The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1885-06-20
MISS WINCHESTER.
The Minister'S Mistake, and It's
Happy Results.

1t was a very lovely Sabbath, per-
feet summer day, and as Miss Win
chester left her carriage and walked
slowly under the graceful elms shading
the church-yard she found herself soft
ly repeating old Herbert's lines:
"Sweet day, so cool, so calm, so bright,
The bridal of the earth and sky"
The majority of the congregation
turning toward Cloverville Church were
not ready to call the July day cool by
any means. But then, the hurried
housewives and mothers. the fathers,
young men and maidens, had not simp-
ly donned fresh and elegant summer
toilet and bowled along in an easy,
open carriage, as had Miss Winchester,
of "Evergreens."
She sat in her pew alone; she always
did. The church must be very crowd
ed, indeed, ere any one ventured into
Miss Winchester's pew. The tall, hand
some lady could never be called rude.
Oh, no. But whatever belonged to Miss
Winchester must belong to herself only.
She would willingly have paid pew rent
for all of Deacon Wills six children
rather than share her seat with any one
of them. Joint ownership in property
of any kind was not to Miss Winches-
ter's mind, and during the forty odd
years she had lived at Evergreens, as
child, maiden and now sole mistress,
Cloveryille people had come to under
stand her ways pretty thoroughly.
Il must beg to detain tie congrega-
ton few moments" said the pastor,
after the last prayer.
Miss Winchester looked uneasily
through the open window near her. She
was wondering how her spirited ponies
were standing, and making mental
verdict that John was sure to be asleep.
But what was Mr. Dale saying and SO
earnestly?
II have received letters from some OF
the managers of the Children's Fresh
Air Society, inquirlng if this village
will open its hearts and homes and
entertain for week or two some of the
little ones pining for country air and
food. Some of you, my dear people, y
said Mr.. Dale, warming us he proceeded
would esteem it high and preciou.
privilege if, for only one short week
the Master might personally enter you,
homes and 5 t at your tables. How
would you hasten to bring all that il
best within your means for His service
You would keep back no box of oint
ment, however costly. And, behold
He does come In this cup of water t
these little ones lie bids you give it Al
unto Him. Reveive these-perhap
some of tie least of His-as guests il
Jesus stead
MIR. Dale paused and pronounced tn,
benedictiOn.
There was just the faintest perceptibl
shadow of veXation on Miss Henriett
Winchester's face; she made the leas
possible motion, a very lady-lik
motion, of her grenadine-clad shoulders
For Miss Winchester was annoyed Sh
was detained just ten minutes beyon,
the usual time of her leaving church
She had no sympathy for the object O
the pastors plea, and she disliked +
have things or ideas come upon he
suddenly, and on Sunday of all times.
If Mr.. Dale had but spoken to he
alone, as Miss Winchester of Ever
greens, not simply as one of his idea
people," she might possibly have con
sidered the proposed entertainment
But at present, as she passed out of he
pew, she had not the slightest idea c
receiving anv one of the children. S
tenderly appealed for, within the aristC
cratic shades of Evergreens. There ha
been no Fresh Air. children in he
childhood and youth, and she felt
really personal grievance that sue
innovation upon established custom
should spring up in her middle age, an
knock, as it were, at her very door
Yet as Mr. Dale passed out of the littl
throng surrounding and uuestionin