The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1885-01-30
miscellaneous.
On Probation.

Mr. Lindsay was preaching in the Lennon
parish on probation that is, he had been en-
gagged for year. After that time, if he suit
ed Miss Rich, who had the parish in charge
so to speak, who canvassed for money to
paint the church, looked up poor children
| for christening and Sunday school, exhorted
| the young people to join the confirmation
class, mapped out work for the sewing socie-
| ty, 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 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"
Pm afraid she 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 oft.
"Well, there's work enough for two of us
in the parish, Mrs. Phelps. wouldn't be a
bit afraid but I'd get my share"
ITO be sure" pursued Mrs. Phelps, "Lu.
cretia's smart, and don't believe in pastor
with doll of wife who can't darn the
children's clothes, and is too feeble to get
along without help"
"Yes," put in old Mrs. Smith, "she'd be no
end OF stepmother to Mr.. Lindsay's boy and
if ever boy needed a stepmother it's him.
Lucretia's powerful smart as you say, and
she'd make him walk Spanish"
YES" was the reply of Miss Rich "a
widower somehow needs wife more'n
anybody, to sympathize with him in his loss.
shouldn't wonder if Lucretia would bring
the boy up to the ministry if she had her
way"
Between you and me-" said Mrs. Phelps
~ think that the parson goes to the Shaws'
rather more than is necessary for the saliva
ton of their souls"
You can't tell. Perhaps Lucretia has
doubts"
And perhaps" said DR.. slow-"perhaps
it's Miss Susan"
Every body laughed, and cried Miss Su.
san /" with fine irony in their tones.
who ever heard of Susan having atten-
ton ?" asked Mrs. Phelps.
"Pve engaged Lucretia to embroider new
alar-cloth," exclaimed Miss Rich; II raised
the money for it last month"; tell you it's
like pulling teeth to get money out of this
advise her about the proper designs and
things; Lucretia amt very well drilled in
symbols and such, you know"
In fact, everybody in Lennox had decided
that Mr. Lindsay should marry Lucretia, and
perhaps Lucretia had decided 80 too, for she
! was an everlasting time over that altar cloth
| and needed no end of advice and instruction
her ignorance and interest were quite touch.
| ing. Mr.. Lindsay seemed quite willing to
spend his leisure time under the Shaws roof
and watch the sacred symbols growing under
| the white and shapely hands of Miss Lucre.
| tia.
THAT hand of Lucretia's will be sure to
| do the business" somebody had said. "Mr
Lindsay's man of taste, fine is clergyman
AS if the two were not usually to be found
combined-"and heard him say it was fiji
| for duchess"
| Hest feature, so to speak-white as the snow
ends. Once when Mr.. Lindsay had mention.
ed them flatteringly. Miss Susan, who was
doing the weeks mending near by, drew her
own hands under her work, he noticed
| Nobody ever took the trouble to fatter Miss
Susan. Lucretia sang in the choir, although
| her voice was thin as muslin, and she had no
ear; nobody ever cared if Susan sang like a
seraph. She sat in Lucretia's shadow, and
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
u multitude of calls there were the chants
and fugues to practice. One morning, as he
| drilled Lucretia for haitian hour Intellectually,
| he 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
chaned before.
"Bravo !" he cried. "When did you learn
it?"
"Why have heard it all my lifetime; why
shouldn't l know it? couldn't help it,"
I'VE must have you in the choir p he said.
"Susan Shaw in the choir!" gasped
everybody on the way out of church. "Mr.
Lindsay is bringing her out"
"She's Lucretia's sister, you know" ex-
planned Miss Rich.
And her voice rather browns Lucretia's,"
said Dr. Slow.
Mr.. Lindsay was giving great satisfaction.
The parishioners talked OF rcmodelling the
old rectory. adding wing and a window,
and even spoke of taking in an adjoining field
so that "Lucretia might have flower gar.
den" They even meditated an increase of
salary as soon as he should be settled in the
parish, and Mr.. Grimm thought he should
pastor and Lucretia's husband.
when they're married." seconded Miss
Rich, with unchristian thrift, 1--WE shall have
all our church trappings embroidered for moth
ing, 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 forgot she's Lucretia's Sis
ter" put in Miss Rich IAN 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 meetings, he was always at hand to take
Lucretia and Susan home he lent them his
books and directed their reading he brought
them flowers from town when he happened
to go up.
81 shall he 40 Glad to rive the nreaidencv