The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1883-05-05
LITTLE MABEL ON THE MINISTER'S.


was such a tiny, laughing, dimpled
lassie with great surprised blue eyes
and soft fair hair, with stray ringlets
clustering about her snowy temples,
and long eye-lashes sweeping cheeks OF
mingled rose and pearl. Grandma
could not bear to have the wee witch
for moment out of her sight, and
grandpa, old and rheumatic as he was,
seemed happiest when racing with our
baby up and down the garden paths.
Papa, stately, dignifed papa, threw
kisses back to the winsome maid as
long as he could catch glimpse from
the village street of the pretty face
pressed against the cottage window;
but who can express the mothers love,
or the many brilliant hopes concen-
trated in that dainty bit of baby
beauty.
All the villagers petted and spoiled
her, and, indeed, our Mabel made
friends with everybody but our minis
tiers. Some way circumstances were
always unfavorable for her being a IA
vorite with clerical gentlemen, and she
seemed most mischievous when in the
presence of these opponents of deco
rum.
Well, it happened one day, when
Mabel was a little more than two years
old, that our good pastor called, and,
noticing the bright child-face, asked
why we never brought our baby to
church.
Mamma smiled 81 am afraid you
would wish we had left her at home"
she said.
But he, not knowing the mischief in
that little pate, spoke of his love for
children, while wee May, with wide
open eyes and all-hearing ears, listened
quietly, no doubt intent upon some
wickedness at that very instant.
We did not think much of what the
good man said, but Mabel did. When
Sunday morning came, nothing would
do but Mabel must put on her delicate
white frock, blue satin bonnet, and tiny
blue boots, to accompany grandma to
church.
Some looked pleased when they saw
the sweet baby face beside the wrinkled
aged one, like the promise of new
youth, but when they reached that part
in the service where the choir, after
each line repeated by the congregation,
sang: 1--WE beseech Thee to hear us,
good Lord" Mabels wonder increased
every minute, and pretty soon she ex-
claimed:
"Why don't they keep still, and let
bod answer them, gradma? Is bod deaf
like you?'
Papa looked daggers at Mabel
Grandma told her that was part of the
service, and she mustn't talk aloud in
church. Everybody else but the min
lister smiled, and the young folks were
convulsed. Mabel was quiet after that
until she grew tired of the sermon, then
she became uneasy; she pinched grand
ma and punched papa, and said she
wanted to go home, but, getting dis
couraged, began to cry softly. At
length a bright thought struck her.
Grandma" said she, loud enough
for the minister to hear, "don't you
suppose Mr. H. wishes | was to
home?'
1t is needless to say that in spite of
the good mans protestations to the
contrary, Mabel carried the day, and
nothing more was said about our babys'
going to church.
About six months later new rector
came, a young and rather handsome
man, who used to come often to the
house to see Mabers Auntie Lou. One
day while these two were chatting with
other friends in the parlor, our baby,
who had been busily engaged with her
pencil, demurely walked up to the
young minister and holding up her
slate, said:
fonahn fhio g.,
B., but it don't look much like you,
so I'll just put tail on it and call it a
dog"
Mr.. B looked slightly embar-
raised and hardly pleased at first, but
concluded it was a good Joke, and
joined in the laugh with the rest. But
to cap the climax, few weeks later,
an old-time school friend of grandma's,
venerable, bald-headed clergyman,
was visiting at our house with the young
rector, enjoying their recollections of
days long past. That morning Mabel,
having burned her hand, had for the
first time learned the use of sticking
plaster, and was quite delighted with
the little black patch over her knuckles.
No one OF the happy group in the libra
ry was thinking of Mabel, for mamma
supposed her safely taking her after
noon nap, but mo-! The aged clergy
man sat near heavy window drapery
in which, it seems, our household divinity
was snugly ensconced, with large piece
ofblack plaster which she had distracted
from her mothers drawer, and was
most busily engaged in getting it ready
to cover up that great white spot on the
top of the old gentleman's head. When
Aunt Lou discovered the little mischief
she was standing on tiptoe, just ready
to clap the plaster on the unsuspecting
head. At a gesture from Aunt Lou,
the old gentleman turned, when Mabel,
not at all abashed, said, coolly:
"'Twont hurt; make it all nice, like
the rest" and would have proceeded
with her operations had not the rever-
end vacated his seat, not approaching
the situation, to her evident dismay and
disappointment, and the intense amuse-
ment of the company.