Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1884-01-16
What ?" questioned Mr.. Jackson.

wv hat :" queStloneu MI. oaehoou'
II said, sir" continued Mrs. Brown,
gathering courage as she went on,
that did not approve of q club OF
that sort. | must confess" she said,
while her whole face famed for an IN
slant, that / was only telling polite
lie when | said with the rest the other
day, that l thought it would be good
thing. I don't think it would be good
thing. | think We need to use our
money much nearer home. | think we
have no right to be treating the heathen
to Bibles, until we pay our debts
even if it is but church debt; and al
ter that is paid and we have any money
to spare, the heather in our own land
near our own doors, | think, should be
looked after before we go across the
seas in search of new ones. l know
such opinions are not Christian, per-
haps, sir; but that is what | honestly
think; and thinking so, you see. Mr..
Jackson, should be regular hypocrlt
If Joined any such society as you pro-
pose to organize"
Mr.. Jackson was wise man, and
practical oue He said:
"Wbat you say, my dear Mrs. Brown,
surprises me greatly; but l forbear to
urge you to become member of any
thing wherein your conscience would
be troubled. Still | trust that, al
though you feel you cannot give US the
help and strength of your presence,
YOU will aid US little financially.
You know we shall need all aid possi-
BILE in that direction" he smiled kind
ly.
This time feminine logic was greater
than the feminine heart, and the good
man was astounded when Mrs. Brown
exclaimed:
"Why, of course l won't Not q
cent, sir! How curious of you to ask
me for such a thing! Would you
really, sir-you, a minister OF the
Gospel, take it from me after what |
have just said to you? Would you Z"
"Why. yes" smiled Mr.. jackson,
good naturedly. "Of course l would.
The cause is good, and you wouldn't
miss the money, and"
"Mr. Jackson" interrupted Mrs.
Brown Indignantly. "Allow me to
say that l don't think very much of
youw
"Wha wha- what?" stammered
the minister. "You-you-don't-
don't Where is my hat, please, Mrs.
Bsown? l really am not very readily
provoked; but such remark as this, Is
really-really-not to be received L
have the honor-the honor, ma'am,
said the good man, trembling with
rage, "to bid you very good after
noon !"
And putting on his hat and grasping
his cane, the poor man let himself out
at the front door, while Mrs. Brown
merely stood still and let him 60.
Once, for one moment, she was tempt
ed to call him back and recant; but
then, Mop she thought, IL will be
sincere, | will be honest" So Mr..
Jackson left the house, hurt, wounded
and humilated, and not at all compre-
bending how it all came about.
Mrs. Brown heaved sigh, and went
upstairs again.
II seem to have bad luck with my
callers" she thought.
Just before supper time she went
down into the kitchen to see if every.
thing was progressing as it should do
To her surprise the kitchen was empty
No Bridget there And, worse than
that, the fire was out, and no sign at
all of any preparations for supper
" here could she be? She looked in
the cellar, she looked out in the back
vsrd-no Bridget Puzzled and wor'
ried she went upstairs again.
Mary" she said, where's Bridget!
"In her room ma'am, gettin' dressed,
| think" said Mary.
Mrs. Brown knocked at her bedroom
door.
Bridget! Bridget J"
"Yis ma'am," answered Bridget
opening the door. "Phst is it ?"
"Oh-h, Bridget !" exclaimed Mrs.
Brown. And well might she exclaim;
for there was Bridget, with her hair in
endless curls, and pink ribbon tying
them up, smiling and smirking in
way that, to Mrs. Brown, was mad,
dening.
"Why-y, Bridget"
"Yes, ma'am," smiled Bridget
"Doant they look foine %.
Bridget" said Mrs Brown, severe
ly, "pin those curls up and go right
down and attend to your work. Don't
you it's near six o'clock, and the fire is
all out
"Dear me-" cried Bridget, lifting up
her hands in disnay. "You doan'
name to tell me that?"
al do; Just that; and you'd better be
lively" said Mrs. Brown, angrily
turning to walk downstairs.
"Shure | won't be a minute" said
Bridget, excitedly; and not waiting &c
tuck up her curls or anything else, she
slipped on her apron and went down
to the kitchen as fast as she could go
A few minutes after six Mr.. Brown
returned to his home from business
He walked in the front gate slowly
and when inside of the house said
good evening" to his wife. in most
dignifed manner Going over to bin
timidly Mrs. Brown kissed him, az
was her wont upon his return home
His face relaxed a little at this; but
the anger of the morning was still upor
him, and he did not return her kiss a.
all. With sigh Mrs. Brown took
rocking-chair and sat down in 1T
Half;past six came and no supper bell
Mrs. Brown slipped downstairs quiet
ly and tried to hurry Bridget up. She
found her busy, red-faced and furried
with her curls still in their splendor
hanging round her neck. "l'm dom
me level best ma'am," she exclaimed
And shure it can't be long, now, al
though it does take some time for thin
vegetables to cook, ma'am"