Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1885-01-02

To no ND.
al shall be so glad to give up the
presidency of the Bethel Society and the
Dakota League to Lucretia," said Miss
Rich. Its only proper for the clergy
mans wife to be at the head Of them.
you'll feel sorter lost without emp"
asked Mrs. Phelps.
"The parish is large field. think
! can spare them to Lucretia. Do you
know the other night as was going to
watch with Miss Hart when she had in
formation of the lungs, came across
Lucretia and Susan and Mr.. Lindsay. |
must say should think Susan would
have more taste than to follow 'em ev-
erywhere. Why don't she keep herself
in the background"
''She's been pretty much in the back
ground all her life," said DR.. Slow.
"Perhaps she's tired of the situation"
'.But she ought to have more consid-
Grafton. P'r'aps the lovers don't mind
her. There they were, all three of 'em,
watching the comet and studying the
heavens"
"A proper study for clergyman"
said DR.. Slow.
"And he was pointing out all the con-
sternations, and it seemed to me they
was looking at him instead of the stars"
pursued Miss Rich.
at suould be complication, sug-
gested Mrs. Phelps, 'If, while he s
courting Lucretia, Susan should get in
love with him."
ut wouldn't be no usc," said Mrs.
Grimm. "Lucretia's that smart she'd
make him believe it was her he was dy
ing for"
Susanp Who ever expects him to mar
ry Susan Shawp People usually do
what's expected of 'em, and the par
ish expects Mr.. Lindsay to marry Lu-
cretia."
"They want to settle Lucretia, ehp'
asked DIR. Slow.
The Shaws had enough to keep the
wolf from the door, but nothing to
spare; they owned their house, but kept
no servant. "Help would be dreadful
ly in their way" Miss Rich declared.
81 wonder they don't feel good they
can t afford any"
Susan always wore the simplest gar
ments, which she designed and exc
cuted herself while Lucretia- "Well,
if there's anything that units Lucretia
for her future position at the head of
the parish, confessed Mrs. Phelps,
'.it's her love of tinery." .-
Lucretia always blossomed out in
pretty spring bonnet-while Susan
made her last years one answer-and a
smart new suit made in the latest
wrinkle.
Its natural" Miss Rich explained;
ga girl likes to make the most of her
self. Now Susan looks as well in her
old things as she would in Indy cash
meres; besides, Lucretia earns her rib
bons and laces. Amt she embroider-
ing day and nightpn
Except when she's off skylarking
with the parson, said DR.. Slow.
I'm sure she's always chaperoned
by Susan" returned Mrs. Grimm.
"Yes; there amt been no secession
of Susan's going about with EN-" said
Miss Rich. 'She don't seem to have
the smallest idee she amt wanted.
She amt used to lovers, you see."
.'But if Lucretia embroiders night
and day." said Mrs. Grimm's sister-in-
law-who was only in LennoX on a
visit, and had no earthly concern with
parish affairs, Mrs. Grimm thought
''who keeps house, and does the house
cleaning and the dusting and sweeping,
cooks and mends, I'd like to knowp"
"Of course Susan does them little
things" confessed Miss Rich. ''Any-
| body can do 'em; there's nothing else
she knows how to do. Wouldn't it be
pity for Lucretia to waste her time,
now, washing dishes. keeping the lodg-
ers' rooms in pimlico, spelling them
white hands of hers-pretty enough for
a parish to be proud of-when she can
make such lovely ferns and flowers as
| she 'doesP"
"Who made all the evergreen trim
mings for the church last Christmas?'
asked DR.. Slow. 'It wasn't those pret
ty hands of Lucretia's?'
"Well, she's Lucretia's sister; ant
that gives her a taste for decorations,
suppose" said Mrs. Phelps.
"Mr. Lindsay took Susan out in hi
boat t other day." said Mrs. Grimm, {
few weeks later. "Lucretia had one o.
her sick headaches That's what
call real sanity in him, it must have
been such bore. It's pity Lucretia's
troubled with them headaches, if she's
going to be at the head of the parish. >
"Oh, was that SusanP' asked Mrs
Phelps. ~ thought of course it was
Lucretia. | saw them come ashore aft
er dusk, and they stood at the gate ant
talked till all was blue.
II suppose they was talking abou
1 Lucretia," persisted Miss Rich; ga mar
always likes to talk about his sweet
heart, you know"
"They must have had heap to say,
| He seemed as interested rs when he's
| expounding Scripture. They looked
mighty affectionate, too. / don't be-
lieve Lucretia ID have liked the look Of
it."
"There amt nothing jealous about
Lucretia; parsons wife ought to sci
| her face agin such thing"
1t was about this time that the parish
1 picnic occurred-an institution which
| everybody believed in. Hadn't there
been more matches made at the last
than during all the year besidesP And
wasn't it fine chance to test Mrs.
Phelps recipes, Miss Rich's cream
pies and Mrs. DR.. Slows tartsp Oh
course, Lucretia went, and Mr.. Lindsay
with her. Susan happened to be making
preserves and pickles that day, and the
berries wouldn't keep, and so she stayed
at home. At about the middle of the
afternoon, when they had had dinner
and cleared away, and they wanted
somebody to start some music, Mr..
Lindsay was nowhere to be found.
"Oh, he's gone off with Lucretis
somewhere" said Miss Rich, who felt il
her duty to account for him.
mo; there's Lucretia now, talking
about free-will with DR.. Slow"
"P'r'aps he's gone home to write hi
sermon," suggested somebody else, thu
picnic grove being only half a mile
from town.
"Or he's finding tongues in trees ant
sermons in stones out here. !"
But at sunset Mr.. Lindsay strolle(
back, with Susan on his arm, in time t
join them at tea, and he and SusaI
made the coffee, and pitched the tunes
they sang before the day ended.
| ~ Al Al. Nf..I &.