Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1885-04-10
WHY THEY DIDN'T SETTLE MR..
LINDSAY

WHY THEY DIDN'T SETTLE MR..
LINDSAY.
Mr. Lindsay WAS preaching in the Lennox
parish on probation; that is, he bad been en-
gagged for the year. After that time, IL he
suited Miss Rich, who had the parish in
charge, 80 to speak, who canvassed for mon
ey TO paint tine church. looked up poor chill
dren for christening and Sunday school, ex-
norted the young people to join the confr-
nation class, mapped out work for the sew
ing society, planted the church Christmas tree,
and made the parish her hobby-if he suited
Miss Rich, if he was High Church enough
for Mr.. Grimm and Low enough for Mrs
Phelps, if he believed with Dr. Slow in the
doctrine of election-why, then they were
sure to settle him.
"What a capital wife Lucretia Shaw would
make Mr.. Lindsay" vouchsafed Miss Rich,
shortly after he adorned the Lennox pulpit
She's just the person for parsons wife
bustling and"
I'm afraid she'd take take the parish off
your hands, Miss Rich" answered Mrs
Phelps, who having no desire to do the hard
work which her neighbor loved, yet grudged
her the credit of it.
"Well, there's work enough for two Of US
in the parish, Mrs. Phelps. l wouldn't be q
Wv uieoiN oue Bit my huhto
TO be sure," pursued Mrs. Phelps, "Lu-
cretia's smart, and don't believe in pastor
with doll of a wife who can't darn the chill.
dren's clothes, and is too feeble to get along
without help"
Yes" put in old Mrs. Smith Shed be
be no end Of a step mother to Mr.. Lindsay 3
boy, and If ever boy needed a step mother
it's him. Lucretia's powerful smart, as you
say, and she'd make him walk Spanish"
Yes" added Miss Rich "a widower
somehow needs wife more'n anybody to
sympathize with him in his loss. l shouldn't
wonder if Lucretia would bring the boy up
to the ministry If she bad her way"
Between you and me, said Mrs. Phelps,
Il think that the parson goes to the Shaws'
rather more than is necessary for the saliva
tion of their souls"
You can't tell Perhaps LucretiA has
doubts"
And perhaps" said Dr. Slow" perhaps
it's Miss Susan"
Everybody laughed, and cried Miss Su-
san ~ with fine irony in their tones.
Who ever heard of Susan having atten-
ton ?" asked Mrs Phelps.
I've engaged Lucrets to embroider new
altar. CLOTH, explained Miss Rich ~ raised
the money for it last month i tell you it's
like pulling teeth to get money out of this
PARISH -huu huppOse tut phfbOu uhb 10 hu-
wise her about the proper designs and things
Lucretia amt well drilled in symbols and
such, you know"
In fact, everybody in Lennon had decided
that Mr.. Lindsay should marry Lucretia, and
perhaps LucTetia had decided so too, for she
WAS an everlasting time over that altsr-coth,
and needed no end of advice and instruction !;
her ignorance and interest were quite touch
ing. And Mr.. Lindsay seemed quite willing
to spend his leisure under the Shaws' roof,
and watch the sacred symbols growing under
the white and shspely hands of Miss Lu-
cretia.
THAT hand of Lucretia's will be sure to
do the business" somebody had said. Mr..
Lindssy's man of taste, if be is q clergy.
man'-as if the two were not usually found
combined-'and heard him say it was ft
for a duchess"
Miss Lucreta's hand was, indeed, her love
liest feature, so to spesk-ghite as snow,
with the pretliest taper fingers, pink at the
ends. Once when Mr.. Lindsay had mention.
ed them hatteringly, Miss Susan. who was
doing the weeks meuding near by drew her
own hands under her work. he noticed. No
body ever took the trouble to hatter Miss
Susan. Lucretia sang in the choir, although
her voice was thin as muslin, and she had no
ear; nobody dreamed or cared il Susan
sang like seraph; she sat in Lucretia's shad-
ow, aud people almost forgot she was there,
till they needed her help. Mr.. Lindsay had
taught the choir himself, and after the altar
cloth could no longer be made pretext to
cover a multitude of calls, there we're the
chants and fugues to practice. One morn
ing, as he drilled LucretiR for half an hour
Intellectually, be suddenly turned to Susan.
"Come," he said try this chant with us,
Miss Susan" and Susan opened her mouth
and chanted as nobody in the choir had ever
chanted before.
Bravo" he cried. when did you learn
it?"
why, have heard it all my life why
shouldn't know ii couldn't help it."
I'VE must have you in the choir" he said.
Susan Shaw in the choir !" gasped every
body on the way out of church. "Mr. Lind
say is bringing her out"
She's Lueretias sister, you know" ex-
planned Miss Rich.
"And her voice rather browns LucretAs," ="
said DIR. Slow.
Mr.. Lindsay was giving great satisfaction.
The pafishoners talked of remodeling the
old rectory, adding wing and bay window,
and even spoke of taking in an adjoining
field so that "Lucretia might have flower
garden" They meditated an increase of
salary as soon as he should be settled in the
parish, and Mr.. Grimm thought he should
add a eodicil to his will, in favor of the new
pastor aud Lucretia's husband.
when they're married." reckoned Miss
Rich, with unchristian thrift, I'VE shall have
all our church trappings embroidered for
nothing, l suppose"
do you think Susan will live with 'em ?"
asked Mrs. Phelps. "P'r'aps he won't care
about marrying the whole family"
Hes powerful kind to Susan though"
"He takes sight of notice of her"
"You kinder forget she's Lucretias sister, "
put in Miss Rich, 'an' all she's got"
1t was surely plain that Mr.. Lindsay took
pleasure in the society at the Shaw home
stead. At picnic, at prayer meetings or choir
meeting, he was always at hand to take Lu-
cretig and Susan home he lent them his
books, and directed their reading be brought
Them flowers from town when he happened
to go up.
II shall be so glad to give up the presiden-
cy of the Bethel Society and the Dakota
League to Lucretia," said Miss Rich. "It's
only proper for the olergyman's wife to be at
the head of them"
you'll feel sorter lost without 'em p asked
Mrs. Phelps.
"The parish is large field. think can
spare them to Luoretia. Do you know, the
other night as was going to watch with Miss
Hart Wnen sue nhu INFORMATION OF tue lungs,
| came acrost Lucreia and Susan and Mr..
Lindsay. l must say l should think Susan
would have more taste than to follow 'em ev-
erywhere Why don't she keep herself in
the background ?"
"Shes been pretty much in the background
all her life, +" said DR.. Slow. perhaps she's
tired of the situation"
"But she ought to have more oonsidera-
tion. 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 a clergyman, " said DIR.
Slow.
Aud he was pointing out all the conster-
nations, and il seemed to me they was look
ing at him instead of the stars" pursued
Miss Rich.
1T 'OOuld be a complication" suggested
u. l. l. L l.