The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-05-28


urdsy, and placed on the hanging-shelf
in the cellar. This morning, whether as
prologue to the omen coming on" or from
some sudden jar on the old timbers, all
at once, without moments warning, the
shelf gave way, dashing itself and all 1t
upheld upon the floor. To make the work
of destruction complete, the cellar floor
was merely earth, now damp from the
spring rains, and with boards laid along
at intervals TO walk on. OF course, the
wettest place was underneath the shelf,
and when Mrs. Weaver reached the spot
she found only sticky conglomerate of
pie, cake and mud, with scattered pebbles,
in the shape of biscuit, rolling here and
there.
She raised both hands in terror and
dismay; what was to be done2 But,
quickly rallying, she set about making
good the loss. "Now, Mary jane said
she, briskly, to that domestic, "you and
I'll have to fall to, If it's Sunday, and
cook up something for dinner. There's
the minister and his wife-that's two;
and Elder Cook and his wife-that's
four; and the deacon, and me, and the
children, makes nine; and Father and
one else may dropin. Seems pity to miss
the sermon, too; and then / had laid out
for to wear my new bunnet " Regret
fully" There's so little chance for bun
nets Well, it can't be helped. Folks
must eat, and ministers like their vittles
just as wells other folks-better too, for
anything know to the contrary. They
do say ministers and spring chickens are
death on each other. Well, well, we must
make the best of it. Mary Jane, III clean
up this muss, and you go tell the deacon
never to mind me, but 60 right along to
church; III come if | can-which amt at
all likely.
Now, Mary Jane caught sight of Bill,
on his way to get matches for Isaac, and
being, as was natural, in something of q
hurry, intrusted the message to him. Had
the deacon been anywhere in sight, no
doubt the habit of obedience would have
prevailed; the message would have been
delivered, and the day of the week made
clear. But he was in the pasture, so Bill
said nothing, and the feminine part of the
household were too busy to notice any
thing beyond their own pursuits.
Meanwhile, the deacon did various
chores to his own satisfaction, and then
went to the field, where, axe in hand, he
began to hack and hew at some smaller
stumps in the way of the pillow. The
boys worked diligently. After while,
the elder Weaver stopped, and, while wip-
ing his face, noticed with pleasure how
we'll the work was advancing.
"Did 'em good" he reflected, "to touch
'em up little. They'd be hanging round
the house yet if I'd let 'em." At this
moment a carriage came down the road
| ct should be said that the field they were
ploughing adjoined the pike.)
Brother Simmons and his family
said he to himself; "where are they
going, wonder I must say that, in
my estimation, he gads about more'n's
FITTING for protesting member"
So he chopped on, and Charley, in his
circuit, coming to the stump, had JUS
uttered loud Gee-haw when the dea
cons uplifted arm and axe were all al
once arrested. Clear, sonorous, there fel
upon his ears the familiar sound of bell
Its own weight, rather than any menta
impulse on the holders part, made th'
axe descend; and at this moment, a!
though to complete his decentralization
the minister rode by.
Charlie had paused-he could not pos
IDLY help it-and Bill was gazing at hi
father with world of demure amuse
ment in his glance, when the deacon
"planted his axe, and turned toward
them.
"Charles," said he, briefly, "what bel
is that? 2"
"The church bell, SIR"
"What day is this ?"
"Sunday, sir" meekly responded hi
heir.
There was moments silence-silenc,
far more eloquent than speech. 1t wa
broken by the deacon. Unhitch tina
horse, said he, dryly, I" and get ready TO
church." Not another word was spoken
The boys did as they were told, and whel
next they saw their father he wa
entering church, rather late, in all tn
terrors of his go.to-meeting clothes. l
he noticed the quizzical glances of hi
neighbors, only deeper flush than wa
habitual to his weather.be face be
trayed it.
Elder Stone preached a very length,
and in structive sermon on Lots wife, ant
the perils of looking back; but l doub
if the boys heard much of it, unless i
might be the rather startling exhortatiol
with which it ended. Wherefore, m
brethren" said the elder, let us all re
member Lots wife, and how highly she wa
privileged" Je-rooky |" whispered Bill
to Isaac, shouldn't think it much of
privilege to be turned into salt"
But the deacon's trials were not ye
over. At the close of the services, OF
rather, just before the final hymn, it wa
his duty to make an announcement. III
rose, but hardly with his wonted air O
rectitude. The cloud of the morning
mistake still overshadowed him.
: Brethren" said he, our beloved pas
tor is still ailing, and we must get tn
J spiritual mama for awhile from othe
J sources" He was aware that he stan
mered, but how could he help it, when a
} the time there was rhythmic accompani
ment in his ears of Hitch-up-the-roan
Burn up-the-stump Don't-ssy.a-word
J "It's doubtful if we can have Brothe
, Stone next Sunday" he resumed. "HeI
come If he can, and we'll have meeting
the Lord willing; but two weeks fron
to-day we'll have meeting whether or no |
; There was faint murmur of surpris
in the church, which became rustic o
decorous merriment as the deacon, rea
, izing the irreverent absurdity of his owl