Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1884-06-06

noSthat they We're unused TO seeing her
walk up the aisle; she was as ref uIar
about that as the minister. but she car
ried to-day q large ca1pet-bag, and that
was certainly unusual 49,. S..
!. People nudged each otter and whis-
pered and uttered, quite a little breeze.
Of excitement spread over the church.
and heads twisted backwards and side
ways, and craned forward toward
Aunt Rhoda's peWs but she sat there
quietly and listened to the singing,
with her carpet-bag on the seat beside
her. . 7t#.. - 4
After the benediction Aunt Rhoda
seated herself again, and did not go out
with the rest OF the congregation. Peo-
pie turned around and stared at her sit
ting there, as they went down the aisle.
Ii it had not been for the carpet bag,
they would not have thought there was
anything singular in her proceeding, for
there was an afternoon service, and the
people often stayed over, and ate their
lunch they had brought with them in
the church: but they certainly never
brought their doughuuts and cheese in
4AlSe-olAeu c'lipSt~u<t6'
There were few, from distance,
who were going TO remain till after
noon meeting to-day. They got to-
gether und covcrtly eyed Aunt Rhoda
after the rest had left the church. She
coolly opened her carpet bag, and took
out some crackers and cheese and be-
gan to eat. They whispered and queried
while they ate their own lunch, and
finally some of them went over and in
tsrviewed Aunt Rhoda, but they found
out nothing; their hints and indirect
questions were alike unavailing, and not
one of them dared ask her directly what
| she had bronght her carpet bag for. 10
tell the truth they began to suspect
that Aunt RhoGia's troubles had affected
har mind, and they had, naturally, a
little delicacy about asking her ii she
were crazy
! When she sat composedly down again
beside her carpet bag, after the after
! noon service, their was q connection.
People collected around the church
doors and talked the matter over. Some
thing ought to be done. they agreed.
So they stopped the minister and con-
suited him, and finally he went back to
speak to Aunt Rhoda.
"Well, Mrs Carpenter he said,
when hereached the pew where she sat,
her black straw with its purple roses
! tipped back at IN anglo Of defiance.
chow do YOU do?'
Aunt Rho,ta cautiously reached ont
her hand IN its wr1nkiy glove to meet has
protirrea one. "Nlcely, thtAnky," re-
piled she.
GIVE been meaning to conH and see
you III last week." the lntnr,ter went
on, aud ! Thought to myself, when l
looked ground and saw YOU still seated
i l,crc, That would com" nacl. and speak
to you, and tnon We co:!ld walk home
! together.
Il ain coi,. home" said A7.nt l'hoaa.
/ She set he tai:s lips, and !,cr spcctaclns
glarcd dcf;cntiy.
not going hclne, repeated the min
ister in nclnl"Ss amoze1nent.
NO, amt gor any nome 10 60 TO.
! AS for my Twin any l"agor Ill a home
that amt mine, I wony; but this pew is
mine, an ny husband bought an pale:
for it. an here I'm goin' to set.
i;nt, dear Mrs. Carpenter, how can
you? Hyr; long,
TIN aGoin +, set here TIL ny crack
ers N cheese give GU; thnt CAY >et-b IS
pretty near fill OF EN-, an by that time
| think the Lord will send me deliver
ance. I'm goi1,' to set right here III
this house an pay for it. Think He'll
send Annie Carpenter Mathev."
but YOU can't stay here all alone
why, you'll be afraid"' cried Mr..
Wilson desperately. He Was a young,
| inexperienced minister, all unprepared
for such contingency as this. He
was utterly bewildereC. At one time
he would think Aunt Rhoda crazy, and
at another time not; in fact, he did not
know what to think, l';1t he Gid want
to 10 his duty US a clcrgvnaA.
Afraid n 1he Lords house,! replied
Aunt RhcAa: ''wAy. III feel safer hero
than ever did in my own. No, it ain I
no use talking: L N a-goin' to set right
here in my own pew
She drew the carpet-bag closer tc
her side, and sat up sitter than ever.
Poor Mr.. Wilson was entirely at loss.
He wanted to do his duty, but what
was his duty? Words were clearly OF
no avail, and he could not drag this
eccentric old lady out Of her pew and
home by main force. lie finally LETT
her temporarily mistress OF the sltua
ton, and hurried to the house OF Dea'
con Harris, one Of the pillars OF the
church, AID his rlght-hand man.
When the deacon had the facts OF the
case stated to hln1. he laughed 1mmoder'
ately. Mr.. Wilson smiled a little too
Before this only the perp!axltles of the