The daily gazette., 1883-11-09
Miss HiIdreth.

UiIdreth, as she met her man ,srrvant on the
lawn, "He would look 80 finely ON the
bslustrade, With his feathers spread or trail
ing them over the green sward. really
must have one, John"
"They be an awful nuisance, marin" de-
muried John. They'd never stick to tho
baustrade. They be as hard to manage as
children, an that's fac'."
"They keeps up an awful squRlling, miss, /"
nut In Jane the maid, when the matter
reached her ears. They'll be worse than
Miss Noyes' guinea-hens and Miss Dunn's
parrot, or them children OF Parson MIller's
Il never did see such neglected plaques as
they be-" she added, irrelevantly. ~ won
der their mother don't rise In her grave.
But the poor man--what docs he know Of
the care Of babies, with bis sermon and his
prayer-meeting, aud his parochial visits and
lie poofl Hes off to this wedding or that
funeral, or he's reading the Word to the
alex and tho blind, It's shame thcrs1 no
women folks, bat hired halp to look after
EN-. I see him myself one day a-tidying OF
them up, and pinning on their clean collars
Wong side out and upside down, 'sposc
he was thinking Of froe-will and election,
like as not"
II wish him Joy Of them, !" said Miss Pru.
dsnce 81 prefer the peacock"
The first night after tho peacock's arrival.
Mss Prudence never closed her eyee,
or the bird his mouth, so TO speak; but
when he pranced across the lawn In the
morning light, Miss Prue thought che would
rather lose her sleep than the sight OF so
much beauty.
"Miss Dunn says sbe'll have 10 Lay in
stock OF charcoal and bromide, II you're
gnIug to keep the peacock" jane reported
aud Mrs. Noyes herself dropped In to sug-
g1st that he could be Killed and stuffed.
He'll b quite as decorative" said she,
with disturbing the neighbors0
Every two or three days a small urchIn
would appear with the bird in tow, and re-
mark, demurely: "Your peacock strayed
over to Dickens, and Pvc fetched him along
home." for which civility sundry pieces OF
email change would be disbursed.
And who arc youW she asked, when the
ame youngster had performed the same be-
nevolent service some half dozen times.
''Il Oh, Pm Parson Mlller's boy"
"His sonP'
"Why, yes'um--I reckon co."
~ shall have to- shut him up" said Miss
Prue. "His travelling expenses will ruin
me-"
By this time the poor bird had lost most
OF bis tlne iall-teAthers In the progress of be-
iug run down by the Miller brothers and
their contemporaries, and presented ragged
appearance which went to its owners heart
So he was shut up 10 temporary pen till
he should learn better ways; but Miss PTu
dence, going to look after HIM one afternoon,
found the two Millers inside the pen, chas
Ing him bout n display his plumage, while
their little sister stood outside and clapped
her haDds, aud q crowd of other children
stood peeplng between the stats.
What are you doing, children ~ she
cried.
"Oh, we've been reading about peacocks,
and they need exercise" vouchsafed the
eldest Miller.
IT seems to me that you need a stick"
said Miss Prue.
Father don't approve of whipping"
chirruped the youngest, edo you, fatherl"
And Miss Prue lifted her eyes aud met
those OF the Rev. Austin Miller, which wore
a startled, perplexed expression, while the
eo.or palpta eu across his pale face.
my children have annoyed you," he
said, with the hesitating tone which begged
10 be gainsaid.
"They have only annoyed the peacock )"
Miss Prue, dropping her gaze, and
flushing rosy red In turn.
Il came in search Of these rogues," he
Tent on. "Bridget was sure they we're In
son',a mischiet-I did not expect to find
you"
voice stndion >Iy matter ot-fact.
"I have read somewhere" the Rev. Mr..
Miller pursued, tha.' the only real happiness
which ever arrives to- MS, springs up quite
In our pat th--it Is not the re.
suit OF search. l droppea. the thread OF
my sermon, against my will, az y. Sr,MelcaI M
poiut to look up these little fol V nave
my reward"
You are very easily satisfied" rtturned
Miss Prue, In the same remote voice, 5he
was hardening her heart against the pers, IA
SiVc tones which bad once been like thtN
music of the spheres to her.
mo, am not easily satisfied. have
never been satisfied with myself-with come
hss'y actions of my. own, l should say.
Miss Prudence, you have never forgiven
mtt' lie spoke half questloningly, as If he
would fain be contradicted.
81 never thought OF It as anything to for
give, she said, and her voice melted and
broke little In spite OF herself. "It was so
lrng ago." little proudly, as If she would
NOT let him suppose that 1t signihed. II
soe now that fate or Providence was kinder
10 US than believed. l don't think was
Intended for domestic life." As her eyes
ieli upor three harrum-scarrum children
who might have been her own but for their
mothers double dealing.
aio bplAnchtb tO
ieal, he said" "but they are all the com.
Tort have" holding a hand TO them.
Come, children, make your bow to Miss
Hlldreth, and tell her you are sorry"
Bat we are not bit sorry," said little
Amy. "The peacock is so beautiful, we are
glad we coined. We mean to do 1t again"
Truth is no longer at the bottom of q
well, said Miss Prne, with q real smile
dimpling hor face as she said goodbye.
Deacon Brickett could have seen the
manuscript Of Mr.. Miller's sermon as he re-
neeted In his study that evening, he would
have supposed that the words, "Come again,
dea- tiream," scTawled on the margin, re-
lerred beyond DOUBT to the dream ofJacob
when he saw the angels OF God ascending.
y
Them tn ere Miller boys be enough to
drive you to glory, an no mlstake," de-
eared Jane, a few weeks later. 81 wouldn't
De their mother--no, not If you'd give 'em
TO me-"
:, They're not mine to give" said Miss
ffne What have they done nowp
Done ~ They have gone and broke the
pea'htn's eggs, to see the little peacocks,
sures you're alive. They expect to fnd
tlh iul iledged, long tail and all. Amy's
gone home crying"
And where are the boys !"
Mr.. Miller, he's going to send 'om to bed
without their supper, aud serve 'em rlgl t.
lnrir mothers shirked all the bother OF 'em
sure enough I"
Without their supper-poor' things !"