Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1882-10-04
Family Versus Company.

Family Versus Company.
The new minister had come, and of course
every one was anxious to become acquainted
with him as soon as possible. In Wood
leigh, the recognized way of doing was to
have him come to tea and spend the eve
ming. Accordingly for nearly month the
Rev. John Dents face had been missing
from the tea-table of good Mrs. Dodds, in
whose family he had been received as
member until his plans for the future had
been decided upon. In that time he had
been handed around from one member of
the congregation to another, in much the
same way that new book or the latest
style in millinery would have been. He
had talked literature, art and fashion with
the mothers and daughters, and politics and
church finances with the fathers and sons.
He had sat down to daily suppers of fried
chicken and wafiles, until his stomach be-
gan to rebel, and to insist on rest or a
change of diet. Then he began to look
around to see how much longer it was going
to last. Tuesday Deacon Smith had spoken
for him. Wednesday he had promised to
the Martins, while Thursday had been set
set apart by the Lawsons as the only day on
which the new pastor should break bread
with them.
This would take him nearly around.
True, there were a number of families
whom he had never visited beyond mere
calls, but they belonged to the poorer part
of his charge, and were of that class who
scorned TO make feast unless they could
make 1t in every way as good as their
wealthiest neighbors. DIR. Dent hoped most
devoutly that they might not see their way
clear, until he had by judicious course of
crackers and tea, restored his stomach to
something like its natural tone.
Deacon Smiths supper and the night
mare that followed it were both safely past,
and he was on his way TO fulfill his engage
ment with the Martins, walking briskly
along with the light step and cheerful
countenance of a man who has made up
his mind to do his duty, no matter what it
cost him. Suddenly the brisk walk ceased
and Mr.. Dent stood staring down at the ap-
partition which had unexpectedly risen
from thickness of weeds by the roadside.
1t was not one from which DR.. Dent or any
body else was likely to recoil, for it was
small and freckle-faced, and moreover, was
SO badly frightened itself, that it barely had
breath enough to make the following an
nouncement:
"Please, sir, Aunt Polly has been took
awful sick and mothers had TO go off in a
tearin' hurry, an come to our house another
time"
OF course DIR. Dent didn't care, and
another time would do just as well if not a
little better, and having quieted small
| Tommy Martins fears by winning smile
and hearty hand-shake, he turned around
and started off in the direction of the Law.
sons, without even asking himself whether
or not this sudden change of arrangement
would make any difference to them.
1t was fore-ordsined, suppose. AT least
that was the only way Mr.. Dent could ever
account for his doing such an utterly stupid
thing as cutting across lots, vaulting the
back fence and presenting himself at Mr.
Lawson's back door, at an hour when ht
was supposed to be calmly eating chicken
off Mrs. Martins best china.
| The Lawsons were about to partake o.
their evening meal. Mr.. Lawson, Sam ant
John were already at their places Mrs
Lawson was arranging the cups and saucers
and Mary Jane was filling up the teapot
preparatory to sitting down, when the doubl,
rap was heard at the door. "The Grimes
to borrow something l wish we could ge
through one meal without them," said Mrs
she went to open the door.
Before she gets it open | would like t,
introduce you little more fully to tn
Lawson family, that you may understand
how matters stood on that November even
ing, when fate sent MIR. Dent to their bacl
door.
Mr.. Lawson was an intelligent, well-to'dC
man, honest in his dealings, social in hi
relations with his fellowmen, and of con
siderable influence in the church. Mrs
Lawson was kind and motherly, invaluabl,
in a sick room, and an authority on all mat
ters relating to pickles and preserves. Mar.
Jane was quite society leader, and he
way Of preparing her dresses and doing u
her hair was always accepted as "style" b.
her girl friends. The boys were good ma
tured and fond of fun, and were decided,
popular, as such boys are apt to be.
As family they would have been re
garded as perfect, if it had not been for
bad habit which they had-too common
with great many other people-of puttin
the best foot foremost.
J When company was coming, they sparet
, themselves no labor or trouble, that every
thing might be as pleasant as possible
, They scrubbed and swept and busted witt
will; got down their best glassware, an
/ the spoons and forks which constitute
their stock of silver, until they shone again
ransacked their brains TO invent dishe
/, which should please the palate, and have a
abiding place in the memory Of their guest
! forever; arrayed themselves in their bes
, talked their best, acted their best; in shol
they did verything-cheerfully and hearth
too-that could be done to add to the gel
eral pleasure.
. But when they were alone it was ditferen
1t took so much work to keep the parlor
order, and it was such a trouble to carr
, everything in and out of the dining-roor
i and it was such bother to dress twice
Z day. So as u general rule, they took the
meals in the kitchen, and spent their ev
nings, when at home, huddled around Il
cheerful kitchen stove, and their toilets a
: not what is usually regarded as evenir
y dress, and, moreover, they were apt TO
tray the manner of work in which Il
! wearer had been engaged during the da,
y the folds and creases, too, gathered and I
, tanned all the pleasant odors of the kitche
: so that any one with an acute sense Of smt
!, might have given the Lawson's daily bill
= fare TO dot.
On this particular evening things were
e little worse than usual, for they were savil
= themselves for tomorrow, when the who
= house was to be put in order, to do honor
n the new pastor.
# You can imagine much better than CT
y describe Mrs. Lawson's feelings when IL
- open door revealed TO her astonshed gal
y not the familiar, dirty visage of 'Jol
- Grimes, but the handsome, smiling count
nance Of their new minister. She retreat
O. step, then stood smiling in silent dsm
10 at the unexpected visitor. Mr.. Lawson al
IS the boy scrambled up and began to look I
N their coats, while Mary Jane added TO t
r, general interest of the scene by pouring
s. stream of hot tea on the back OF the slet
,e ing cat, who, with loud "meow," at bel
r so rudely wakened, started in straight Ii
70 for the door Mr.. Dent involuntarily steppi
20 aside TO let it pass.