Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1884-04-28

tion about their minister and his fam
lily, which all seemed to regard as
perfectly legitimate subject, 're-
marked:
HThere is one thing that is con-
tinual puzzle to my husband and my
self about Mr.. Seabright. He GER
tainly does the most singular thing |
ever heard of every week.
"What can it be?" asked several
voices at once.
81 do not know as ought to tell
it, for fear of harming the poor man.
We, as you all know, think every
thing of our pastor. We like him as
a man, socially, and we are delighted
with his preaching; yet we would like
to have our curiosity gratified in one
respect. 1t is this: Why does he bor-
row money so often p
."Borrow money? You surely are
not in earnest. We never heard of
his being the least in debt" exclaim-
ed two or three in one breath.
''That is where the mystery comes
in. He never stays in debt by any
means; but l will tell you what puz-
zles me, and see what you all think
of it. Fol the last six months, every
Saturday evening, without fail, about
half-past nine, Mr.. Seabright comes
to our door, asks for Mr.. Leroy and
borrows of him five dollars
give dollars every week \! You
don't say so" exclaimed score of
ladies, lifting their hands in holy hor-
ror at the bare idea.
sit is true. But the most remark
able part remains to be told. On
Monday morning, rain or shine, cold
or warm, before we eat our breakfast,
which, you know, is served very ear
ly, that the gentlemen of the family
may leave for business, the door-bell
rings, and Mr.. Seabright appears and
hands back five dollars
:'Why, how strange What can
he do with it? If he spends it, how
can he always get it to refund so
soon?' said one of the ladies.
He cannot spend it, said another.
mo" said a third, 'the stores are
closed on Saturday evenings at nine,
and you say he does not come until
half-past.''
mot until ~half-past nine" said
Mrs. Leroy. ''Then none open until
some time after our early breakfast
on Monday. l tell you, friends, 1t
puzzles u.s."
"How does he appear on receiving
it? asked another.
''Deeply grateful. He thanks us,
on returning it, with all his heart"
After considerable talk, Mrs. Hurl-
bert said:
"Mrs. Leroy, did it ever occur tc
you to mark the bill lent him, to see
whether it passes from his hands ol
not?"
"No," was the reply. l mean tc
propose it to my husband this very
night
"Do! do" cried several, "and tel
us the result"
So, laughingly, they separated.
The next Wednesday the ladies
waited anxiously for Mrs. Leroy
appearance to hear the result of thei
little scheme. AS soon as her smil
ing face appeared they gathered
around, eagerly asking
"Did you do it?''
"We did, and to our utter amaze
ment the same bill came back OIL
Monday morning"
"That is too funnyl What can
mean? How shall we solve this mys
tery?" were exclamations that passe
from lip to lip.
Finally Mrs Leroy agreed to hav
her husband ask an explanation tn
next time he came on this singula
errand and report the reply
Saturday night arrived and with
Mr.. Seabright at the door of the eld
er's house. He always declined Ell
tering, pleading the lateness of th
hour; but this time Mr.. Leroy woul
not take refusal.
Drawing the reluctant clergyma
into the warm, well-lighted parlo
the good man gently told him that h
curiosity was aroused to know "wh
he so regularly borrowed that money.
because my kind friend," ws
the reply, 81 absolutely need it,
ssHow can that be, when you G
not spend it?"
: Chow do you know / do not spen
it?''
'sBecause / have marked the bill
and the very same one comes bacI
, Besides, no stores are open while yt
have it.
sit is too true. do not spend it
"Then why in Heavens name {
you borrow it"
> There was long pause, then Il
pastor replied:
s'Since you press me so hard,
will tell you, though | would rath
not. When / first came here foul
that articles for daily use in fami
1 were much higher than I had be,
! accustomed to. My salary, by t
strictest economy-doing without
servant, going partially fed al
clothed-eould only supply our me