Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1885-07-31
IN BUTTERFLY TINE.


this season, Becca"
YES, they do seem to be considerable
thick, mother"
II never see 'em 80 thick. Thar's hull
swarms on 'em lots of them common yalleE
ones, an leetle rusty red ones an thar'a
some Of them big spotted ones, ain't thar 2
Near's | kin see through my specs, thar's
one now settin on that head OF clover"
''Yes, there il one mother"
''Thar's lots of grasshoppers too. The
graashoppers air a-risin' up around my feet,
an the butterflies air Ayin' up in my face out
Of the flowers. Lor, hev we got to the bars
a'readyS hadn't no idee ont. Be keerful
about lettin' on 'em down, Becca"
The younger of the two old women let
down the bars which separated the blooming
field which they had been traversing from
the road, and they passed through.
'S'pose you'd better put 'em up agin,
Becca, though thar amt any need ont, as
see. Thar amt nothin' In the field TO cit out
but the butterflies an the grasshoppers, an
they'll git out il they want to, whether or
no. Let me take holt"
There Amt any need Of it, mother"
eyes l will, too, Becca Wheat. I'm Jest
as strong in my arms as ever was. You
amt any call to think amt"
don't think so, mother; know you're
real strong"
81 alters was pretty strong to lift-strong.
er'n you"
The bars up, the two women kept on down
the road. II was bordered by stone walls
and towering bushes. Ahead, Just a. far as
they could see, was one white house. They
we're going there to 3 women's pray er- meet.
ing.
The older of the two kept little ahead Of
the younger, trotting weakly through the
short, dusty grass. Her small old head in
black straw bonnet bobbed in time to every
step; her sharp, yellow little face peeped
out OF the bonnet, alert and half aggressive.
She wore a short black shawl tightly drawn
over her narrow, wiry back, and held her
hands folded primly in front over the two
ends
The other woman, her daughter, pacing
dreamily behind, was taller and elenderer.
Her face was pale and full, but slightly
wrinkled, with sweet, wide mouth The
pleasant expression about il was so decided
that ii almost q smile. Her dress WAS
slightly younger, a hat instead of bonnet,
and no shawl over her black calico afternoon
dress.
As they drew nearer to the house the old
woman peered anKiously ahead through her
spectaclea.
''See any one thar, Becca 2"
81 should think two women Jest went in.
| couldn't tell who they was.
You'd orter wear your spectacles, Becca
your eyesight amt 30 good as mine was at
your age. She's got her front room open for
the meetin'. kin see the curtains happin'."
Quite strong soft wind was blowing. As
they went up the front walk between the
phlox bushes with their purplish- pink heads,
the green curtains with q fowery border
swung out of the windows of Mrs. Thomas's
best room, the one on the right of the front
door.
The door stood open and q mildly curious
face or two showed through the windows
''ThArs old Mis- Wheat an Becca, " said
some one in a whisper TO Mrs Thomas, aud
she came 10 the door.
There WAS q solemn compOsure on her
large, comfortable fecs Good afternoon,
Mis- Wheat, said she; good afternoon, Bee
ca. Walk in"
They walked in with staid demeanor, and
took their seats. The chairs were set close
TO the walls around the room. There were
nine or ten women there with good, grave
faces. One old woman sat close TO the man.
tel-shelf, and Mrs. Wheat took vacant chair
beside her.
How dye do, Mis- Dill?" whispered she.
reaching.out her little skinny hand
The other shook it stifiy. She was as
small as Mrs. Wheat, but her little face was
round, and her chin had square decision in
its cut, instead Of a sharp one. She had
Clean nicely folded white handkerchief in
her lap, and she wiped her spectacles careful.
ly with il and looked through them at Mrs
Wheat before replying.
I'm enjoyin' pretty good health Jest now,
thankee, Mis- Wheat" whispered she.
Mrs. Whsat's eyes snapped. "You do
seem TO be lookin' pretty middlin for one OF
your age" said She
Mrs. Dill gave stony look at her.
The meeting began then. The good wom-
On read in the Bible and prayed, one after
another, the others silent on their knees be-
side her. Their husbands and sons in the
hay fields, the children in the district school,
the too light minded though innocent village
girls, the minister wrestling with his dull
sermon faithfully in his shabby study, the
whole world we're remembered in their home
ly petitions. The south wind sang in at the
windows a pine tree around the corner OF
the house soughed the lOcusts cried ahrilly
over in the blossoming fields and their tim
id prayers went up.
Old Mrs. Wheat, in her corner on her
knees, listened with an outward show of rev.
eTence, but she was inwardly torn with zeal.
ousy. She was the last one called upon 10
take part even old Mrs. Dill was preferred
before her. But she had her revenge when
she did get her chance to speak, long and
weary was the time that she kept her dsvout
sisters on their aching knees
She had been storing up a good deal to
say while the others were praying, and now
she said il. For church and town and COM
monwealth, for missions at home and abroad,
her shrill cry went up. Lastly she prayed,
with emphatic quavers, for old Mrs. Dill.
20 Lord, pleaded she, remember, we pray
Thee, this aged hAndmAiden at my side.
May she long enjoy what blsssin's are left 10
her in her age an decrepitood SAnotify
her trials unto her, an enable her 10 look
away from the feeblensss an want of strength
which is now her lot on this Airth, TO that
better country where the wicked cease from
troubling an the weary air at rest. F"
When the prayer was ended, Mrs. Dill rose
softly from her knees and sat down. Her
face was absolutely immOVable as she met
Mrs. Wheats glance when the meeting broke
up.
The two old ladies' we're left in the best
room for little while. Mrs. Thomas, who
was Mrs. Dills daughter, wanted TO see Bee
ca about something 30 she called her out into
the sitting room.
"You an Mis- Wheat can visit q little
while, while Beeoa an are out here, " said
she.
Mrs. Dill looked at her daughter when
she said this, as If inclined TO decline the
proposal Then an expression OF stubborn
foFtitude came over her face, aud she settled
herself sOlidly in her chair.
The two looked primly at each other when
they we're left alone
"How ia Mis- Thomas ?" said Mrs. Wheat ;
can how Is Adoniram 2"
They air both we'll, thank ye."
II s'pOse AdOniram is at work 2"
"Hayin'"
81 thought l ketched q glimpse of him in
the field over thar when come in. AdOni-
ram grows old, don't he p
II don't know"
II sot lookin' at him in mestin' last Sab