Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1882-09-27
take it for granted that I have your

take it for granted that have your
sanction 2"
"By all MEANS" said the old gentleman
"by all MEANS"
And you will prepare her mind for a
visit from me when | am little stronger Z"
"Oh, certainly !" said Mr.. Merriman.
And absent minded as usual, he went
home and forgot all about it.
AT three O'Clock pretty Miss Minnie put
on her blue velvet capote and neat little sack
and went to No. 10 Saville street TO help
prepare the refreshment table for the hos
pital fair.
" How did you like my Bread" she asked
of the lady superintendent, who stood at the
big table, with dozen white-aproned young
girls gliding around her in various directions.
" The first l ever made"
"What bread" said Mrs. Raymond, lift
ing her eyebrows. awe have received no
bread from you, Minnie"
Goodness gracious me cried the min
ister's daughter, clasping her hands, "what
has become of it then For sent Jerusha
with it at ten o'clock, and she came back and
declared that she had delivered it all right"
"There has been some mistake, evidently"
said Mrs. Raymond. "And l am sorry, for
we are in great need of real nice homemade
bread"
Minnie hurried back home and sternly
confronted Jerusha, who was surreptitiously
buying penny ballad of boy at the area
door.
"Jerusha," said she, "you told me that
you delivered my bread all right 2"
$50 | did, Miss Minnie" whimpered
Jerusha. "At No. 90 Saville street. And
as you told me, Miss Minnie"
Minnie'a cheak olowad qcarlat than orav
pale. She sat hopelessly down on the edge
of the kitchen table.
"Jerusha 2" she cried, desparingly,
"you've carried my bread and compliments
to Mr.. Ayton instead of to the hospital fair.
Oh, Jerusha, how could you make such a
dreadful blunder ?"
And she ran up to her father in sort of
desperation.
"Papa," she cried, " such dreadful thing
has happened Oh, don't you think you
could help us out of it in some way ?"
And she related the complication with
tears in her eyes.
Hum hum ha p said Mr.. Merriman,
apparently hosting his memory out Of the
times of Herodotus with some unseen vari-
ETY. of mental apparatus. "Yes, | see. But
you don't grudge poor Mr.. Ayton the bread
Minnie, my dear, do you p"
"Oh no, no." cried Minnie.
"You don't dislike him 2"
"No, papa" said the innocent girl, I" l
think he is ever so nice I"
"Well, then," said this witty old diplo-
matist, "suppose we both go around there
together, and it can all be explained salts
factorily, and we know, my dear, that we are
commanded in the good book to visit the
sick"
So Miss Merriman and her father went to
No. 80 Saville street, where Harry Ayton
lay on sofa, looking very pale and inter
! esting, and just exactly as lover ought to
do. His face frightened up at the sight Of
Minnie.
"Did you tell her, sir ?" he demanded of
the minister.
"N-no," confessed that worthy old gentle
man. al thought perhaps you could tell
her better yourself. So l Just contrived
this little opportunity-or rather it con-
trived itself. And I'll go down stairs now
and talk with Miss Jenkins about that pas
sage in Revelation that always bothers
her So"
"What does it mean ?" said Minnie in
bewilderment, as her father shutfied out of
the room.
at MEANS" said Mr.. Ayton, promptly,
Ahop 4 ioNC yous hdNc DtCn lOuslnB lOl
you in my heart all these months, but until
your sweet message to-day"
| "But | sent no message" said Minnie,
blushing " celestial rosy red" " and no bread
either. 1t was all mistake of Jerusha's.
They were both intended for the hospital
fair"
"But it isn't a mistake that 1 love you, y
said Mr.. Ayton, " and if you cannot teach
yourself to care for me, after all"
"Oh, but | didn't say that !" confessed
Minnie. "At least--I thought under
stood"
And when Mr.. Merriman, having quieted
Miss Jenkins mind as to the obscure pas
sage in Revelation, came back, Minnie
was engaged to Harry Ayton.
But you'll let the fair have the loaf Of
bread, Harry ?" coaxed Minnie.
"Not crumb l' said the lover. "Do
you suppose l would let any one but myself
eat that bread-the first bread you ever
made III send them check for fifty dol.
lars, and let 'em buy their own bread with it. u
And so the hospital fair didn't get Minnie
Merriman's loaf of bread at all.