'm GO
ing to let the farm and the girl both 60 in
to his father s family.
Now, Gideon, don't talk SO! You've
been behind on the interest before this,
and Squire Nelson was willing to wait.
don't believe he will touch the farm.
The deacon didn't believe it either. but
he didn't get much comfort from that,
since it did not alter the fact of his not
having the money due, or save him from
the duty of saying so to the bland old
squire. And Deacon Ere st was the last
man in the world to let his wife be COM
forted if he was uncomfortable himself. He
always told her the darkest side, and that
made the meek soul feel that in some
mysterious way she was responsible for all
his woes. He looked and acted rs if they
were her fault; and she had grown so used
to it that she often acted herself as if it
must be so. So when he added, sulkily,
that if his son had behaved himself and
stayed at home AMI helped him, the mort
gage would have been paid off long ago,
she only sighed, but did not venture to
speak good word for her boy.
As the deacon, smoothed and brushed
and grumbing still, passed out, Mary
came into the room just in time to hear
the vigorous bang her father gave the
door; in time also. to hear the great tlut-
terng sigh, almost sob, that broke from
her mothers lips.
Father gomez asked the girl.
Yes, dear, and I'll walk down little
way with you, said her mother, STOPPING
to pick up the stocking she was darning,
thus hiding her face from her daughter s
eyes.
No mother, don't want to 60. can't
let YOU 20 out on such cold night. was
going more because thought father would
expect it than for anything else.
Perhaps he will not mind, said the
mother hesitating, though as usual, be
was not pleased that | did not go, and
thought perhaps l ought to ii it would
make him any happier.
But it wouldn't, mother dear. said the
young girl, hastily. and throwing aside
her cloak, drew chair up to her mothers
side and gently pulled the darning from
her hands as she went on: | really think
the more we try to please him in every
little thing, the more fault finding and eX-
acting he becomes.
Hush, child! and the mothers thin hanC
passed softly down the girls cheek to hel
lips.
Mary captured it in both her own, kiss
ed it and answered, laughingly-
Don't hush me, mother. I'm not a
child any longer, ana see my father as
would see any other man. The fact is, we
have spoiled him, until his habit of finding
fault with trihes, and holding somebody
responsible for all his discomforts, is al
most unendurable He isn't conscious o
it, and if tonight at meeting somebod.
should tell him of it, he would be as mucf
surprised as anybody.
And he would pray as earnestly as any
body to he delivered from it, said his wife
Yes, if they were successful in making
him believe he had any such fault, laugh
ed Mary; but we two who love him best
have never dared TO let him know we saw
it, so he would not easily be con vinced.
He's good man, Mary good Chris
tian man, honest rs the light
And cross rs a bear, and
Mary!
Mother and Mary's eyes twinkled.
never knew you to speak so OF you
father.
But wish had spoken long ago, AM
I'm going to speak now. I'm going Il
tell him what think about it all. Thin
what "a doleful forlorn Christmas we had
But your father never kept Christmas
When he was young the people though
more of the first day of the New Yeal
and | doubt if he ever had a present in hi
life; and when your brother used to wan
to hang up his stocking he would tell hin
what hard times he had rs a child; that b
was glad to get enough to eat, without ask
lnQ IOE DTGSGUlS. vi COuiot, pNOu "hOh
had saved up few slxpences to buy tn
child gift, such IA remark took the pleas
ure out of it; so as he grew older, we sal
nothing about it to his father, but | use
to manage to slip a new handkerchief, o
necktie, or II pair OF mlttens, In nj
drawer.
Yes, / understand it, mother, for eve
now, if he looks at me when | have on
new dress, feel suddenly guilty and as
the old one ought to have served nnothe
year.
Well, he has great many cares, child
and he cannot help being angry when h
is in debt. He's growing old, daughter
and we mustn't mind his ways. To-nlgf
he was especially anxious to get off early
and everything went wrong You kno'
he is never late to church, added the loy'
wife, anxious to say all possible good.
All that may be true, mother, and out !
the world he bears things like a man an
Christian. I've no doubt he will give