Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-10-01
GaIes ano Sketfbes.
wELeOxE.
fConrrnuen from Yesterday. }
BY II. g. e.


ed and Drowned. for people may be very
thankful for 4 much poorer repast. Mr..
and Mrs. Foster sat through the whole
They would not. indeed. be expected to
partake. az they had Just dined. but they
tried their best to entertain the couple 50
soon to leave for melancholy duty
These ministers were not starr Of the
first magnitude. and Nancy did not think
that she learned much fren sundry feeble
discussions upon mean parishes where
people did not half pay their pew-taxes,
and still meaner ones under the voluntary
system. where nobody contributed more
TRAN dime: and she thought Of the Indian
dropping one cent into the box. a. he COM
inented, Poor preach. poor pay"
The wayfarers were soon warmed AMI
refreshed They tarried a short time for
compliments. and then went on their way
10 the residence Of the Smith family.
Every vestige ofthe chickens had disap-
pcared also the whole Of the pie. with the
exception Of a small triangle The cider
pitcher was drained, and the loaf Of bread
demolished. Mrs. Foster, and Nancy
had with some oayety, made these obser-
vations. when the formfr despite the self
control resulting from her good education,
Hdtt II Sil1uL WI. i'7eSi. ''c
was on the point Of entering his study,
which adj0ined the diningroom, turned
quickly, with the exclamation
What il the matter. my lOve?'
Mrs. Foster was standing erect, with no
symptoms of Illness; but her eyes had II
defiant. rather than a serene and joyous
expression. Her appearance was not at
all suggestive Of Faith. Hope and Charity.
al rap,.i,,ip,v the fable a : If III
reclng her handmaiden. she looked from
the western windows. The shadows
were beginning to add their beauty to the
scene: the hills In the distance quivered
with the haze OF purple and gold the sun
CLEANED brightly amid the foliage Of the
forest the brook murmureda happy song
as il ran toward the river; the roses and
geraniums. in blissful ignorance OF mortal
care and perplexity. were enjoying the
glory of the day.
Mr.. Foster followed the fash of his
wile's eyes These rested not upon nat
urc's fair adjoining, and he was in mood
to rc-echo her Decentralization when he
plainly saw coming along a by-road in the
direction of his own house other two hors-
es. each bearing minister. They soon
drew near, secured their stecds near the
gate, where they could lunch upon the
lawn. with It's grass just three inches high.
This done, the third reverend couple bound
ed up the path with light steps. greeted
their most and hostess. who received them
with great good -humor. having now made
up their minds to look upon the grotesque
side of things. The twain proved TO be
father and son. The sire, with gushing
air. exclaimed
.stV harn a., think w Ironn
Brother FOSTER"
The wearied man thus addressed longed
TO answer. ITO Nova Zemba or New
Zealand" but he had the grace to respond
pleasantly
THAT YOU must tell me never could
manage n conundrum.'
ITO my cousins golden wedding this
evening; and not shadow of an inn nor
restaurant have we seen on our way.
Ii is rather late. OF course you have dincd
but would you give us cup of tea. and a
bit of cold meat, or whatever YOU had left
at uoon?'
Tea aud welcome but the two fat
chickens cooked this morning have already
dned Mrs. Foster. her maid and five min
listers. There is not enough remaining to
satisfy kitten. But come in; you shall
not famish.'
Nancy's face had begun to elongate.
but the vivacitv of her master and mis-
trcss was soon reflected from her blithe-
some aspect. When the lady again APP
peared in her domain she gave utterauce
to the cheering remark
81 can try out q rasher of pork to per-
fiction. ma am. and there are seven fresh
eggs"
Nancy. YOU are treasure. Let us be-
gin. Is there another mince pie ?"
Not one. ma'am. but we have a fine
large apple plump"
That must be the second course. Bring
the eggs and the rasher. will make the
tea and lay the cloth"
A neat. frugal repast. was all the com
pliment that any one could have con-
scientiously given Ia the meal set before
our third couple. No eggs could have
been more daintily cooked. but were they
not reminders of Lenten DAYS? 4 fine
prelude. however. to the coming feast lat
my cousins golden wedding" The rash
ers were unexceptionally crisp and brown.
To rural visitors. who had no scruples re-
gardng the animal abhorred by Jews.
they were what one might call quite relish
ing. No tea could have been better than
the infusion served by Mrs. Foster The
apple pie would have satisfied even the
author OF Ella" Many of us may have
had meal quite as simple. but the pro-
gramme, most assuredly, was not drawn
up for the clergy.
The Messrs. Wilbur dined and chatted
with the glee that characterizes the pro-
fession in the charmed hour of leisure.
Mr.. and Mrs. Foster. who had now made
up their minds to n reception Of all the
ministers within fifty leagues. were equal
ly radiant. The simple viands were dis
patched with evident appetite and thank
fulness. If any luxurious cravings were
felt. they were doubtless soon appeased
by vision of the anticipated banquet So
much was said Of weddings. and SO many
piquant anecdotes were suggested by the
inspiring theme, that Nancy began TO
query whether or not she should return
the glances of the squire's man across the
way.
No invitation TOR a longer stay would
have been accepted. and the guests were
soon on the traces of their predecessors.
This time Mr.. Foster did not turn
towards his study door. He could not
have written single paragraph. He
stood moment in pensive attitude. then
turning TO his wife. VINO WAS looking
down the path lately trodden by the three