River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1881-12-08

4
man $500 a year, besides donation
party at Christmas. Ought
Unsuspicious Mrs. Graham, as she
returned with the yeast, was somewhat
puzzled by the sudden freshness of her
guest, who hurried out of the house as
if some dreadful contagion had haunt
ed it; but when the minister, in carv-
ing the pie that the leaeon's wife had
sent, made two curious discoveries al
most simultaneously, the reason for
Patience's altered demeanor was made
plain, and the young pair INDUCED in a
hearty laugh that made the old parson-
age ring ike a peal of Thanksgiving
bells.
The Tuesday following was the regu-
lar day for the weekly sewing circle,
and seldom had that interesting gathing
proved so lively and animated as on
this occasion.
Miss Patience was in the field bright
and early. and it was evident at glance
to those who knew her best that she
was we'll nigh bursting with some i'm
portant secret that she was only await
ing a fitting opportunity to divulge.
That opportunity was not long in COM
ing, for Mrs. Deacon Farrell, who was
constitutional croaker, took occasion
to say in reference to hard times:
"The deacon has been tryin' ter COL
lect the church tax, and he says he
never fonnd money so tight in all the
years he's lived here. It's as hard ter
get s. now as it used ter be $40.
can no WONDER" spoke up Miss Pa
he or of n
sphinx. "You can't expect folks ter
like payin' out their money when they
see it fairly thrown away ad wasted"
Everybody looked curious, and some
of the younger girls began to bride
defantly The minister's sweet young
wife was evidently favorite with them,
at least.
what do you mean by that?" asked
Mrs. Deacon, pointedly. "Mis' Ora
hams young and inexperienced, to be
sure; but as the deacon was sayin' only
yesterday, she does very well indeed,
coEsiderin'"
Miss Patience tossed her head know
ingly. II don't want ter say nothin' to
hurt her, but, livin' next door, as do,
| can't always help SEEM and hearin'
things that other folks can't be expect
ed to know about, and when | see an
know things like"
There was an ominous pause, and
the deacons wife asked excitedly-
."Like what?"
"Chicken-nies, with the legs and feet
of the chickens baked I'M"
Had a thunderbolt fallen among
them, it could not have caused greater
surprise to these tidy, thrifty New En-
gland housekeepers than this dreadful
revelation of the incapacity of their
pastors young wife.
care you sure of it?'' gasped one ma
iron, breaking the ominous silence.
81 know it for a fact" was solemnly
returned.
Chicken legs in piel"
"She's born fool p calculated the
deacon's wife, Indignantly, "and I'm
thankful, for her poor husbands sake,
that | sent her over one of my pies
Yesterday. They had to throw hers
away, of course, and it's lucky that he
didn't have ter go without his Thanks
givin' breakfast on account of her igno-
rance and shiftlessness."
Chow did you know about the pie?"
asked one of the girls.
Miss Patience bristled defantly.
''That's nohody's business but my own, y
she retorted tartly. 81 don't go round
ter find out things that don't concern
me, I'd have you know; but when
they're throwed right into my face, as
you might say, don't shet my eyes no
more'n other folks"
Just here the door opened, and in
walked the subject of their converse
ton, her pretty face glowing with the
haste she had made, and mischievous
twinkle in her brown eyes, that nobody
noticed, so occupied were they in hid
ing the confusion that her sudden en-
trance had created.
Walking to the table where most OF
the ladies were seated, she saluted
them cordially, and then holding out
upon the tip of one slender little finger
q well-worn silver thimble, she said,
archly:
"Where do you think found your
thimble, Miss Patience?"
So pleased was Miss Patience to re-
gain her lost treasure that she forgot
for a moment all her assumed dignity,
and exclaimed joyfully:
'Well, | declare, l am glad ter see
that thimble once more! | told Mary
Jane that | felt sure that had it on
my finger when | run into your house
Thank givin' mornin' after that yeast
Bot when l got home it want no
where's t. be found. Now, where did
you find it?'
Her shrill, high voice had attracted
the attention of all in the room, anc
everybody looked up curiously as the
minister's wife replied with an innocen
smile:
''In the chicken pie that our gooC
| friend here''-and she nodded brightly
| to Mrs. Farrell-"sent me. / left the
pie on the dresser when | went dowr
cellar after your yeast, and as soon AZ
| came back, put it on the table, anC
when my husband cut it, there was YOU
thimble in it. How could it have go
there? 1t is certainly very mysterou'
anyway"
Silence, dead, profound, yet oh, how
| terribly significant to the deacon's wife
and her spinster neighb r, fell upon the
| group.
This was apparently upnoticed by
Mrs. Graham, who, with playful ad
monitiou to Miss Patience to take bet
ter ca OF her thimble in future, begar
an animated conversation with the la
dies nearest ker, that soon restored thu
company to their wonteG ease and goot
! humor.
But poor Miss Patience! She neve
heard the last of that lost thimble
While the deacon's wife. to the day o
her death, never trusted any hands bu
her own to make Thanksgiving pies 70
her minister.
- o -
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