St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1882-07-14

chubby forefnger all down the page,
and over to Mirandy James charge.
"FOur times What dye mean :"
exclaimed Reuben.
''Look for yourself, then" she said,
coolly. "There tits as plain as day
an I've just give him the last mess
myself. He walked in as if he'd never
heard of a pep'mint. Reuben, | tell
you his minds failin'. I've noticed it
lately
$50 have l." said Reuben, shutting
up the book. "Well, we must be care
ful, or by-an'-by he'll up an say he
haint had 'em. | give Johnny some in
the afternoon. He sent him, s'pose.
We must be careful"
The next morning, as the last bell
for meeting began to ring, the deacon
went out into the front entry, took
down his best coat, brushed it careful
ly and got himself into it by the time
the girls came down the back stairs
for there was one thing he would set
his foot down on; and that was to
have his family, every one, be in the
square Highly pew bright and early.
| Unconsciously, as he walked along,
he patted the right-hand pocket, with
comfortable reflection that his own
wisdom had forestalled the terrible di
lemma he should have been in. For,
on examination of his upper bureau
drawer on his return home the preced
ing evening, he could find no trace of
his better half's usual provision of his
wants. The "pep'mint' corner was
entirely empty.
just as unconsciously, he walked up
the broad aisle, followed by his bloom
ing and somewhat extensive family.
But Mrs. Bruce's sharp eyes were upon
him; and she presently nudged her
husbands arm.
"There, don't you see how vacant he
looks ?" she said, in loud whisper.
''It's easy enough to see he's failin'. |
think Mis- Highly better stay to home
an look after him. He needs it as
much as broken legs"
The choir sat down after an elabO-
rate, high-pitched effort, that seemed
to cover them, one and all, with glory ;
and then parsOn Witherbee, a little,
thin man, announced, in an extremely
plaintive voice, that the shingling of
the roof of the cOnference-rOOm having
cost more than was expected, Il cOntri-
button would be taken up for the pur-
pose of defraying the extra expense.
Hands went into pockets readily, but
the deacon, having given largely for
this object when the work was begun,
did not feel like adding much now.
Still, it wouldn't look very cOmmenda-
BILE, and besides, might influence some
who hadn't given at all, if he should
sit quiet and let the box 90 by him.
So, thinking that he would give sill
yer bit or two, he dived down hastily
in his absent-minded way, into his left
hand pocket, and only intent on how
, little contribution he could possibly
get off with, he threw into the box two
small pieces.
Then he sat erect, feeling that his
duty was done.
But old Uncle 'Siah PundersOn, an
: eccentric old man who always carried
the box, didn't feel the same satiSfac-
ton. He had looked into the box, and
felt that mistake had been made. Sc
r he still kept it pOked under the dea-
cons nose, and didn't bulge an inch
1t was provoking, but he did it, never
5 theless.
The deacon, hustered at such unusu-
1 al treatment, and feeling that the eyes
of all the congregation were upon him
dived into his right-hand pocket, and
: brought up two more, which he threw
into the box. Still Uncle 'Siah paused
| with the box held at arms length.
e The whole church now seemed tC
| buzz around the deacOn's ears. He
5 fancied that he heard the faint SOUND
D Subdued snickering; while every eyt
. in that vast congregation seemed to bt
Z directed with Unprriup aim. as one eve
+ to him, Deacon Highly.
A cold sweat started out all Ovel
i him, and he squirmed this way anC
= that, in an agony, until he happened
t to look into the box. There he saw
j, reposing quietly, as if in the most nat
| ural resting resting place in the whole
r, world, four red and white peppermint
= drops!
! His blood was now up. He would
$ get the better of those omnipresen
. peppermints He stood up and tugge(
e wildly at his other lower pocket; anC
e bending over, sent his hand frantically
i to its very depths, only to bring III
with superhuman efforts handful o
e red and white peppermint drops
5 Down dropped Deacon Highly int
e his seat only having time to gasp il
g IA loud whisper to Uncle 'Siah,-
t $50 on with your pesky box, an II
8 hand in my contribution this after
n noon Do go on y
Mrs. Bruce only said four words
a with an awful nudge, to her husband
n not very profound, but decidedly ex
Il pressive- l told you so ~ Youth
:. Companion.