St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1884-11-13
Luke Berry's supper.


dow with it's southern exposure, a
cheerful fire in the CRATE took the chill
from the air, the first hint of autumn.
The room was a pleasant picture of
itself. The crystal and silver seemed
to smile with pleasure, the napery was
of the whitest and finest, and the vi
ands were such as only Mrs. Luke
Berry's Nova Scotia cook could pre-
pare, trained by long years of careful
supervision.
Did Luke Berry regard his mercies :
AS he took the book, he glanced ont of
the window, and John Tracy was hur-
rying by to catch the horse car he
looked pale and haggard. He won
dered why he was so late, and then he
remembered he had a sick child that
had been very low for some days. John
Tracy had started in life when he did,
but he had been unfortunate-one of
the unlucky ones. He had failed in
business, was now a clerk in his form
er store, and at an age when men need
an easier life was working hard for
bread for his large family. Was there
Il providence in itP The deacon's
mark was at the fourteenth chapter of
Luke: "When thou makest a dinner
OF a supper, call not thy friends, nor
thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor
thy rich neighbOrs; lest they also bid
thee again and a recompense be made
thee. But when thou makest u feast,
call the poor, the manned, the lame,
the blind, and thou shalt be blessed !:
for they canlOt recOmpcnse thee for
thou shalt be recompensed ut the res
surrection of the just"
Mr.. and Mrs. Luke had been discuss
ing the project of giving party. Mrs.
Berry was quite noted for these social
affairs, the distinguished people she
gathered and the rare entertainment
she provided. Luke glanced at his
wife as he read these words, and his
prayer was tenderer as he asked God
to bless the word to their spiritual
good. Wonld he try to answer his
own prayers? He was more thought
ful than usual as Jack carried him
down to his office, driving the gray
colt. Luke Berry was a fairly benev-
Olent man his friends called him un-
usually so he would never turn away
IA worthy cause. But life had smiled
on him, he had no idea how tough a
thing it was to many, and he had Il
latent feeling that they must be shift
less if they did not fairly succeed; but
Berry was business man, every fibre
of him, he instinctively saw the bear
ings of operations, and was regarded
as the sharpest and shrewdest man on
the street, not in the modern sense but
really wise in business matters. He
was thoroughly honest, he did not
trade on the misfOrtunes of his neigh
bOrs, he was Il man of his word, met
his note the very day it was due, and
conducted vast operations with the
ease of the proprietor of country
store. If Luke Berry favored an enter
prise. it was quite sure to be a success,
for the judgment of the man was eX-
ceptionally sure, and he carried firm
hand in all his business. Mr.. Berry
people could not be called fashionable
for they had a mind of their own, and
certain Old-fashioned notions that they
adhered to. whatever society held
Mrs. b. was very happy i'll her young
peoples gatherings, but she would
never allow cards, not that she thought
it the greatest sin in the world fol
young people to amuse themselves in
"a friends parlOr in that way, but she
| had II boy at college and she knew il
he played them with young lady
friends, he would he likely to be led
into it in college, and then there would
be lessons slighted, late hours, dissi-
pated companions, gambling and she
said he should not learn if she cOul6
persuade him. And Mrs. Luke coulC
persuade any one she set out to. She
was but eighteen years his senior ant
a very fascinating woman. She ha(
always delighted in fascinating hel
own family, rather than her neighbors
and retained the cordial respect and
love of husband and children. Tn,
young people might have sneered at
the puIitanic views of Luke, Jr., hui
Mrs. Luke was not to be sneered at
she was too powerful social force to
set aside her opinion, and her parties
were so delightful.
When the deacon came home to din
ner, by the way some thousands richer
than when he went away, and they
were trifling with the dessert, h,
broached the subject of the party.
"Betsey," he said-Mrs. Berry haC
been farmers daughter, and she an,
Luke had commenced life poor; Ii,
loved to call her by the old name
"Betsey, suppose we have a gospe
supper this time"
Luke, what do you mean p
''Why, you remember what | rea,
this morning as the lesson. | hav,
been thinking of it all day" Wha
time he had one could think of tw,
things at once. "And thou shalt h
blessed, for they cannot recompens
thee, for thou shalt be recompensed Il
the resurrection of the just" 1t ha
been ringing in my ears all the morn
ing. Why should we not call the poor
the manned, the lame and the blind
and treat them as well as we do on
rich friends ?"
1t was no objection to Mrs. Berr
that it would be odd-she was quit
famous for doing odd things--neithe
was she afraid her elegant home w0ul,
be harmed in its appointments. Sh
had it to live in, and she knew ther
was an innate refinement with sue
people, often putting to shame til
mere fashionable habit of the hou1
They discussed the question thorough
! ly. She took a day to consider it, an
tHtH tH'N htlCl IiilIith W uO 1t. ne
would follow the Master in very wore
Once undertaken there was no della
or hindrance. Mrs. Berry determine
that no one should be patronized q
their self-respeet offended. She woul
provide an entertainment in every wa
equal to her accustomed efforts. til
caterer had carte blanche. The peopl
mnst be invited, and this was tn
hardest matter.
Luke and his wife, with his paste
and the assistance of friend who wa
much among the poor, made out til
list. What a company it was Neve
had Mrs. Berry's great house held sue
queer assemblage. Parlors, conserv
atory, were filed. Luke, Jr.'s youn