Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1881-12-27

l N"S Siuhe .>eiSou was WlulnX 10 wait.
| don, believe he will touch the farm"
And the deacon didn't believe it, Ell
ther; 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 rasping duty OF saying so to
the bland old Squire And Deacon Frost
was the last man in the world to let his
wife be comlorted, if he was uncomforta-
ble himself. He always told her the
darkest side, and with an air that made
tie meek soul feel in some mysterious
way res oonsible for all his woes. lie
looked and acted as il they were her
fault; AMI she hal grown 50 used TO it
that she often acted herself as If it must
be 50. So when he added snlkily that il
his son had behaved himself and stayed
at home and helped him, the mortgage
would have been paid off long ago" she
only sighed, but did not venture to speak
a good word tor her boy.
As the Deacon smoo,hed and brushed
and erumblins still, passed out, Mary
came into the room jlst in time to hear
the vigorous bang her father gave the
door in time also, to hear the great fiu,-
tering sigh. almost a SOB, that broke from
her mothers lips.
Father gone :" asked the girl.
Yes, dear. and III walk down a lit
tie way with you, said her mother,
STOPPING to pick up the stocking she was
daTning, thus hiding her face from her
daughters questioning eyes.
NO, mother, don't want 10 90.
cant let YOU 90 out on such cold night
was going because | though, father
would eNpec; it more than anything
else
Perhaps he will no. miad, said the
mother. hesi,a,ing. " though, as usual.
he was not pleased that di no, 20, and
though, perhaps ough, to, If i, would
make him any happier"
- Bat 1t wouldnt, mother dear, said
the Young girl hastily, and, throwing
aside her cloak, she drew a low chair to
her mothers side and geutly pulled the
darning from her hands. as she wen, on,
:" really think the more we try 20 please
him in every little thing, the more fault
finding and exacting he becomes"
Hush, child ;" and the mothers thin
hand passed softly down the girls cheek
TO her lips.
Mary captured it in both her own.
kissed 1t, and answered laughingly;
" Don't hush me, mother. I'm no.
child any longer, and see my father az
would see any other man. The fact is
We have spoiled him, and his habit OF
finding fAuls with trti-s and holding
,omebody responsible for all his discon-
forts. Is almos; unendurable He ism
conscious Of it. and If tonight "a; the
meeting somebody should tell him of II,
he would be As much surprised as any
body"
And he would pray as earnestly as
any body 10 be delivered from it, said
his wife.
"Ie.. if they succeeded in making
/ m believe he had such fault, laughed
Mary "but we two. who love him best,
have never dared to let him know we
saw it, 50 he would no; be easily con-
yiacei.
He's a good man, Mary, a good
Christian m4n, honest as the light,
And cross as bear, and
Mary"
Mother and M4ry's eyes twinkled
i never knew you 10 speak so Of your
father
But wish | had spoken long ago,
and I'm going TO speak now. I'm going
TO tell him wha, think about il all.
Think wha; dolelul, forlogn Christmas
we had.
e" But your father never kept Christ
mas When he was young the people
of this section thought more of the first
dsy of the New Year. and doub, ii he
ever had present in his life; and when
YOUR brother used 10 want to hang up
his stocking. he would tell him what
hard times he had as 4 child that he was
glad TO get enough to eat, without ask
ing for presents. OF course, even when
had saved up few sixpences 10 buy
the child gift, such remark took the
pleasure out Of IL; so as he grew older
we said nothing about i, TO his father,
but used 10 manage TO slip new neck
tie, or handkeichlef,o or paIrof mlttens
into his drawer
Yes, | understand it, mother, for
even now, If ne looks at me when | have
on a new dress, | feel suddenly guilty
and as If the old one ough, to have served
another year.
We'll. he's grea: many cares, child,
and he cannot help being angry whenever
he is in debt. He's growing old, daugh-
ter, and We must not mind his ways.
Tonight he was specially anxious to ge,
off early, and everything went wrong.
/ You know he is never late to church, ="
added the loyal wife, anxious to say all
/ possible good.
"All that may be true, mother, and
out in the world he bears things like a
man and Christian have no doubt
he will give as good testimony TO the
mercies Of the past year as any one In
the meeting tonight, but he will fret
just as quickly if the breakfast is two
minutes late to- morrow morning. | do
not want his kind of religion, mother.
A faith that won't help man to keep
his temper isn't worth having And the
e n...I.l ....,L IL. Of har