Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1882-04-12
Judged.

- ---e-o-----
Judged.
"She had real good judgment" said the
Widow Brooks to Miss Eunice Pell, as they
sat together at a funeral in pause that fol-
lowed the religious services, and allowed the
neighbors to file silently by the coffin and
look at the stern features of the dead, set
tied now into that dumb and wonderful re-
pose unknown to life or sleep.
"Well, l expect she had," said Miss Eu-
nice, nodding her rusty black bonnet at the
widows.
I" She was master hand to tell her judg
ments all abroad, too she didn't make no
bones about sayin' what she thought of
folks, be they who they may"
"Well, dono as that's what meant. l
was thinkin' about her faculty for house
work and sech. You never see no poor bread
nor soft pickles nor no worked preserves to
her house; seemed as though she knew Jest
the identical minute cream had riz all it
would, or bread had rose Jest right"
There would have been more than one
echo to Miss Eunice's Characterization of the
departed Mrs. Weeks if the unspoken had
been the spoken thoughts of several who
had viewed the corpse" as country phrase
had it, and wondered in themselves what
sort Of atmosphere in the accepted idea of
heaven would suit the OUTCOME soul, or
which of the "many mansions be con-
genial home for the rigid spirit earthly com.
panions had never suited. Let us record
one Of her judgments:
When Mary Prince married Augustus
Barber and settled down TO her life in Bar
ton, she knew Just what she was coming to
her husband was a poor man, beginning life
| m Iaa1ar IN, n Ill xpaxy in Nnur and faa1
Her preparations had been simple and mex
pensive, for she was not able to spend money
freely, being a poor minister's daughter.
Augustus had meant to study for the minis
try, but his health failed active life was
peremptorily ordered for him, and in the
clear air of Barton he had become well again
and comparatively strong. Both he aud
Mary took an active part in the Sunday
school, and made friends as naturally and
easily as two bright, kindly young people
will in an ordinary New England village.
Mrs. Deacon Weeks was a widow her
patient, excellent husband had been dead
| five years. But she was woman OF domin-
ant temper and critical disposition, and mag
nifed her husbands Office, even after he laid
| it down, into needful supervision of her
neighbors and their affairs, particularly if
they were members of the church.
Now, Mary Barber had relations who were
wealthy and generous, and often gave hel
presents Of articles they knew very well she
could not buy, and she accepted them with
the meekness and gratitude necessarily edu
Gated into the children of those laborers il
the ministry who are never paid their du,
hire, and so have to take gifts Of charity
But Mrs. Weeks knew nothing about Mr.. o.
Mrs. Barber except that they were poor
When cousin, just going into mourning
for her father, sent to Mary the pretty silks
soft cashmeres and black lace hat wreathet
with velvet pansies, for which she had nj
further use, she came to the little womal
as a real godsend. "On, Gus !" said she
"Look here see what Georgy has sent me
Now shall not have to buy dress for tw
years at the very least. | can just shorter
all the dresses, for we could always wea
each others things but for their length, an
| have not even summer bonnet to buy
!, my last years straw will do nicely for CON
mon wear"
Mr.. Barber, like most men, liked to see hi
pretty wife well dressed. They had bee
married two years now the trousseau wa
! ! getting worn and little dingy; the blsc
silk needed trimming again, for its chea
fringe was already rusty, and Mary knee
: very well that there was no spare money
renew even the ornaments of her scant
!, wardrobe, much less the gowns themselves
but here, on quiet gray silk, was black lac
> enough laid over the knife-plaitings to tril
. !. all her old silk afresh, and the plaitings sa
: isfed her taste without lace above them
! aud very fair and elegant she looked in thl
|, gray dress, fitting her perfectly, as it di
y with gloves and parasol to match it, and Il
e little French bonnet set on her waves
= golden-brown hair.
!. But Mrs. Weeks glared at her across IL
4 old meeting-house with indignant eyes an
u at the noonspell" prayer-meeting made
!, long and loud petition that the "your
u members" might be rebuked and convince
, of the sin Of pampering the lust Of Il
u eyes and the pride of life; that they mig
70 deny themselves of such extravaganza al
- finery in regard TO the poor, perishing boz
;. as made scandal in the church, and come o
!, = and be separate from sinful world. Ma
?, Barber, just invited to join this select {
y sembly which always met during intern
sion at Widow Brooks's house, wonder
who Mrs. Weeks was praying at, for tn
her petition had personal application "
I'd only too evident after her first serene sat
O. faction at being well-dressed once more, a
o. her shy Joy in her husbands admiratiC
he Mary had not thought again of her Dire
or To tell the truth, it was far less in her mi
an than the frayed fringe of her black 8
n would have been, or the faded aspect of
vn lilac muslin. But she asked no question,
er course, and went her way home to get
DIS husband his piece Of pie, the substitute
in a twelve O'Clock dinner that made SUNDAY
ID day Of rest. Mrs. Brooks, however, was
as so incurious, and while three or four won
DIS fingered to eat their lunch in her kitch
Ter one of them also OBTAINING Mrs. Weeks
re ask some questions about some mutual re
r. tive, the widow came forward with a smi
and said, "You seem TO be real reused up
prayer to-day, Mis- Weeks Is though tn
of was concern ON your mind, now didn't ye
nd "Well | did" answered Mrs. Wee
as, with solemn brevity.
Il al thought So" sighed Mrs. Brooks,
ar with instructive tact asked no more.
,er There WAS a sort of expectant pause, cl
us GUS eyes regarding her. Mrs. Weeks
i'd that she was expected TO explain; that
IN, ought also to point moral, 80 she continu
tie ar had Mis- 'Gustus Barber in mind. h
de felt as though she done well usually, and W
,er such clothes as was according to her mea
th, but seeing her come out to-day with 81
ief new silk gown, real good silk, too, 70
priced one Just like it at Mathar and MI
for my niece Sophronia's weddin' gown,
lay she couldn't see her way to buy it; and Il
an gloves and umbrysol to match, and bon
he all covered with flowers atop her head, v
rs, felt as though it was my privilege TO p
he for her, and maybe speak TO her about 81
eel mortal extravagancej there ain't no fl
he and feed business in Barton TIL ever keep
ng such dressin' as that"
Ike "That's sol" echoed Mrs. Martin, "an
md know he amt doing dreadful well, neitl
Ter for Paphro was into the bank the other
DR.. and he heerd Barber a askin' for an ext
sion. wonder they let him hev it,"
"Well," said Widow Brooks, folks
The bite off their noses while the world endul
m but seems as though he'd know better'I
: Is buy her such things"
,ad Pshaw men don't know no more alb
ing clothes--women-fol clothes, anyway, ii