Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1883-06-04
"a Bad Beginning makes
a Good Ending"


it is little strange that she should
have married a minister at all, for
she was giddy girl and seemed no
more liable to settle down into a
sober minister's wife than golden
butterfly would. But as to her mar
rying Baptist-I've noticed many
times that the strongest sectarians in
religion are quite unsectarian in love.
Belinda, Bel we called her for
short, was twenty and [ sixteen that
fall when she first met Mr.. Stapleton
the Rev. Mr.. Stapleton | should
have said. There was some kind of
a great Baptist meeting held in our
town-association or convention, or
something, and everybody had to
help entertain the strangers from
abroad. Mother told the committee
of entertainment when they called on
her, that she would keep one or two
she could not take more because her
health was poor and Bel had TO do
most of the housework, as Melissa,
that's me, was in school.
Bel pouted some at the idea of
having to entertain strangers.
II don't mind the extra work,
she said, "but I do hate to have to
talk to strangers. They don't know
anbody you do, and you don't know
anybody they do, and after I've
spoken about the weather, and asked
them if they are tired, [ never can
think of another blessed thing to
say!"
"Oh! now, BEL" said mother,
"you know we are commanded not
to be forgetful to entertain strangers.
I've done q great deal of such enter
tanning, and often made in that way
very pleasant acquaintances, that de-
veloped into warm friends
"Well,' said Belinda, "if they'd
only send us some lively ladies, 1
wouldn't mind, but dare say, it will
be poky old elder, gray and tooth
less and deaf as a post, besides.
There's one comfort; you'll have to
do the visiting while / do the work" !"
l laughed outright at Bells words
of vexation, and l reminded her of
them afterwards, more than once.
The evening of the first meeting
mother had gone to bed early with a
headache. 1t was after nine o'clock,
but father had not come in from the
store, so Bel and 1 were playing
backgammon to keep ourselves awake
while we sat up for him, when the
door-bell rang.
''Johnny Smithers come for milk
again !" said Bel, GIVE told him
twice not to come for any more at
night"
l started to get up and go to the
door.
''Don't get up, Mel. 1t will mix
mp the game. PIl call him in" and
raising her voice, she called, "Come
in! p The door into the hall from
the sitting room where we were was
about half way open, and obedient
to Bells word of invitation we heard
the front door open. Then footsteps
came along the hall. l was just
thinking that that was not Johnny
Smithers' step, when Bel spoke again
"This way. Johnny!''
The door opened wide, we looked
up, and there, framed in the doorway
stood one of natures noblemen, ha
in hand.
"Good evening, ladies'" he said il
the most courteous manner, though
there was merry twinkle in his eye
"My name happens to be Johnny, 81
I walked in. This is probably th'
lady of the house, addressing Bel
''Here is the card of introduction
which the committee gave me-"
Bel rose with as much dignity a
: though she had been threescore, ant
took the card whereon the Rev. Johl
Stapleton was introduced to us an,
), recommended to our care and cou1
tesy.
s'I beg your pardon for my rude
: ness" she said. Bel was always a
a adept in easy politeness, if she chos
S to exercise herself that way. &C
e supposed it was little boy that live
q next door. Mother is not very we
and has retired, and father is not "
| in from the store. / am Behind
Carroll and this is my sister Meliss;
v Let me take your hat, and you wi
: please take the easy char and max
/. youself at home till father comes in
u The reverend gentleman did as r
y quested, making himself so perfect
at home that I was quite carrie
,s away with him. He was a .perfe
:" gentleman, yet SO charmingly easy
We his manners, that / felt as though
I had always known him, and we we
~ quite like old friends by the til
?, father came in from the store, viii
was half hour or so. Bel manag
er to busy herself more or less in va
1 GUS household matters, as a prete1
se / was sure, for keeping out OF
er conversation, so she did not join
~ ~ it very much, except -as he artfu
"a drew her in, / knew that the way
nv which she chanced to invite him
my was annoying her, but I knew, t.
!, that she would never own that s
~ cared fig about the matter.