The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1886-11-03
Selected Sturp.
The Last Strawberry Festival.

lie DhSU StThWDeTTl reStlNals
1t was Saturday afternoon, and Mrs.
Perey, the minister's wife, was in the
midst of her baking when the door-bell
rang.
Now, Mrs. Perley had been bothered
all the morning. In the first place, the
little girl who helped her was too sick
to work; and the baby was cutting his
eye teeth, and was as cross as any re-
spectacle baby would be undergoing
the same afiliction.
Good mornin', Sister Farley, l
amt going to stop but a mint. jest
run in to see how you all air." said
Miss Pry, the village gossip.
" Come in please" and Mrs. Perley
led the way into cosy sittng-room.
Poor woman! she knew what Miss
Pry's "minits > were.
She took some mending from her
basket, and seated herself to hear what
important business had brought Miss
Pry so early.
meetin' of tn SEWN circle yesterday,
did your"
No, Mr.. Perley had funeral to at
tend, and Tommy seemed so feverish
that | could not have the heart to leave
him."
Il told 'em I guessed that somethin'
was the matter with baby: and that
you were dreadful scarf if he hadn't
anything but collie. Some of 'em
thought if you kept a girl you might
come-but | suppose you heerd bout
the meetin'."
mo, l have seen no one yet.
hope you had pleasant gathering"
Wall it was kinder pleasant, only
Miss Flareup she got kind of riled cause
they didn't 'lect her as vice-presdent
We put in Mrs. Squire Smith for vice
president. She'll take right hold good
She an Miss Deacon Jones are coming
over this afternoon to talk about {
strawberry festival. OF course they
pointed you chairman of the commit
tee, although Miss Croaker said yor
never did nothin' but stan round an
boss t'others."
Thus the village gossip ran on.
can assure you that Mrs Perley did no
feel as calm and serene as a minister
wife is expected to feel under all cir
cumstances, but she had learned by eX
perience that in such cases, wher,
every word would be repeated with ad
ditions that " silence is golden,' so sh'
only answered in monosyllables.
At last Mrs. Pry departed, and Mrs
Perley went back TO her work ant
waking baby.
Oh, how discouraged she felt. Blu
she must not let John know what the,
said about her, for he had enough t,
bear already.
Dinner time came, and when Mr.
Perley came down and said anxiously
" Didn't | hear Miss Pry's voice, m
dear?" She answered very gently
"Oh, yes, she ran in to ask after bah.
and to tell me about yesterdays circle.
In the afternoon Mrs. Squire Smitl
and Mrs. Deacon Jones called, and in
formed her that the festival was to b.
in two weeks, and that meeting ha
been appointed for the next Monda
evening.
g hope we shall have a successful
affair." said Mrs. Smith, 1--WE need
new library very much, and all that W
make will be expended for Sunday
school books"
hope you will be able to be presen
at the meeting Monday night" remark
ed Mrs. Deacon Jones.
81 must tell you candidly, that
think that there are other and bette
ways of raising money than the on
you have roposed-ways that woul
not require so much anxiety and care
l. truly, hardly see how | am going
act as chairman of this committee; m
hands are full already" replied Mr.;
Perley.
What other way would you sug
gest?" asked Mrs. Smith.
. have not given much thought t
the subject, but think that the way ths
they did at my old home last year woul
be nice. They voted to have 'som'
thing to raise needed money, and
meeting was appointed"
cit so happened that many of tn
best workers were sick, or had sicknes
at home. So, when the evening of tn
meeting came, but very few were pre-
ent. Some felt discouraged, but som
one proposed that they appoint solici
ors to go from house to house, and as
each one what she would cook, an
when the article was named, ask if sl
would give the price of the materia
used instead. And then, when all ha
been visited, to compare the amour
that could be collected in this way wit
the amount usually made at festiva
Some objected, but at last this plan WI
decided upon; and solicitors were sci
out. When they met again they foun
that in this way alone they would r
J ceive more than they would clear at ii
i festival. And many of the ladies sal
/, they would rather pay dollar tina
, work. ! think they never raised Sc
/ enty-fve dollars easier or quicker"
"That would be so nice, but it is t.
late now for this year. Many of Il