Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1884-12-16
SELLING PEws IN THE MEETING
HOUSE.
sroH, 90 1850 AGO. TouSprp rroN
facts.


M-. Hale laid the stocking seros. her
knee. and placing the ms, above ii. slow
I, rolled the two together. and turned one
edge down over the whole. making neat
bundl. which she laid 10 the chair beside
her.
T~o. four. ii, pAir. Thi. completed
,he week. mending She diew asigh OF
relief. and M wonder. for her pile oi
weekly NEEDING MAS very large. and
shat good housewife can help ihs, salts
aed feeling which comes With the last
stitch Of mending fof the week.
The .ish. ar Of diferen, kind
deeper. troubled sigh. when !, !. lef' from
week 10 week. IL reminds one Of the
do~nwArd course Of q young life. when
the frat false step Is taken, the hr'' IN
irinsemen, on forbidden ground. Ja', a.
the fr., sarmen, i left in the ~ofk-bA.-
se, over the sabbath. the res, comes
easier. and 1, !. oaly by desperate
struggle ,ha, the old life and ways can
bc resumed.
Mr.. Hale lay back in her chair and
closed her eyes. swee, blue eyes ,hA, new
er lo., their tenderness for her husband
She does, no hear hi. footsteps. and u Is
no, until he lay. both hand. on her silver
hair and gently stroke. It that she real
is.. thu, she is no, alone with her
thoughts.
"Are YOU tired. little wife ; You look
pale. We mus, Try and make your work
lighter Nov. am strong and hearty
and can .ing the good old song
a farmsr'. M. 3. The liie fof me.
Io~n love 10 dearly
"But We must not forge, that you are
no, robas, like the boys and myself
and stopping down, be pressed a kiss
,enderly on her forehead.
She looked up pleasantly. and reach
ing on, TO clasp his hand. said
We've had our share Of trouble and
bard work. aud you've Alwsys tried TO
give me the easy end Of the yoke. /, is
no, hard work that palss my cheek to-
day, Aaron. |, l. the though, OF this
afternoon a, the church. A mother with
four bright. manly sons, cannot hear OF
such freedom with liquor wI,hoa, shud'
der: to know that alter each pew IN the
new church is sold there mus, be liquor
drank, /. to know ,ha, nearly every man
will be like a beas, before night. and this
IN the house Of God. Oh. my husband.
IL is dreadful. Can't you do something
20 stop Il ,
"It has been in my mind these many
mon,hs," said the husband, "And | have
determined to day TO take a stand, pray
log that some good may come Of Il.
God speed you in the undertaking.
said the good wife and mother.
With these words ringing in his ears
he drove awav, SAYING 10 himself:
"A fnrm more fair. face more sweet.
n has nevs been my lot 10 meet"
Ia this gray haired couple could be
seen that noble bond OF love that made
them speak Of THEN life ss though ], was
a common interest. IL was ever I'VE
and ''our." never that lordly II and
"mine," as though the other had no part
IN il. Hand in hand they had journeyed
through life, with no secrets. trusting
faithfully each other. and each feeling the
other TO be an equal.
A lively scene me, Mr.. Hales eare as
he came up to the church door. The sell
ing Of the pews had been looked forward
TO for long time. They were the old
fashioned square pews. with seats rum
ing all round. On the top and eneifcling
the whole was . moulding or Gaping. IL
va. planned that when sPew Was struck
of TO q certain person that man should
invite the crowd to retire to TomPkinss .
scro.. the street, to be treated to grog.
after which the Gaping was sawed apart
and The door vas swung open TO !" osn'
er IL wa. jus, - Mrs Hale had said
before nigh, every man was in wide
awake state. OF lay stupidity In his pew
waiting for ".omething TO turn up.
The hot blood mounted TO Mr. Hale
face as Judge Bangs. an airy. pomPoa'
lawyer. Lax in principle and character
df..led out q fec remarks. just to heal
himself talk, on "Csuse and Eject.
"rn say one thing" said the good
farmer. "I,'s pretty evident What ih'
| -. II .,f.,t nj Ill thu want Of prin