Smyrna times., 1881-12-21
The Minister'S Surprise.

CT ParsOn ROwe's cottage one sharp. cold
morning when Il heavy snow Law upon the
/ ground.
!; was Squire Glover, one OF The ''pillara
OF the church" and he was coming 10
consult his pastor concerning some church
matter.
Just as he was about rapping ct the
door, it opened and Willie Rowe came
out.
Just walk right in, squire. and sit
down." said Willie. Pail be in di-
rectly."
Away he ran, and the squire stepped in
and sat down in the little parlor, waiting
the appearance Of his pastor.
Presently he heard steps and voices in
the adjoining room, and then q chld.;
voice said:
Pa, just look at my shoe. It's all rip
ped"
81 think it is, Laura" answered the
Parsoh tones. Let me see-peThaps- -
no, it is too worn to be mended a.ga;n.-'
"Well, pa. please, I'd Ike to have =
new pair. Won't you get them for mo ~
AS soon as pa can he surely viii
daughter" said the father. in sad tones
" BE good, and wait little, Laura"
Il have waited ever SO long" sail
Laura, 'and Willie's shoes arc worse than
mine, and he hasn't got any mi.tcns.
Laura" interrupted q voice. which
the squire knew was Mrs. Rawc's. run
and feed Your, chickens, and don't worry
papa now
The child ran out, and the parson.
never dreaming who was in The next
room, hearing cvclT word thrJu"L the
crack Of the doGr, said:
ney can't worry me more than am
worried, Mary. / don't say much. but T
feel all 0ur needs, not for myself but for
%2u and The children. 1t made nv heat
acne, little while ago to hear Willie nj;
II We could never have meat for break fast
any moro, and know that there wasn't y
pound Of meat in The house"
Nor any sugar, either, ana hardly
any Hour, any noy dime in tho purse.
John, but for all that we won't stawc." !"
said the little wonans chcerv voice.
lave you lost your faith. John:"
NO, Mary, | hope not" came tho au-
S"er. But it does seem hard. When
my salary is so small. that it can't be Da;3
so we could have few comforts. at least.
sometimes think l must give I'D here.
and Try somewhere else"
ON, no, no, John!' pleaded the wife.
Not yet, anyway. We've got such n
pleasant home here, and cur people arc 50
Etnd. Don't SiYe MP yet. Let's try
httie longer, and maybe help vii! come"
We'll, | don't know from whence.
mary. N sorry to say 50, but I've lost
hSa!t lately, till I'm really not fit TO
preach. If the Lord don't help lis, and
tla' soon, dent know who Will -
Then there was sound of 4 man rising
ana Squire Glover, feeling as # he didn't
want to see his pastor inst now. sl;Dnci
Out before Pars0n Rowe came in.
Ana when the good squire cot safely
out OF the gate his face was red and he
was putting for breath
Well! well! God bless my saul.'' he
painted, as he trotted on. Here's
pretty state Of affairs! No n;cat, no
money, no shoes-why, God bless nv
soul! Ihis must be looked after. Shall
De- 100. II! see the deacons, and il they
won I, VIII, out Of my own pocket too.
Good bless my soul! That brave little
woman shall have some helm to kacn I'm
her husbands heart, or III know the
reason!'
Racing along, flushed and excited, he
met Deacon Iones, He had the deacon
by the buttonAoic in minute. and after
short consultation they both went of to
Deacon Robinson's.
Aud that afternoon there was mucb
stir in Gleiville, little groups constantly
meeting and consulting in every store.
ana on every corner. While the day
seemed to close in dark and cherries in
the parsons little cottage,
4 fresh snow fell that night and served
to make noiseless the sleds which drove
softly up to the minister's cottage with
the very first faint streak of dawn. The
inmates of the little dwelling were al
sleeping soundly, but one awake and
listening might have heard muiEed foot
steps, whispers and cautious showing and
pushing of heavy articles. These. how
ever, soon ceased, and all was quiet until
the day broke clearly and the villagers
arose.
The weary parson and his tru2-hcartcd |
little wife had lain awake late the nimht !
before, FOR heavy hearts make slcCpicss |
eyes, and they slept little later than |
usual this morning.
But at last they were all up and dressed. |
The simple breakfast, consisting of coffee.
warm biscuit and butter, was nearly ready |
when Willie and Laura took notion to
run to the front door and see how deep
the snow was OF the front porch.
Through the little parlor they trottcd.
Willie first, and Laura following. to the
front door, which, with some little trouble.
they pulled open.
And the next minute the cottage runs
with their hasty shouts.
:" Pa! pa! mamma mamma! do come
here! Come quick Run here to the
porch, quick, both of you ~
Greatly surprised, and slightly fright
,ned, not knowing what had happened to
he children. the good parson and his
wife rushed to the front door, Upsetting
he cat and the coffee pot in their haste to
each it. ..t.
What sight met their eyes! No won
ter the children shouted The snow had
'een carefully swept from the front porch.
which was set out with n tempting array ,
" various articles. Right before the door
TODD barrel of flour, on top of the bar
el were laid two juicy hams, and Rstride
he hams sat great, fat turkey, all dres-
ed ready for cooking, at which Willie /.
nd Laura set up great shout. +!
An open barrel beyond was running over :
With plump red apples, and second bar !;
ell full of big, notwithstanding pota-
oes and row of crisp cabbage-heads !,
ept guard all round the barrel. Then :,
here was box, packed with papor of :,
Office, tea and rice, sack Of dried
caches and several cans of fruit. And
mother box, when opened, displayed two
ew pairs of shoes, just the right size for
Willie and Laura sundry rolls OF flannel y
lnslin and calico, warm stockings and u
littens, and several small articles. not / u
'rgetting n well filed basket of nuts and q
indies, which proved that somebody u
new Whist children love, and which set Ia