The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1882-12-22
MISS BREWSTERS GREEN SILK.

fence. Said Mrs. Deacon Lewis.
"Seein' is believin', or else l should
say jest as you do, that it couldn't be
true; but l jest stepped into Miss
Badgers to see what she'd charge %
fix over my black alpaca-I want i,
any hurry for the alpaca, but kind O
got the idea that there was somethin
in the wind, and thodght mebbe
could find out what it was there-ant
there L saw 1t with my own eyes al
over pleatin's and rufilin's that il seem.
ed burnin' shame to cut up good
thick silk into, and fix up in the back
so't / cou ldn't have the heart to SCI
down OH it,. And Miss Badger, for all
she's so close-mouthed, she up and
told Inc who it belonged to, and says
'You don't say SOP and says she yes,
do and then she pursed her lips up
kind of provokin', as if she could tell q
great deal more if she had mind to.
But I've got wit enough to put two and
two together, if folks is closed-mouth-
ed, and says l, right out-for there
amt nothing sly about me- says l,
Then Cordiliy Brewster is a-going' TO
get married. And Miss Badger she
never denied it,"
Well, il does beat ALL" said Mrs.
Davis. "This has been sing'lar year,
what with the comet and the terrible
happenin's all around, and now Cordil.
ly Brewster scttin' up TO have green
dress, when she hasn't worn anything
but bombazine and alpaca and her
one old black silk for nigh upon twcn-
ty years. It's enough TO upset any
pody's ideas altogether, and make 'em
think the worlds comm to an en-
Though U".'t ,-- 49,. ~.--. --...,
agance looks much lise the millen-
MUM"
Mrs. Deacon Lewis shook her head,
in solemn censure.
"A good black silk would have been
much more suitable and becomin' to
woman most forty years old, to say
nothin' of the wear and the maxim ov-
er, and for a minister's wife"
"You don't say that she's going to
marry the minister" exclaimed Mrs.
Davis.
"Why, ! suppose SO, of course.
Who can il be, if it isn't the minister?"
81 never saw any sign of their keep.
in company. Parson Greeley is too
speritual to marry woman that crimps
her front hair with hot slatc-pencils;
and she never put more Than three eggs
into the custard that she carried to the
donation marty sl.orid 'h;rt mo~o
likely twas somebody that she picked
up when she was down to Haverhill
visitin', or John Parmenter that used
to keep company with her when they
was young, and has kind o. been doin'
it, off and on, every sense"
"Ol, she wouldn't have John Par
menter, even if he had spunk enough
to ask her, which he hain't. lie is a
good fellow, John is, bnt he'll never
set the world afire, and he's been run
MIN down hill terribly lately; has had
to mortgage his farm, they do say"
"Cordilly's money would come In
just right, then; but, as you say, don't
suppose she would have him. It's like
ly that's what's made John turn ont SO
poorly, her not havin' him. But can't
really believe it's the minister. There's
Sammy; let's ask him.
Sammy Greeley, the minister's
youngest hopeful, no was engaged in
"shinning up" a neighboring telegraph
pole, with the ambitious design of at
tao hing his kite to The wire, descended
somewhat reluctantly to the earth, and
obeyed Mrs. Davis's beckoning finger.
Sammy was freckle-faced urchin,
with tnrn-up nose, the expression
of which was contradicted by pair of
preternaturally solem and limo cent
looking blue eyes. In spite of his eyes,
Sammy was generally regarded as
climb" and he and his three brothers,
Moses, Hosea, and Joseph. caused the
old proverb concerning minister's sons
to be often repeated with solemn head
shakings by the towns-people.
"Sammy, is your father goin' to be
married?" asked Mrs. Davis, with her
hand affectionately placed on Sammy's
shoulder
"The old gent? He couldn't re-
member 10. Nobody would have him
either. He's as bald as q door-knob.
and he asks blessin' anywhere along
between the meat and the pudding.
And Joe and me would fix her any
how"
"Wouldn't you like to have him
marry a nice, kind lady like Miss
Cordilly Brewster? She would teach
you how to behave ="
"Know how good enough now, and
I'd wiring her old parrots neck | don't
believe it anyhow, but Pm going to
find out"
And off went Sammy, regardless of
Ills Kite aud burst breaihless into his
fathers study,
"fou amt goin' to marry Miss
Brewster and her old green parrot that
sweaIs, and have her always clearin'
up and dustin and losin' your papers,
are yer?" demanded Sammy.
The minister turned from his SER
mon-writing, aud regarded Sammy
with mild amazement. Gradually his
expression changed to one OF perplexi-