Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1881-05-27
Only q Mouse.
HOW THE HARMLESS INSECT CAUSED A MIS-
SIoNARY To LOSE WIFE.
THy Rose Terry Cook

Only q Mouse.
How THE HARMLESS INSECT CAUSED MIS-
sIoNARY To LOSE WIFE.
IBy Rose Terry Cook.l
Mr.. Peletiah Merritt was a young man,
emphatlcally. Some mel are born young,
and some have youth thrust upon them.
He was of the latter sort.
Though he certainly was born, accord
ing TO the best authorities, at very re-
cent period, he never yet had been young
in spirit. His solemn face, his witty
yellow hair. his pouted lips, all indicated
long frocks and acradle, up To his fifteenth
wear He was conscientious and sincere,
but he took such large views of life, and
WAS so precise and methodical in all he
planned and did. that his good intentions
often fell under the suspicion of concelt,
and that not without the appearance of
evil.
At the time we Introduce him to Our
readers he was full-iiedGeI from college
and his course of theological studies.
OF life. character. human nature, he
was entirely ignorant. A theological
training does not include these branches,
and this guileless creature was sent forth
to preach the gospel without one particle
|
might he. but as useless as Il physician
who, deriving his knowledge from books
alone, should undertake to practice on
that knowledge.
So it WIS well for him and for Christen-
dom that he decided TO go on n mission.
Pelctiah WAS So honestly good. So pnre III
mind. 50 gentle and earnest m character.
that flock not critical about intellect,
and aspect, and go" could not fail to he
won by his works and words.
But to he missionary, one must have
a wife. Our hero $ instincts r,'volted from
the idea of going TO n seminary and Sc
lecting wife to order, or taking some
body om recommendation of the board.
He had certain old-fashioned and delicate
IDEAS about marriage, and did not desire
TO select a wife us he wOuld horse, SIM
ply for her good qualities, pluck, endu
rance, temper and health. So he waitcl.
and kept his field waiting, till he should
genuinely fall III love, proposing, if he
were luckless enough to adore an unfit
person, to sacrifice his own feelings 10
duty, and go ont alone with an arrow IN
his heart.
In the meantime he went to Bliss-not
the state of bliss, but town of that
name in New England. 50 called after its
pioneer setier-to visit his cousin. Harry
Marsh. Il Young doctor who lived there,
and had recently gone into practice with
his father and it happened that the day
after Pclrtlah arrived at his unclrs there
came into town, also ON Il visit, very
nice Young GIRL.
Harry and Peletiah met her at u picnic.
and admired her nightly, AS young men
always did admire Louise Grant. She
was petty, not beautiful, with the most
charming manners, gentle, cordial, spark
ling; eyes like robin $ and the sweetest
voice. and having truly feminine gift at
ro-worship. On finding that the Rev.
Mr.. Merritt was going on a mission, she
| treated him with Difference and respect
| that put Pcletiah verv high in his own os
tesm.
Yes, he fell in love with Miss Grant
with his own full consent and knowledge.
| If she had been made 10 order she could
not have suitel his ideas of a wife better.
She was intelligent, sweet-tempered,
cheerful, well-educated. sound IN mind
| and body. rs her orthodox opinions and
ROSY cheeks testified and she WAS earnest
ly religious. Surely, with all these other
| gifts, she must be couraSeous-the only
| quality he had not vet seen tested, and 10
crown all her virtues, she evidently look
ed up to and admired him as Il woman
should properly and scrlpturally look mp
to and admire her protector.
| In the meantime, unobseryed by Pele-
tiah. who was absorbed i'll himself and
Miss Grant, Harry Marsh also had fallen
over head and ears in love, as the phrase
is. too, and with the same far lady; but
his style of the tender passion was not
like that Of his cousins.
He loved Lon Grant because he could
not help it. He made no analysis of her
character or his own needs. He loved
| her lust rs II man commonly loves, for
getting himself and his merits, and con-
| sidcrine her above all other things. lie,
too, had a great respect for Peletlah, and
seeing that the studious youth was also
captiyated by Louise, he resolved not to
plead his own cause till Pcletiah had de
cidcd his future.
Perhaps lis virtue would have been re
war,led, as virtue Is sometimes III tins
world. by sad disappointment, but for
the Intervention of one of the weak things
of creation for Louise Grant was an I'M
aCinative little woman. and had thrown
halo of self-sacrifice. devotion, and lofty
heroism, about Peletiah, greater than he
deserved. and it would have been easy for
her honest soul, capable of all n woman $
devotion To good, to persuade herself INTO
marrying this man simply because he was
a missionary.
But it happened one evening both the
cousins called at Mr. Barness house,
where Miss Grant was staying. PclctIah
had resolved to offer himself that very
night, and settled calmly into the most
comfortable CHAIR in order to ontstav
Harry and conversation was proceeding
in both Il fluent and brilliant manner,
while Mr. Merritt, as the others tossed
the ball Of words TO and fro, arranged III
his own mind the heads of his discourse
to Miss Grant. and the ail'cciin" applica-
ton thereof.
Suddenly n loud shrek reused him hc
looked up and there was Louisc, balanc-
ing herself on the piano stool, on tovhlch
she had leaped, her clothes gathered
tightly about her, her eyes Wild, and m
coherent words issuing from her red
lips.
"Oh, my goodness o-o-oh there IT Is
Oh it's coming this way! another loud
shrek here, and still another, as Harry
seized the poker and made frantic dahs at
something III the corner.
"What is IT - st rnly asked 'rl"tiah,
who thought ri Iothing less than a rat
tlesnakr, quite REGARDLESS of the imprpb
ability that such beast would Intrud I
into parlor
.Oh dear oh g shricLcd Lonise
r don't you see 1t ? Ooh there At Is !!
another shrek.
. "O-h oh an awful, dreadful, h"rrid
mouse
"A mousse echoed rrlctiah, IN t"nes
of tragic disgust tp which hi% capital:
e could not give expression.
. Here he is SAID Harry, I"yfully, a
f the same time giving Il great punch a
4, the small animal and knocking splmtc
OH the mnpboarl, for which Mrs. Barnc
| did not bless him next dav; but th
q mouse eluded HIM and made right for th
4 voung lady, who mt one" CAV" fly ms
leap ON the chair Pelrtiah had vacated
and uttered II louder shrek than ever.
= Corner him. Pei corner HIM shout
4 cd Harry, hut Pei never stirred.
"A harmless creature like that let l.Iil
g escape, Hcn-e-ry, hc said, stcrniy.
g "Oh, do Hill 1t please do, Docto
n Marsh = cried Louisc, looking exquisite
q ly pretty with her dark hair all fallcl
a about her pale face, and her lovely eye
p big with terror.
@ Harry made another dab, inspired b.
ii these words, and hit the mouse har
II enough to disable him, aud elicit a shri
g squeak A.; another blow Of the poker lnl
,r him lfeless
,e ''There - said Harry. ''hc Is done for.
= "Oh, is he really dend?' gasped Lonls'
delicate color drawing III her face.
l. "Yes, indeed lac is 4; dcad as t"sa
/ Look, Miss Grant am gong t" thr"
.e him ont of the window.
r "U-g-h! oh, how can You touch him
If Thank you so much II lssplcndld t" !
n "A brave man =
!. Harry went of in an irrcvcrcnt fit {
nj laughter mt this ascriptiun, and Pcletla
said solemn y: