The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1881-10-13

in anything but sweet frame of mind,
preparatory to the sleep that wouldn't
come at her bidding. .H 8. e.
"It's outrageous |" she hissed to her.
self, her false teeth being out and care
fully placed on the bureau. "I never
was SO insulted in my life. That little
fat chunk of Miss Bisbee, too, to do
it An Miss Highly to set by an see
'em, an never say word I'll be up
to 'em, I will" ..a. ..-.... :.
Thereupon she blew out the candle,
and founced her thin frame down into
the middle of her feather-bed, trying to
think of something bad enough to sat
isfy her thirst fol revenge. Suddenly
she sprang into sitting posture.
"Ill git straight up now an write it
down, before L forgit it" she cried, in
great excitement, "for I never ii git
it into my head so good again."
And clambering ont of bed, she groped
around in the dark to light her candle,
when she proceeded to slip her feet into
some flannel slippers, and herself into
monstrous bed-gown of wonderful
pattern.
"There, now, what was it Let me
see," she said, scratching her head with
the end of a rusty penholder that she
had with great difficulty found, after
much rummaging in the bureau drawer.
ooh, yes, that was it. Yes, now,
then" a.
The old pen scraped its way over the
small NANCY piece of paper that Miss
Mirandy considered suitable for the oc-
casion, until these words appeared:
"REvEREND MISTER BIoDGETr, DEAR
SIR" ION second thoughts, consider
ing the "Dear Sir" too familiar, she
had, with extreme pains, marked it
over, while blush flew over her spare
countenance, and lighted up the dismal
bedgown.)
"REvEREND MISTER BLoDGETT,
bein' an Effort started afoot to give you
a coat, / wish to state ont of profound
respeck to yourself aud Mis-. Blodgett
an"-here Miss Mirandy, finding still
quite stock of respect left within her
bosom, concluded to bestow it literally,
so she added, with extra fourishes =
can your whole inclusive family, that 1
had the honor to propose the coat, an
should had the extreme pleasure of
presentin it in way suitable to the
ocashun, if that insidious creature Mis-.
Seth Bisbee hadn't insulted me at the
SEWN society this evenin at Mis- Dea-
con Higby's. She started all those Ia
dies to talk awful about me, behind
my back, when I wasn't there; but Tom
and Joe Highly are noble lads, an they've
1N1, 4N11 Ill Il
pardon my assumption in writin', an be-
lieve l would give fer the coat if I'd
ben let to, an present my respecks to
Mis-. Blodgett and your eldest daughter
an Sarah Ann, an all the rest.
"Yours to command,
"MIRANDA STEDBINs."
Miss Mirandy couldn't help reading
this over three OF four times, she was
s delighted with it. Then she blew
ont the light, and clambered into her
feathers again.
son second thoughts" she said as
she drew up the thick comfortable
around her spare chin, ~ won't send it
now. can afford to wait, an when the
ccat's done, I'll jest git 'Biah Williams
to stick it in one OF the pockets That II
be most as good as helpin' give it," and
hugely ticllled at the turn of affairs, she
composed her mind and fell asleep.
On the first Sunday in December-a
bright, beautiful day-the First church
in Buzzville" wss crowded to its utmost
The presentation had taken
place the evening before, and consisted
i'll the coat being sent over at the hands
of the tailor's boy, with q note contain
ing the names of the fair donors.
All eyes and ears were therefore agog
to see the parson in MS new habili-
mems, and to hear how he returned
thanks. As he went up the broad aisle
every neck was craned to catch sight
of the new coat, and many nudges and
smiles were given to express the general
that was bubbling over in
the audience.
After the first prayer: with few pre-
liminary "hems," the parson stood up
and began to unburden his mind Of the
deep debt OF gratitude that seemed to
weigh him down.
"Heml 1t gives me great pleasure,
he mumbled; then sought relief in his
handkerchief, which being in the depths
of his left-hand pocket, required a
" strong pull and long pull to get it
out. "Heml"
Whiz-rustie-went some small white
object out beneath the parsons hand up
into the air then it settled slowly, and
made its way down, down toward the
floor, when it futtered moment, to
land in the second pew from the front,
in Deacon Higby's lap. The
two boys leaned past their mother to
see the sight, and almost laughed aloud.
They didn't laugh again for many O day !
The deacon heard the concluding
words of Parson Blodgett's acknowledge
ment, who, now that he had his hand
kerchief, was all right; then he slowly
unfolded the paper in his hand and
examined its contents.
Which done, he turned and took O
long, deliberate look at his two sons,
who were placidly observing the erratic
movements of belated fly on the cell
ing.
Miss Mirandy Stebbin's letter, though
not in the way she had intended, finally
reached the minister's hand, and she
had full revenge; so also was the soul
of 'Biah Williams fully satisfied.
But those "two noble lads" the
deacon's sons, had the iolliest whipping
ever known, and it wasn't safe to say
" sewing society" to them for one good
spell.-Harper's Basar. ..
Why He MOurned.
The late George Borrow, of England,