The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1885-11-25

and three-cornered bits of cake, to
every able-bodied tramp and stout ped
der woman who comes along"
Doesn't he make any allowance for
it in the housekeeping money!"
" Not he! Just look out herer' Mrs.
Smart opened the drawer of the kitchen
table. This is where keep the house
money, which he gives me every
week-and he came here twice this
morning to get quarter for lame
beggar, and to hunt up pennies for that
same paper of pins!"
And she cast baleful glance at the
article which still lay on the dresser.
&C This is piracy" said Ella.
A" It's highway robbery" declared
Mrs. Smart. " And there comes the
butchers cart, and l havn't money
enough left from my weeks allowance
to buy single steak, and here it is
only Wednesday,"
3" Can't you buy on credit"
Neverl' said Mrs. Smart, with
spirit. " It's thing that have never
done and that l never will dol"
Elias brown eyes sparkled as she
shook her head vehemently at the
butcher, who was just checking his old
horses at the door.
Nothing to-day" said she; g. go on"
Mrs. Smart dashed away tear.
Give me some of that shelled corn,
Ella" said she. 8" suppose can catch
a chicken for dinner"
Do nothing of the sort, my DEAR"
said Ella Dale.
" But what are we to do?'
Why, have picked-up dinner, to
l. To-
me to manage i'll"
But I'm afraid the deacon won't
like it."
Well, and if he doesn't? You
don't like the peddler business, do your"
retorted Ella.
AT one O'Clock the table was spread,
with three huge central platters care
fully shielded with the covers which
were ordinarily brought out only on
state occasions, and Mrs. Smart and
Ella were peeping out of the window,
and wondering what kept the deacon
so late.
"There he comes now!" said Mrs.
Smart "Good gracious mel and there
is Willis Mildmay with him We never
counted on his bringing company to
dinner, Ella"
"What signifies company?" said
Ella, stoutly maintaining her compos-
ure, although her pretty face had
turned pink all over, like June rose.
Willis Mildmay won't care when he
comprehends it all. Willis is a sensible
man.
"Come in, Mr.. Smart-come in, Mr..
Midway" said Mrs. Smart. " You're
half an hour late, Ebenezer. Ella and
l could not imagine what had become
of you"
hope | am not intruding!" said
Mr. Mildmay, looking at Ella Dale, as
if glance at her rosy face was all the
dinner that he wanted.
"Oh, not in the least!" said Mrs.
Smart. " Pray sit down. We have
but plain dinner to-day; but it is all
that my housekeeping allowance would
admit"
No apologies, my DEAR" said Dea.
Smart; "no apologies. Hunger is the
best sauce, as we all know"
And thereupon they all seated them
selves, and the deacon whisked off the
big platter-covers with a countenance
of expectation.
"Hello!' said the deacon.
There, upon the center plate, lay
the eighteen pale-green papers of pins.
AT the right and left, on smaller plat
tiers, were arranged the cards of por-
celain buttons and the rolls of tape
while the bottles of machine-oil and
packages of stove-blacking were ar
ranged like child's block-house on a
de-table, beneath white napkin, by
way of dessert.
Ella Dale burst out laughing. Mrs
Smart joinedin. Willis Mildmay, spurred
on by this infectious sound, laughed
too, although he had not the least idea
wha, he was laughing at The deacon
stared as if he had suddenly become
all eyes.
50 Juliana," said he, Z" what is the
meaning of this?"
" 1t means, Ebenezer," his wife re-
sponded, " that you have spent my
housekeeping money for cheap peddler''
wares, and that Ella and | determined
, to serve them up to you for dinner
And what you don't eat we are going
to burn; and henceforward, whatever
is bought has got to be of good quail
ity, or won't have it in the house
, because | have come to the conclusion
, that charity is one thing and justice is
another. And if you give me money
for housekeeping, it isn't fair for yor
+ to spend it in buying articles which M
, one can USE"
, " Certainly it isn'tv' said Ella Dale
> coming valiantly to the rescue.
The deacon's under jaw dropped; hi
, had half mind to be angry; but HI
t thought better of it, and broke out il
, slow chuckle.
5 Midway" he said, turning to tn,
: young man, d" be warned in time! You
see what tricks these women-folks will
be up to!"
p But Mr.. Mildmay, who had somehow
got hold of Elias hand under the folds
of the tablecloth, did not seem to heeC
( these words of wisdom as deeply as h
q should have done.
!, " Ladies'" said he, there's bushe
/. of oysters out in the wagon that / wa
: taking home. If you will build up
j. good fire, Wen have a roast, and II
e be head cook l suppose you've go
D plenty of bread and butter?"
I eyes; and good hot Coffee" sal
u Mrs. Smart. Make haste, Ella, ant
!. start the fire to blaze. And wei
# stimulate it with machine-oil and chea
It pins"