The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1886-08-05
STORY.
MRS. sMARrs TRIUMPH.

| OuSnC TO Oe Cho hitpptcSt Won"h q"
the world.
'Such a nice house as she lives
| in!'' said Miss Bruce, who, poor soul,
taught the district school, and
"boarded around like the scape-
goat in the Scripture wilderness.
"Such pious man as the deacon
is:'' added Mrs. Hopkins, whose bet
ter half had cnce been a sea captain,
and was still apt to be profane by fits
and starts, when the cattle got into
the clover field, and the midnight
weasel marrauded on his hen-coops
and turkey rOosts.
"With a store carpet on the best
room fiOor," put in Mrs. Jones, land
a weekly newspaper, and white SUI
gar in her tea every day of her life.
and horse and wagon to take her to
meetin' sundays -s :..-.a
Such Was the opinion of society as
represented in Glen Hollow. Per-
haps Mrs. Deacon Smart was a hap.
py woman. But we are told on the
very best authority that "the heart
knoweth its own bitterness I.
Mrs. Smart was, washing up her
china, one morning, preparatory to
giving a grand tea party, and her
cousin. Ella Dale, was helping her,
when the deacon put his shining
bald head in at the door.
"My DEAR" he said, "there is pa
per OF pins for you.
Mrs. Smart nearly dropped gilt
edged saucer, in her consternation.
"More pins!" said she.
"Yes, my DEAR" said the deacon,
unctuously. "Pins are always use.
full
"Oh, yes, pins!'' said Mrs. Smart,
giving her glass-tewel a toss as she
wiped the last globule Of moisture
from goblet. "Bnt not rows Of
rusty wire! do say for it, Ebenezer-"
"I'm going to Glen Depot, my
DEAR tile deacon somewhat burridly
interrupted at this juncture, "and
perhaps I shan't be home until one
o'clock"
He Withdrew, and Mrs. Smart
turned to Ella Dale with a half
laugh.
-"riere, my Iietr, safd she, throw
ing down the faded green roll of pin
paper on the dresser. "there you be.
hold the secret of my domestic I'M.
happiness. the skeleton in my closet!'
Ella opened her round, hazel eyes
very wide. .s--...... s. h..
81 can't think what you mean,
Juliana, said she. "You unhappy |!
and the dear deacon such truly
good man."
That's the trouble said Mrs.
Smart, "he's too good.' .-.. ~
II don't see how that can be pos.
sible,n protested Ella, more perplex-
ed than ever. $751;.
"And it's all at my expense" said
Mrs. Smart, dolefully. "Do you see
that papar of pins?"
"Why, of course I see it, said
Ella. .-5
"Well, Mr.. Smart has bought that
paper OF pins of a peddler at the
door," said Mrs. Smart, "peddlers
always come here. This house is II
Mecca TO the race of tin peddlers.
They know that Mr.. Smart will al
ways buy-he's too good.hearted to
say no; or rather-let US speak the
truth and shame him who shall be
nameless between us-he is too in.
dolent to resist their opportunities"
Ella burst out laughing.
"But what very Insignificant lit.
tie trial!' she said.
"Oh, yes, | dare say!" said Mrs.
Smart. "The sting of hornet isn't
SO very terrible in itself, but when a
whole swarm is let loose upon you,
what then?"
"a swarm repeated innocent
Ella.
"My dear, - said Mrs. Smart, lower.
ing her voice to a confidential whis-
per, upstairs in my bedroom closet
| have IL papers of such cheap pins :
utterly useless for anything but to
bend themselves up double when you
try to put them through single
thickness of calico, and TO deprive
you of your temper just when you
need it most; six cards of porcelain
buttons san article which 1 never
use; nine packages of stove black
ing; thirteen bottles Of sewing ma
chine oil; FIVE papers of rusty need
les; dozen pair of shoestrings; and
eight rolls Of tape, which is an in
suit to ones common sense! II
could reconcile it to my conscience,
I'd fling the whole collection into the
fire; but l was brought up to econ.
omize. What do you think, Eilai
Would it be sin to annihilate all
these pitfalls to my equanimity?'
sits rather problem said Ella
Dale, soberly.
"Aad with all this said Mrs.
Smart, waxing vehement as she
went on. "Ebenezer is unwilling to
give me money to buy decent darn.
ling-needles and respectable tape. lie
wonders why I cannot make my
dresses last little longer, and thinks
I am extrayagant in wanting new
feather for my old velvet hat. He
announces that use too many rails
ms and spices and asks me why
can't raise eggs and poultry to ex
change for groceries at the village
store. And yet-oh, the inconsist
ency Of men.-he expects me to Civ