Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1882-01-23

w
thought it cheerful submission and
argued with himself that it would be
sinful to murmur at the ways of
and that very morning
while standing in the door of his tin
shop in the village, watching the sun
light play over the tin boiler and cof-
fee pot which hung over the door as
signs, he determined to show his en-
tire and cheerful submission to a wise
Providence by wiping away all met
aphorical tears from his eyes, and
take unto himself another helpmate.
Why live alone in moody discomfort?
1t was plainly his own duty to cheer
up and make the best of things.
Acting upon this purely vain mo-
tive, and animated by the most ex-
alted faith, the worthy Deacon, leav-
all business cares behind, and en-
trusting the little shop for the time
to the keeping of his youthful assist
ant, proceeded at once to dress him
self carefully, arranging his rather
thin locks before a small piece of
looking-glass which hung over a
wash bench by the kitchen door, and
hitching the old mare to the rickety
buggy that stood under shed at the
back of the house, set out, having
sister Maria Parrat in his minds eye,
as being in every way calculated to
comfort a sorrowing widower, and to
bring joy once more to his kitchen
hearth. a3
And here he comes with the am
bling old mare and the rattling old
chaise making their dusty way up the
pike toward Squire Parrat's home
stead, where the Squire and his two
maiden sisters lived in peaceful re-
tirement. By dint of much coaxing
and maneuvering, the Deacon per-
suaded the old mare to draw up un-
der the locust tree beside the 'Squire's
front gate, and submit to be tied with
piece of rope which he took from
under the seat, although it was very
evident that the mares heart was
not in this business, and she had no
sympathy with the Deacon's conduct.
She had given up all nonsense long
ago, and clearly thought it time for
her master to do so, too, for she
switched her tail impatiently, and
made an effort to continue the jour-
ney as far as Farmer Smiley's, where
she had been accustomed, for years,
to convey the Deacon whenever her
corn-bin at home needed replenish-
ing. Going for corn, she thought
business worthy her mettle, but this
leaving tin-shop and trotting about
in the hot sun to visit sentimental old
ladies, was only deserving of the Sc
verest censure.
However, the Deacon was firm, and
after prolonged contention with the
offended mare who backed and start
ed on, and backed again, turned to
the right, and then wheeled the chaise
into the fence, he, as we said before,
| had persuaded her to be tied, and
was now walking up between Maria S
beds of pinks and larkspurs, straight
toward the front door, instead of
coming around to the kitchen, as
folks usually did except on very cer-
monious occasions, which proceeding
on the part of the Deacon caused
Maria to exclaim again -
"My sakes alive 20
| ''What does all you, Maria? Do
set down that bucket of milk an go
an open the front door for the Dea-
con, can't you? What are you futter-
in so about, jes' like you were young
and the Deacon was keepin' company
| with you? You do beat all, Maria.
Go long and open the door, And
Betsey replaced the cold iron with q
hot one from the stove, giving it q
vindictive spat with her wet finger
and began savagely ironing Anson's
| buff linen vest.
''For the lands sake, Betsey, yor
don't expect me to let Brother Skeels
in looking like this do you? You jes1
go an open the door while 1 60 an
slip on my t'other dress.'
| And before Betsey could remon
| strate, Maria had climbed up the
creaky stair case, and there was ne
alternative but for her to receive tht
| Deacon.
| cit does beat all how some de
act when there's man folks round
mumbled Betsey, as she proceeded tx
pull up one of the Venetian blinds
and open the front door for thu
worthy deacon, who had been linger
ing some little time under cover O.
the honey-suckle vine which grew OF
frame over the entrance, to draw
on a pair of black cotton gloves.
, "Good day, Sister Elizabeth.
warm day."
eyes (! right warm, l should thinl
to be riding round the country witt
gloves and things on said Betse,
with great fierceness.
She had never had any special re
gard for the deacon, and doubted th
, sincerity of his grief, and his dandi
fed mourning outfit was especial,
exasperating to her. Betsey was no
one to tolerate shams of any kind
and had frequently remarked to he
brother Anson-the one being In th
7 world whom she considered withou
Gin +bat seCoD,o oo 90 ,,no,-I;.,