The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1883-06-20

me can get the vittles to-day i declare,
she turned over and give me such look
why, it struck right in. There was my
wife, that had worked for an waited on
me twenty odd year, most scarf because
spoke kind of feelin' to her. 1 went
out and fetched in the pail O. water she'd
always drawed herself, and then MIXED
the COW. When l came in, Philury was
up fryin' the potatoes, and the tears a
shinin' on her white face. She didn't
say nothin', she's kinder still, but she
hadn't no need to. felt leetle meaner'n
/ did the day before. But 'twan't moth
ing to my condition when l was goin',
towards night, down the sullar stairs for
some apples, SOS the children could have
roast, and 1 heered Joe up in the
kitchen say to Emmy, Il do b'lieve En-,
pas goin' to de- sWhv, Josiar Emmons,
how you talk 7 well, l do; he's so ever
lastin' pleasant an good natered l can't
but think he's struck with DEATH
al tell We, brethren, l set right down on
them sullar stairs and cried. did, RELY.
Seemed as though the Lord had turned
and looked at me, jest as he did at Peter.
| Why, there was my own children never
see me act real fatherly and pretty in all
their lives. I'd growled and scolded and
prayed at 'em, and tried to fetch 'em up
| jest as the twig is bent the trees inclined,
| We know, but hadn't never thought that
| they'd got right an reason to expect I'd
do my part as we'll as their'n. Seemed as
though | was fndin' out more about
Josiah Emmons', shortcomings than was
real agreeable.
"Come around Friday, got back to
the store. I'd kind of left it to the boys
the early part of the week, and things
was little cluttering, but 1 did have
sense not to tear round and use sharp
words so much as common. | began to
think twas getting easy to practice, after
five days, when in come Judge Herrick's
wife after some curtin calico. l had
han some piece, all done off with roses an
things, but there was fault in the
weavin', in every now and then thin
streak. She didn't notice it, but she was
pleased with the figures ont, and said
she'd take the whole piece. Well, just as
1 was wrappin' of it up, what Mr.. Parkes
here said about tryin' to act jest as the
Why, turned as red as a beet, l know l
did. 1t made me all of tremble. There
was /, doorkeeper in the tents OF my
God, as David says, really cheatin', and
cheatin' woman. | tell ye, brethren,
was all of sweat. Mis- Herrick, says
I, Il don't b'lieve you've looked real close
at this goods 'tan't thorough wove, says
L. So she didn't take it. But what
fetched me, was to think how many times
before I'd done such mean, unreliable lit
tie things to turn penny, and all the
time sayin' and prayin' that wanted to
be like Christ. l KEEP a trippin' of my
self up all day, jest in the ordinary bust
ness, and was peg lower down when
night come than was Thursday. I'd
ruther, as far as the hard work is con-
cerned, lay mile of four foot stone wall
than undertake to do a mans Twin, Chris
tian duty for twelve workin' hours; and
the heft of that is, it's because l amt
used to it and ought to be.
$50 this mornin' came round, and
felt mite more chirk. Twas mission
airy mornin', and seemed as if twas a
sight easier to preach than to practice.
thought I'd begin to old Mis- Vedder's.
So put Testament in my pocket and
knocked to her door. Says I, Good
kmornin', ma'am,' and then I stopped.
Words seem to hang, somehow. didn't
want to pop right out that I'd come to
try'n convert folks. Ihemmed and swal-
Jared little, and fnlly 1 said, says 1,
I'VE don't see you to meetin' very fire.
quent, Mis- Vedder.'
No, you don'tl' says she, as quick
as wink. Il stay at home and mind my
business
sc" Well, we should like to hev you
come along with us and do ye good says
|, sort of copciliatin.'
"'Look a here, deacon she snapped,
I've lived alongside of you fifteen year,
and you knowed | never went to meetin' !;
: we amt pious lot, and you knowed it
: we're poorer n death and uglier n sin.
Jim he drinks and swears, and Malviny
J dono her letters. She knows heap she
hadn't ought to, besides. Now what are
. you comm here to-day for, I'd like to
know, and talkin' so glib about meetin'
, I'll go or come, Jest as please, for all you.
Now get out O. thisP Why, she come at
me with broomstick. There wasn't NO
need ont; what she said was enough.
!, hadn't never asked her nor her'n to SO
much as think of goodness before. Then
J | went to another place just like that
! won't call no more names; and sure
enough, there were ten children in rags
the hull on 'em, and the man half drunk.
J He give it to me, too and don't wonder
, I'd never lifted hand to serve nor save
em before in all these years. I'd said
consider BILE about the heather in foreign
} parts, and give some little to convert 'em
and had looked right over the heads OF
them that were next door. Seemed as il
, could hear him say, These ought ye to
} have done, and not have left the other un
, DONE couldn't face another soul to-day
; brethren. l come home and here be
I've been searched through and through
, and found wantin'. God be merciful to
me a sinner"
, He dropped into his seat, and bowed
! his head and many another bent, too. II
was plain that the deacon's experience
was not the only one among the brethren
, MIR. Payson rose, and prayed as he had
never prayed before; the week of prac
i tice had fired his heart, too. And it be
gan memorable year for the church in
Sugar Hollow; not year of excitement
or enthusiasm, but one when they heard
their Lord saying, as to Israel of old, "Go
forward" and they obeyed his voice. The
| Sunday-school flourished, the church ser
/. vices were fully attended, every good
thing was helped on its way, and peace
9 regned in their homes and hearts, i'm