The Sentinel. [volume] (Trenton, N.J.) 1880-1882, 1881-10-15
The Parsons New Coat.

The village of Buzzville having gone
Safely through the canning and pre.
serving season having with praise
worthy zeal carried off the palm as re.
garded the annual county fair" owe,
and above the surrounding towns !; hay.
ing shone conspicuously in an elaborate
harvest festival" for their church-and
yet surviving, now cast about for other
worlds to conquer before settling down
for the winter.
"Our minister needs new coat" said
Miss Mirandy Stebbins, rafting her
knitting-needles in huge delight at first
producing an idea; che does, most
dretful bad, an that's fact. Hain't
any OF you noticed how shiny it's got?''
She cast reproachful glance on all of
the circle-who, while they waged war
on unbleached cotton and. red flannel.
also carried on admirably the war with
their tongues-and then proceeded :
can I say it's cryin' shame to see him
git up IN that pulpit another Sunday
with that old coat on. Somethin' must
done. I'm awful glad thought of it,
"You hain't thought of it any quick
er'n anybody else" spoke up little Mrs.
Biebee, a stout, buxom matron, with
flaming cheeks and her black ewes
flashed volumes. "'Tain't alwus talkin'
folks gifts the first idea. I've ben a-think-
in of that same thing for some time
now" she added, with a yenomous snap
at the p'acid figure behind the rafting
needles. can I shall do my best to cit
the Tarson one," she added, the best
rye, bread premium, which Miss Mirandy
had successfully carried off before her
very eyes at the county fair, urging her
Oh.
81 shall begin subscription right
straight off, this very minute" cried
Miss Mirandy, with great determine
ton, and starting from her chair, ignor-
ing her rival completely. "How much
will you give, Mrs. Bassett?" she asked,
going into the center OF the group to at
tack the Squares wife"
can I shall start one. with my own
name first, before I ask other folks to
give" exclaimed little Mrs. Bisoee, tri
umphantly, with an unpleasant laugh
at Miss Mirandy, who was known to be
tight as the bark of tree" "1'll give
five dollars" she added, in a loud voice,
determined to go without her new win
ter bonnet sooner than that her rival
should carry the day.
can I'll join you with another five, -
spoke up the Squares wife," looking
past Miss Mirandy to the stout little
figure with flaming cheeks. "Now, then.
Mrs. Bisbee, that's good start, I'm
sure"
There was no show now7for the spin
ster's side. since, for various reasons of
her own, the Squares wife" had gone
over to her rival. So she stalked back
to her rocking chair grimly, took up her
knitting work, and watched, as best she
might, the subscriptions grow enthusi-
astically under other hands than her
own.
At last, as the laughter and excite
nent progressed on all sides, she was
utterly unable to bear it another mo-
ment longer, and jumping up, she mum
bled something about unjust be home, y
and bounced out of the room.
I'm glad she gone" said the
squares wife," as the door closed
after the retreating form of the spinster;
"I am sick to death of havin' you
always come to me for su INSCRIPTIONS
an she never gives the first cent her
SELF"
"She wouldn't see the need OF the
parsons coat, if she had to open that
pocketbook of hern," said tall, square.
built matron, who looked as if she had
plenty of opinions of her own, and
could express them when occasion re-
CURED.
Gracious !" calculated little Mrs
Bisbee, with short laugh; "who ever
see that pocketbook anyway? l never
did, an don't b'lieve any Of you have
either"
ga cents as big as a cart-wheel tc
her." said the big square woman, who
didn't love Miss Mirandy to death
eft all runs in the family. They
wouldn't any of 'em open their mouths
to breathe, if they didn't get somethin
at the same time they Civ it out"
"Well, she won't put anythin' in nel
mouth this time" observed the
"Souare's wife," laughing, and settlin
back comfortably. "It's the first SEWN
meetin', I guess, where she's gone home
before tea"
-s"An' it means somethin' to go home
before tea from Mrs. Deacon Higby's,
exclaimed little Mrs. Bisbee, enthusi
astically, with an energetic bob OF hel
black curls over at the hostess. $50
she's lost her cake an credit, too"
81 don't know" said Mrs. Deacon
Highly, deprecatingly, though she wrig
gled all over with delight at the implied
praise to her suppers. "My doughnutl
amt SO light as usual, an the loaf CAKE
amt riz quite as I'd like it. Tht
d eacon came home last night in chill