The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1881-12-09
Selected story.
rnE lawson IEssos.

The new minister had come, and {
course every one was anxious TO b,
come acquainted with him as soon o
possible. In Woodleigh, the recognize
way of doing that was to have hin
come to tea and spend the evening
) Accordingly for nearly montl
the Rev. John Dents face hal
been missing from the tea-table Of eoo'
Mrs. Dood's in whose family he ha,
been received az q member until hi
! plans for the future had been decides
upon. Ia that time he bad been hand
cd around from one member OF the con
gregation 10 another, in much the sam,
way that = new ebsok on the lates
Rtyie in. millinery would have been
lie had talked literature, art ano
fashion with the mothers and daughters
and politics and church finances with
the fathers and sons. lie bad sat down
TO daily suppers of fried chicken and
wallies, until his stomach began to re-
bel, and 10 insist ON rest or change
Of diet Then he began 10 look around
to SEQ how much longer II was going "a
last. Tuesday, Deacon Smith had
spoken for him. Wednesday he bad
promised to tho Martins, while Thurs
day had been set apart by the I.Awsona
aa the day on which the new pastor
should break bread with them.
This would take him nearly around
True, there were a number of families
whom he had never visited beyond
mere calls, but they belonged TO the
poorer part Of his charge. and were oi
that class who scsrned TO make feast
unless they could make IL in every way
as good as their wealthiest neighbovs
Mr.. Dent hoped most doyontlv that
they might not SEQ their way clear,
until he had, by judicious course oi
crackers aud tea, restored bis stomach
10 something like It's natural tone.
Deacon Smiths supper and the night
mare that followed it were both safely
past, and he was on his way TO fulfill
his engagement with the Martins, walk.
ing briskIy along with tho light step
and cheerful countenance Of q man who
has made up his mind TO do his duty.
no matter what IL costs him. Suddenly
the brisk walk ceased, and Dir. Deat
stood staring down AZ an apparition
which had unexpectedly risen from a
thicket OF weeds by the roadside. IL
wss not ono from which Sir. Dent or
anybody else wag likely to recoil, FOR
il was small and freckle-faccd, and,
moreover. was so badly frightened IL
self, that il barely had breath enough
TO make the following announcement:
"PIcaee, sir. aunt Polly has heen
took awful sick, asd mothers had TO
90 OF in teaIin' hurry, an IL yon
don't mind you're to go Lawson's this
evenin' an come 10 our house another
time.
OF course Mr. Dent didn't care, ard
another time wonid DO quite as v ell il
not little better, and having quieted
small Tommy Martins fears by win
ming smile aud hearty hand-shake, he
turned round, and started OF in the di-
recsion of Lawsons, without even ask
Ing himself whether or not this sudden
change of arrangements would make
any difference 10 them.
1t was fore-ordaine], suppose. A.
least that was tho onIy way DIR. Dent
could ever account for bis doing such
sn utterly stupid thing as cutting
across lots, vaulting the back fence, and
presenting himself at Mr.. Lawson's
back door, at an hour when he was
supposed TO be calmly eating chicken
Off Mrs. Martins best china.
The Lawsons were abont TO partake
Of their evening meal. Mr. Lswson,
Sam and John were already in their
places. Mrs. Lawson was arranging
the cups and saucers, aud Mary Jane
was filing up the teapot, preparatory
to sitting down, when tho double rap
was heard at the door "The Crime
ses to borrow somethingl l wish we
could get through one meal without
them" said Mrs. Lawson, tucking her
soiled apron aside, as she went 10 open
the door.
Before she gets it open, would like
to introduce you little more fully
to the Lawson family, that. you may
understand bow matters stood on that
November evening, when fate sent Mr.
Dent to their back door.
Mr.. Lawson was an intelligent, we'll
to-do man, honest in his dealings, social
in his relations with bis fellow-men
and of considerable influence in the
church. Mrs. Lawson was kind and
motherly, invaluable in n sick-room,
and an authority on all matters rela-
ting to pickles and preserves. Mary
Jane was quite society leader, and
her wa, of draping her dresses, and
doing up her hair, was always ac-
cepted as "style" by her girl-friends.
The boys were good d-natured and fond
Of fun, and were decidedly popular, as
such boys were apt to he.
As family, they would have been
regarded as perfect, If it.had not been
for bad habit which they had--in
common with great many other good
people putting the best foot fore
most.
When company was coming. They
spared themselves no laher or trouble,
that everything might be as pleasant as
possible. They scrubbed and swept
and busted with will; got down their
best glassware. and the spoons and
forks which constituted their stock in
silver, until they shone again; rausaek-
ed their brains to invent dishes which
should please the palate and have an
abiding place in the memory Of their
guests forever; arrayed themselves in
their best, talked their best, acted
their best; in short they did every