The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1882-05-04
MISS BkEWSTER'S GREEN SILK.
Harper's Bazaar.

Deacon Lewis:
"Seein' is bellevin', or else should say,
Jest Is you do, that it couldn't be true; bu'
I jest stepped into Mrs. Badgers to See what
she'd charge to fix over my black Alpaca
want in any hurry for the alpaca, but
kind of got an idea that there was somethin'
in the wind, and l Thought mebbe could
find out what it was there-and there I saw
it with my own two eyes, all over pleatin 5
and rutllin's that it seemed u burnin' sham,
to cut up good thick silk into. and fixed up
in the back so't couldn't have the heart t.
set down on it. And Miss Badger, for all
who it belonged to, and says (, You don,
say so! and says she, Yes, do, and then
she pursed her lips up kind of provokin, a.
if she could tell a great deal more if she
was mind to. But I've got wit enough to
put two and two together, if folks is close
mouthed. and says 1, right out-for there
amt nothin' sly about me-says l, Then
Cordilly Brewster IS a-goin' to get married.
And Miss Badger she never denied it,"
"Well, it does beat all, " sail Mrs. Davis.
This has been sing lar year, what with
the comet and the terrible happenin's all
round, and now Cordilly Brewster settin
up to have a green silk dress. when sh,
hasu't worn anything but bombazlne anc
alpaca and her one old black silk dress TO-
nigh upon twenty years. It's enough to Sc
anyboAy's ideas altogether, and make 'eu
think the worlds comm to an end
Though can't say that such extravaganza
looks much like the millennium"
Mrs. Deacon Lewis shook her head il
solemn censure.
"A good black silk would have been mucl
mole suitable and b. comm to q woma,
most forty years old, t. say nothin' Of the
wear and tho maxim over, and for minis.
ter's wife"
you don't say that she's goin' to marry
the minister" exclaimed Mrs. Davis.
why, suppose so, of course. VIII
can it be If it isn't the minl~ter?'
II never saw any sign of their keePin
company. Parson Gree Y is too >pelltua
to marry woman that crimps her front
hair with hot slate pencils; and she nevel
put more than three eggs in those clstlrds
III II she carried to the donation party.
should think more likely twas somebod,
that she picked up when she was down t
Haverhill vlsltin', or John P.rmenter tn
used to keep company With her when thu
was young, and has kind O been doin' it
off and on, ever sense"
Oh she wouldn't have John Parmenter
even if he had spunk enough to ask her
which he hain't. He is good fellow, JOIN
is, but he'll never set the worl,
aire, and he's been runnin' down hill terri
bly, lately; has had to mortgage his farh..
they do Say"
"C.rdilly:s money would come in just
right, then; but, rs you say, don't sup
pose she would have him. It's likely that 5
what's made John turn out so poorly. he,
not havin' him. But I can't really believe
it's the minister. There's Sammy; let's ask
him." Sammy Greedy, the ministers
youngest hopeful, who was engaged il
shining up" a neighboring telegraph pol.
with his ambitious design of attaching hi
kite to the wire, descended somewhat re-
luctantly to the earth, and obeyed Mrs
DAVIS beckoninS finger, Sammy was a
freckled face urchin, with turned-up
nose, the expression of which was contra
dicted by pair of preternaturally solemn
and innocent looking blue eyes. In spite
of his eyes, Sammy was generally regarded
as "hmb," and he and his three brothers,
Moses. Hosea and Joseph. caused the old
proverb conc -rning ministers sons to be-
often repeated with solemn head shaking,
by the towns people.
Sammy. is Your flther goin' to be mar
ried?' asked Mrs, Davis, with her hand at
fectlOnately placed on Sammv's shoulder.
"The old gent? he couldn't remember to-
Nobody would have him, either. He's as
bald as door-knob. and be asks blesslu
anywhere along between the meet and the
puddin'. And Joe and me would fix her.
any how"
"Wouldn't you like to have him marry
nice, kind lady like Miss C rdiily Brewster?
She would teach you how to b. have"
"Know how good enough now, and I'd
wiring hor old parrots neck! I don't believe
it, any how, but I'm goin' to lind out"
And eff went Sammy, regardless of his
kite, and burst GREATNESS into his fathers
study.
"You amt goin' to marry Miss Brewster
and htr old green parrot that swears, and
have her always clearin' up and dustin and
loosin' your papers, are yer" demanded
Sammy.
The minister turned from his sermon
writing, and regarded Sammy with mild
amazement. Gradually his expression
changed into one of perplexity. He removed
his spectacles from his eyes to the top Of
his head, and then he tapped his forehead
with the tips of his fingers, as if to summon
forth some straying recollection.
"That must be the very thing that was
trying to remember! Wait moment /
must have set it down somewhere,
And Parson Greedy drew from one of the
pigeon holes of his desk some loose sheets
of foolscap paper which had evidently been
used as diary. Several pages were devoted
to memoranda; these the minister read
aloud.
",M-m.-To confute the infdel peddler's
argument by S.. Paul, and
Men,. To tell Deborah, mildly but firmly
that 50 much saleratus is not conducive to
health.
Mem.-To punish Joseph and Samuel
for unseemly conduct at pray time.
N 10 admoni b Brother B 'te> e mt
| } hat he is becoming unsound in SOC
trine.
Mem.-To endeavor SO far as lies in me
to r. store peace to the singing seats.
Mem.-To endeavor to exercise snch 3
measure of wholesome restraint over Moses
and Samuel that they may not become +
cause of scandal to the neighborhood.
Mem.-To devote greater measure OF
attention TO worldly matters, such as apply
ing backing to my boots, and brushing my
ra'ment.
Mem.-To consider prayerfullv whether
the nse of hair-dye il incompatible With
the principles of the Christian religion or
the duties of the Christian ministry.
Men..-That the singing sc It's are in the
hands Of God, and that He causes even tn
wrath of man to praise Him.
Men, 70 consider prayerfnlly the sub
Jet of contracting matrimonial alliance
with Miss Cordelia Brew ter.
That's it! knew was not mistaken
and felt that I had leadings from tn
Lord in that dire ction; and yet. in the mids
of manifold cares and distractions, it Who'll.
ly slipped my mind, weak and erring NOR
tai that l am. And it may lot yet be to-
Late" And the Minister seized his hat:
giving it hasty brush with his sleeve. and
hurried to the door, turning, however,. t.
lay his hand with unwonte: tenderness up
on his sons head, saying, solemnly, Sam.
uel, thank you for this suggestion. and
would that 1 could perceive in you as hvel!
signs of the workings of grace as DO OF
wisdom and discernment beyond YOU
years."
Samuel, left alone, looked after his faith
er with a most lugubrious face.
For Teller to go and do it himself
that's the worst of it! I hadn't better LEI
on to Nose and the rest that did it. No
more fun if she comes here; she'll want a
Teller not to tear his clothes, and have his
hair brushed every minute, and no pie o.
cake between meals. Well make it liVel,