Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1884-05-02

DHhtEi iCOluly, III pleaseu aC neF HuSDanu
criticism. 81 do my duty as far as l see
! it, and flatter myself Pm as good as the
general run o. folxsn
The entrance of Madge prevented
further conversation on the subject, and
with heavy sigh John Baker took his
seat at the supper-table. He noticed
that his daughters eyes were very red,
but did not question her about them, for
he suspected the cause of their condi-
ton. But he was more than usually
kind in his manner to her, and on rising
from the table slipped silver dollar in
her hand, whispering: "Buy yourself
some little trinket, darling"
The unexpected gift, coupled with
the tender words, proved too much for
Madge in the over-strained condition
of her nerves. Throwing her arms about
her fathers neck, she laid her head on
his breast and burst into tempest of sobs
and tears. And the eyes of the father
were dim as he tried to soothe her.
"This is perfectly ridiculous" said
Mrs. Baker, exasperated at the scene.
Zone would think the girl was seven
years old instead of seventeen. Leave
the room, Madge, and don't come back
again until you can behave yourself"
"You're too hard on the child, Sarah, ="
said John Baker, as Madge went out,
sobbing wildly "Shes all we've got,
and we'd ought to make her home
happy"
"And do you pretend to say that I
make it unhappy3" demanded Mrs.
Baker. "You just spoil her out of all
reason. She don't know what she really
does want, and so she makes mountains
out O. mole-hills. If she had to drudge
as Lucy Cole does she'd have room for
complaint. l wish you wouldn't put
notions into her head. l have work
enough to manage her without your
setting her up to think herself abused" ."
John Baker said no more. He knew
by long experience that further argu-
ment would be useless. Sarah called
herself Christian, and was one of the
| most active members of the Calvary
church; every Thursday evening her
voice was heard in prayer-meeting, and
she held prominent positions on various
, committees appointed by the elders. She
E was always ready to join in plans to pay
t the church debt; she was the chief
| worker in every fair and sociable; her
Y contributions to the poor box and to the
: foreign missions were always large,
| and the minister depended greatly
t upon her help in every scheme
? in which practical energy was
: required. But her religion seemed to
D drop from her heart like cloak from
her shoulders when she entered her own
@ home. She did not appear to think it
= necessary to exercise it there at all. The
= gentle reproofs of her good -natured hus-
band and the rebellion of her pretty
daughter only irritated herwithout bring
/ ing her to see where she erred. She was
4 very angry now, and began to clear the
r table with unusual energy. But as John
took his hat and went out on some er-
e rand at the village postolice, and she
: was left alone, she grew calmer, and by
l., the time the dishes were all washed and
put away her irritation was almost for
. gotten.
= "I guess I'll run over and see Mrs
: Marsh minute" she said to herself, a!
!, she took off her big gingham apron and
n hung it up 4 "Like as not that Tom tolC
her all said. He's one to enjoy making
y a fuss, and / don't want any hard feel
a ing So I'll just step over and tell he
myself why can't sit up with he
d mother"
y Mrs. Marsh and Mrs. Baker were very
e near neighbors, and had always beer
very intimate They were accustomed
}, to running into the houses of each othe
,. at any hour without the ceremony o
e a ring or knock, and so Mrs. Bake
t went around to the back of the hous
le when she reached Mrs. Marsh's, and
er finding the kitchen door open, steppe'
in at once.
IS AS she did so she heard the sound Q
It voices in the adjoining room, the door o
ny which was ajar.
We She had advanced halfway across tn
kitchen, intending to make her presenc
~ known, when the sound of her own nam
l spoken by voice which she recognize
g. as belonging to Mrs. Long, anotht
neighbor, made her pause.
VS. ''Mrs Bakers religion amt the kin
that stands soap and water" this woma
| was saying. 'It hasn't made spark
Is dif'rence in her. She's as stiff-necke
Id as ever. She may be good at rushi
in round to society meetin's, but as fl
maxim personal sacrifices, it amt
RS herr
NJ Mrs. Baker heard, and trembled vii
he indignation, but worse was to come.
he "She certainly doesn't carry her reli
IN ion with her into her daily life
said the voice of Mrs. Marsh, 'and that
hn the only true kind Of religion, | thin
ng She keeps hers for show, not for us
I'm intimate enough at her house to knc
he that
ley "She bottles it up and takes the CO
out only on Sundays and at praye
meetings" and Mrs. Baker recognize
nd Tilly Marshs high treble. otis co
me venient kind of religion, you see. B
it don't impose upon any one but h'
an. self"
Is ''When a person makes profession
they'd oughter stand by them every d
in the year." said Mrs Long. an
h a Baker breaches a sight, but she dol
,ct, practice wuth anything"
ow For moment Mrs. Baker was tempt
i If to rush into the next room and franz
lin. tell her neighbors "what she thought
them;" but angry as she was, an
ier, stant's deliberation convinced her Il
such course would be highly in
dicious, and might lead to scanc
aid which would afford the village gos
the for months to come. So, without givi
hat any intimation of her presence, she h
cow riedly left the house.
$50 this is how my neighbors talk
eak me behind my back!' she murmured,
d it she reached her own kitchen again, a
was threw off her hat and shawl. 9th;