West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1885-11-27
A CUNNING SCHEME.
But 1t Didn't Work to the Authors
Entire Satisfaction.

Entire Satisfaction.
His parishioners watched Rev. Mr..
Brown with peculiar interest as he left
the graveyard. leading his two little
girls by the hand. They wondered,
knowing how much she had been to
him, how he would endure the terrible
blow of his wife's death. His face was
like marble as the coffin was lowered
into the grave; there was no outward
sign of anguish, but no one doubted for
n moment that he suffered keenly. He
had been rather a mystery to his con
gregation always; but they knew him
TO be capable of deep feeling, in spite
of his cold, impassive manner. A
NOISY, demonstra;ive show of grief
would have been impossible to him.
lie wss a man of great tranquility of
mind, and with little energy of dispo-
sition. He took all that Providence
sent him very dutifully, without any
effort TO change or amend it. no matter
how Objectionable it might be, and he
possessed in perfection the art of put
ting up with" whatsoever befell him.
He was not a favorite with his flock,
but he was by no means unpopular.
The poor loved him, for his hand was
always ready to 60 to his pocket at a
tale of distress, limited as were his
means. and his reproofs were always of
the mildest sort. The rich. though
they had little to say for him, had moth
ing to say against him. They invited
him frequently to their houses, enter
tanned him handsomely, and bore very
complacently with his habit Of falling
into a brown study at the dinner-table.
AS for the younger portion of his flock.
his good looks, his rich chestnut hair
and dreamy dark eyes had early i'm
pressed them profoundly, and they a
his praises without stint.
1t was a source of regret to many of
the young ladies-and a few of the
Older ones-that Mr.. Brown was a
married a Many years before he
had come to the church at Barstow he
a welded a gentle, sweet-tempered
girl, who fairly worshiped him, and
had proved herself a good wife and a
devoted mother. Their welded life
had flowed on as calmly as a meadow
brook, undisturbed by any petty
domestic jars or troubles. Ii had never
occurred to Mr.. Brown that it might
not 60 on so forever. He did not notice
his wife's failing health, and as she was
ono of the kind who never complain.
he was utterly unprepared for her
death. IL stupefied him; he could not
understand it 1t seemed TO him in
credible, impossible, and he felt be-
wildered and half-puzzled even when
he heard the sods falling on the coffin.
He went back TO his lonely home with
his two little girls, and shut himself up
ID ms study, where he lay down on the
well-worn lounge, a dull pain in his
mead. IL seemed to him that his lost
Laura must know how much he needed
her. He could not realize that she was
gone. He lay there, half-expecting to
see her enter and to feel her tender
touch on his brow. soothing away the
pain as she had often done when ne
was brain weary. But hour after hour
went by, and no one came near him.
and he heard only the voices of his
children as they talked loudly to the
cook in the kitchen.
The next day he went ont as usual.
pursuing his accustomed round OF
duties as TRANQUILITY n patiently as
ever. His parishioners were loud i'm
their expressions Of admiration to each
other as they saw how well he bore his
great sorrow, and they were very kind
20 him, especially in the matter of adj
vice. His distressing situation was
The subject Of debate in almost every
house in Barstow. II was talked over
at The meetings of the sewing circle.
h reading club and the Indian Relief
Association, and it was unanimously
agreed that the best thing the poor Wild
over could do was TO employ a Qov-
erness, who could also act as house
Keeper and general manager.
But it was not an easy matter TO find
the right kin of q woman for the place.
though there were many applicants for
u 30 was decided that only q middle
aSed respectable, quiet woman. VINO
would Doe incapable Of scheminR t. fin
tHe late Mrs Brown 8 place. and who
would be- competent TO take charge Of
the little girls. would DO. and such a
one was hard 20 find
IL was Miss Anasta-ia Bowen who Al
length found just the right person. and
as Mr Brown was willing 10 do inst
what Mis-. Bowen thought best. that
lady tOOk the responsibility Of installing
hliss Susan Piper in the arsOnag
without further delay.
Miss Piper was neither old nor young.
she had no %preteusious Whatever t.
Eood looks, and She was So exceedingly
shy thai II the minist tr poke t0 her on
even the most trivial topic She blushed
as rcd as % peouy But these. said Miss
Anasiasia, were such tri1iug drawbacks
o.. almost TO be- looked upon in the LIGHT
81 advantages, under the circumstance.
Miss Piper was. as Mr.. Brown soon
saw, q very good woman. exceedingly
conscientious and painstakiug. She did
her best for the two little girl. healthy.
happy pretty little creatures Of nine
nnd eleven years-who learned tba
simple lesson she gave Thorn from pure
love for her, not because hey feared
Eu disploasuro.