The Worthington advance., 1882-05-04
MISS BkEWSTER'S GREEN SILK.

Seeln lS b0lteVln, or else should say
jest as you do, that 1t couldn't be true: bu
jest stepped into Mrs. Badgers to see whs
she'd charge to 6x 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 thought mebbe coulc
dnd out what it was there-and there I saw
it with my own two eyes, all over pleatin' +
and ruft1in's that it seemed burnin' shame
to cut up good thick silk into. and fixed ur
in the back sot I couldn't have tho heart t.
set down on it. And Miss Badger, for al
she's so close-mouthed. she up and told me
who it belonged to, and says I, You DOM
say sor and says she, Yes, do, and then
she pursed her lips up kind of proyokip, o.
if she csuld tell great deal more if she
was mind to. But I've got wit enough to
put two and two together, il folks is close
,nouthed. and says I, right out-for there
amt nothin' sly about me-says I. Then
Cordilly Brewster IS a-goin' to get married.
And Miss Badger she never denied it.
"Well, it does beat all, F" 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 o green silk dress. when she
hasu't worn anything but bombazine and
alpaca and her one old black silk dress fol
nigh upon twenty years. It's enough to se'
anyboAy's ideas altogether, and make 'eu:
think the worlds oomin' to an END
Though cant say that such extravagsno,
looks much like the millennium"
Mrs. Deacon Lewis shook her head IL
soleun censure.
"A good black silk would have been mucl.
mole suitable and becomin' to q woman,
most forty years old, to say nothin' Of the
wear and the maxim over, and for minis
ter's Wife"
you don't say that she's goin' to MARI,
the minister!" exclaimed Mrs. Davis.
Why, suppose so, of course. Who
can it be If it isn't the minister"
Il never saw Any sign Of their keepin
company. Parson Gree y is too spelitua
to marry o woman that crimps her front
hair ~ith hot slate pencils; and she never
put more than three eggs in those odstards
III she carried to the donation party.
should think more likely twas somebod,
that che picked up when she was down t,
Haverhill visitin', or John Parmenter tha,
used to keep company with her when the,
was young, and has kind O. been doin it
off and on, ever sense"
"Oh she wouldn't have John Parmeuter,
even if he had spuuk enough to ask her.
which be hain't. He is good fellow, Johu
is, but he'll never set the world
atire, and he's been runnin' down hill terri
oily lately; has had to mortgage his farh-,
they do say"
"Ctrdilly's money wonld come in just
rlgnt, then; but, as you say, don't sup
pose she would have him. It's likely that $
what's made John turn out so poorly. her
not havin' him. But can't really believe
it's the minister. There's Sammy; let's ask
him" Sammy Greedy, tho minister's
Shining up" neighborng telegraph pole
with his ambitious design Of attaching his
kite to the wire, desccntled somewhat re-
luctantly to the earth, and obeyed Mrs.
Davis beckoning finger, Sammy was \
freckled.face urchin, with turned.
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 limb. and he and his three brothers,
Moses. Hosea and Joseph, caused the old
pzoverb concerning ministers sons to be
often repeated with solemn head .shakings
by the towns people.
Sammy. is your father goin' to be mar
ried!" asked Mrs, Davis, with her hand af-
fectionately placed on SammY's shoulder. .
"The old gent? he couldn't remember to-
Nobody would have him. either. He's as
bald as door knob and he asks blessin'
anywhere along between the meet aud the
puddin'. And Joe and me would fix her,
any how"
Wouldn't you like to have bin marry q
nice. kind lady like Miss Coldily Brewster?
She would teach you how TO behave"
know how good enough now, aud I'd
wiring her old parrots neck! I don't believe
it, any how, but I'm goin' to find out"
And eff went Sammy, regardless of his
kite. and burst brcathless into his fathers
study.
You amt eoiu to marry Miss Brewster
and her old green parrot that swears, and
have her always clearin' up and dustin and
loosln' your papers, are yer" demanded
Sammy,
The minister turned from his ee,mon-
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 il to summon
forth some straying recollection.
THAT must be the very thing that was
trying to remember! Wait a moment. I
AAAot Anto ooC IL COWU 6Ou6WQSr0s,.
And Parson Greedy drew from ono 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.
",Mem.-To confute the infidel psddlers
argument by S.. Paul, and
Mem. TO tell Deborah, mildly but firmly
mn1h al Ia -
health.
Mem.-To punish Joseph and Samuel
Tor unseemly conduct at prayer time.
NJ mo aumoni b Brother B .te> (p mt.
} hat he Is becoming unsound in zoo
trine.
Mem.-To endeavor SO far as lies in me
to store peace to the singing seats.
Mem.--To endeavor to exercise such II
measure OF wholesome restrai.t over Moses
and Samuel that they may not become a
cause OF scandal to the neighborhood.
Mem.-To devote greater measure Of
attention to worldly matters, such as apply
ing blacking to my boots, and brushing my
ra'ment.
Mem.--To consider p,ayerfullv whether
tho use of hair-dye is incompatible With
the principles Of the Christian religion or
che duties Of the Christian ministry.
Mem.-That the singing seats are in tho
hands Of God, and that He causes even the
wrath OF man to praise Him.
Mem.-To consider praye-fu|ly the sub.
lect OF contracting matrimonial alliancs
with Miss Cordela Brewster.
That's it! knewI way not mistaken;
aud felt that had lsadiugs from the
Lord in that direction: and yet. in the midst
OF manifold cares and distractions, it whoi-
ly slipped my mind, weak and erring NOR
ial that am. And it may not yet be too
late" And the minister seized his hat,
giving it hasty brush with his sleeve. aud
Aurried TO the door, turning, however, to
lay his hand with unwonte2 tenderness up.
on his sons head. saying. solemniy, "Sam.
ne'. I thank you for this suggestion. aud
would that I could perceive In You as lively
signs Of the workings OF grace az do OF
wisdom and discernment beyond your
years."
Samuel. left alone, looked after his faith
er With most lugubrious face.
Fora feller to go and do ii liMself,
that's the worst of it! l hadn't better let
"n to Nose and the rest that I did it, No
more fun it she comes here; she'll want a
feller not to tear his clothes, and have his
hair brushed every minute, and no pie or
cake between meals. Well make It lively
for her, though-Mose and Hose and jo