The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1881-09-15

5 fruitful subject of Mrs Dsntons pcculi1
2 iiirs Was brought up for shout the fcrtic
time. All the members, with the exec
tion OF the minister's wife. were preseu
and every one OF them had something
say OF the poor woman whose strange va,
had caused her TO become quite curios
iy in Brieville.
Its my opinion that su.h people Al
best left alone, said Mrs Prudence RAJ
DALI as she bit on her thread little spit
fully.
She's been disgrace to the town sv,
since she lived in Il, said Miss Psulir
Cowsn. must say that haven't any p,
thence with such queer ways
Poor thipgi she's sean sight Of troubl,
said Miss Kexish Who WAS ever ready I
pour oil on the troubled waters. Fir
her husband died Of delirium tremcns---.
Worthless sotl she'd oughter have bee
pleased ter death 10 get nd O. him. inter
rupted Miss Matte Baker, throwing he
scissors on the table near her with consid
able noise. You won't get no pity for he
out o that Miss Keziah.
Then she lost her two little girls will
scarlet fever, continued Miss Keziah, un
needing the interruption, and only yea
later her second boy died Of the typhoid
She'd only one child left then, and tina
was her oldest boy She set so much stor,
by him! remember seeing her look a
him once as il she worshiped the very
ground he trod on, and
That's 1t. interrupted Mrs. Bliss. whose
husband WAS one Of the pillars" 10 the
Methodist church. She thought more Of
him than she did Of her salvation, and he
was taken from her that her hard heart
might be softened.
But she seemed harder than ever. said
Mrs. Randall. She won't listen to words
Of comfort, nor anything else. No one can
make any impression on her. Miss Co an
here went to her and told her we were all
born to pass under the rod that chasteneth
and that her Edgar'd been called from the
evil to come. What dye think Miss Den.
ton did? She rose up like a fury and told
Miss Paulina she preferred to be left
alone.
Yes, giggled Miss Cowan Historically.
Shed rather have my room than my com.
pany. any day. Howsomever, don't bear
no hard feelin's. done what could for
her.
The minister's wife didut get no better
said Miss Baker. She sat in
Miss Denton's shanty most an hour talk
ing OF the mysterious ways Of Providence,
an everything being for our good, an oil
flesh bein grass, an so on. An Miss Den
ton, she never spoke word from first to
last, but lay on the sofylwith her eyes shet
and never even said good bye when Mrs
Bounce went away. Such impertinencel
An I went there too. didn't want to he
behind the rest Of folks in doin' my duty.
| told her about these Affections bein' sent
for our good; an she must bow her neck
TO the yoke and bend her back ter the
burden. She laughed at me! yes she done
just that
She wouldn't even see me. said Mrs.
a tall, sharp-featured woman
with shrll voice. saw her at the win
dow, but she wouldn't open the door, no
matter how loud knocked. But scat
tered tracts all down the front walk, and l
hope they did her good.
Miss Keziah, you ain't been, l believe,
said Miss Baker. Well. don't 60; it's time
wasted. Her hearts as hard as . stun.
No, said Miss Keziah, laying down her
work as she spoke. | haven't been to see
ler. You know was away to Helmstone
when her Edgar had the fever, and since
I've been back my rheumatic has been that
)ad couldn't go anywhere. But now
I'M trihe better, I'll take my turn.
What is the use? What can you do?
Haven't we done everything9 chorused the
,ther ladies.
think shall ask her to tea, said Miss
ieziah, thoughtfully.
Ask her to teal repeated half dozen as.
onished listeners.
Yes; none of you tried that, believe,
nswered Miss Kcziah.
She won't come said Mrs. Bliss.
Perhaps not; but all the same it won't
10 no harm to ask her.
hope you'll try TO soften her heart, an
ring her ter the prayer-meetin Thurs
ay night, said Miss Cowan.
Miss Keziah made no answer; but Pc
uliar look crossed her homely, good.na-
red face--a look Miss Panlina did not
ute understand.
Miss Keziah'l II he wise to make no prom
YES, said Mrs. Bliss. 1t stands TO reason
hat she won't succeed where all the rest
| us have failed One might rs well talk
> o stone, as TO Mrs. Denton.
Miss Keziah sighed, and bent her eyes
pom her work. She had known what suf-
,ring was once, aud she knew that while
ain and sorrow softcns some natures, it
ardens and embitters others.
Mrs. Denton lived entirely alone on the
utskirts Of the village, in . little, old,
'eather. beaten house, she had bought
hon she first came 10 Brierville, ten
ears before. Weeds grew tall and rank in
be yard, the sunken steps leading to the
oor were half buried in vines. the we'll
urb was broken, the gate fallen to the
round, in fact. everything about the
lace spoke Of ruin and decay.
Not a very cheerful place, certainly,
Miss Kezish, as the day follow
ig the sewing circle she drove up TO the