The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1882-12-06
DEACON BAssErT's DESIRE


good. sincere old man.
Deacon Bassett kept the village
store. as bis father haa done before
him and there WAS not a richer man
for miles around than Deacon Bas-
sett.
His fortune had been honestly
made, too, for the smallest child
could be safely trusted in buying at
his store. Yet with it all, a harder,
sterner man could not be found.
With him, if a thing was not night
it was wrong. F..
Perhaps if his fair gentle wife had
lived. it might have been different.
She was the only one who ever I'M
derstood his rugged nature. But
early a March mnrning, she lad
her tiny girl in his arms, and SAID,
oh ! so tenderly, and i'll such low,
faint tones:
"Zadok, dear. take care of my lit
tie blossom. Keep her for me, un-
spotted from the world"
She died That night.
"Unspotted from the world" He
v forgot these words. Over and
over he said them to himself. How
was he to keep his little girl in the
world and yet not Of the world?
Everybody thought the deacon
would marry again. But the deacon
himself never dreamed of such a
thing.
He sent for his sister, Miss Pris-
ella BAssett, who certainly carried
out his views in regard to raising
children.
She dearly loved the little Pru-
dence, but like her brother, she new
er allowed her affection to show
itself.
There was no compromise with
Satan in regard to either dress or
department. Anything that savored
of worldly or heshly %vanities was
stricken out of their lives.
Prudence Bassett grew to woman
hood, pure and sweet, like "A fair,
lonely little harebell, clinging with
all its gentle might to the greatstoay
rocks.
A dainty little lady, with eyes as
blue and soft as her dead mother ;
while her face had a rare beauty,
like the pale pink heart of a gentle
seashell.
She never had a real companion
except the 'Squire's young daughter;
and the latter had died when she
was fifteen. So from that time Pru-
dence had gone on her way, lonely
and quiet.
Deacon Bassett had a great desire.
Until hat was gratiied, he would
not. he thought, devote his time TO
anything else.
Years b fore, he had made up hss
mind just how many thousands
were necessary to make Prudence "A
rich woman before he would waste
one moment in pleasure. SO all has
energies were directed to that end.
1t came to pass, bright morn
ing, that Zadok Bassett was surpris-
ed by a visit from his second cousin,
Harriet Wentworth.
"I'm going to take that little child
Of yours home with me. Cousin Ia
dok," said he. "Prue does not look
very strong, and certainly needs a
change from the humdrum life she
has been leading"
"Humdrum life p Deacon BasseSt
started in amazement
Ii was the same lite that he had
always lived, and his father before
him; and therefore it WAS good
enough for her.
"She is just the age of my Alice"
continued Mrs. Wentworth, and
am sure they will both enjoy the
visit"
At first the deacon was strenuous
ly opposed to the unheard Of pro
ceedings.
He thanked his cousin very stiff
ly, but said he preferred to keep his
daughter at home, and away from
the vanities and follies of city life.
But Mrs. Wentworth was not to
be balked.
"Let her come with me. Z4dok,"
she pleaded. Indeed it is for her
good. She grows more like her
mother every day."
The last suggestion made him fall
ter.
He remembered how her mother.
with the same sweet disposition and
gentle ways, had faded away before
his eyes.
So after a little more persuasion,
it was decided; and when cousin
Harriet went back to town, Prudence
went with her.
A; first the hustle of city life CEN
fused the quiet, shy maiden. Many
a time she wished herself back with
her silent father, and stiff, precise
aunt Priscilla. But as the days wore
away, things altered.
One afternoon her cousin Alice
came bursting into the room. ex-
claiming
"Prue, Tom is waitingdown stairs
with a friend Of his. Owen Rains
ford, who is going to try our organ
at the church; and Tom SAYS he will
take US if We hurry"
La the confusion Prue hardly no.
tioed the bright dark eyed stranger
who was introduced to her; and In
a few minutes, under her cousin
Toms quick escort, the party reach
ed the churcn.
Let me stay down here" pleaded
Prudence, as they prepared to 90 UP
TO the organ loft. Il will wait in
one of the pews for you indeed |
would maehrather."
why, you bashful little Prue."
laughed Alice.
But they left her have her wish.
With her slim hands elasped tight
ly together, Prudence Bassett looked
with awe around the beautiful
church. so different from an, thing
TO which she had been accustomed.
Down through the great stained
windows tho sun fall IN a nallaw