Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1886-05-20
The Deaoon's 8 Dinner.

The good housewives Of the neighborhood
often said that Mrs. Smart ough, to be the
happieH woman in The world.
"Suoh nice house ss she live. in 2" said
Miss Bryce. who, poor soul. taught the dis
trlc; school, and boarded around" like the
sospe- goat in the Scripture ~ilderne.s.
"Saeh pious man as the dear deacon
is :" added Mrs. Hopkins, whose better half
had once been sea-oaptain. and was still
az, TO be profsne by fit. and starts. when
the cattle got into the clover field. and the
and 'urkey-roosts
With siore-csrpet on the beat room
floor put IN Mrs Jones, land q weekly
newspaper. and white sugar IN her tea every
day of her life, and horse and wagon to
take her to meetln' SUNDAYS ="
Such was the opinion of society a. repre-
senird IN Glen Hollow. Perh.p. Mrs D.a-
con Smart rds happy woman. Blu, We
are told. on the very best authority, that
''th- heart knoweth its own bitterness
Mrs. Smart was Washing up her be.
china. one morning, preparatory TO giving a
grand iea-par,y. and her COUSIN. Ella Dale,
wa. helping her. when the deacon put hi.
shining bad hesd in a; the door.
My dear said he. "htre is paper Of
pin. for You"
Mrs. Smart nearly dropped gilt-ed9ed
saucer, in her CONSERVATION.
More piHs :" .sid she.
"ie., nv dear" said the deacon, unctu-
ou.ly. Pins are always useful"
"Oh. YES. pins :" said Mrs. Smart, giving
her glass towel toss as she wiped the Sas,
globule Of moisture from goblet. But
not rows Of rusty wire ! do say for ii.
Ebenerer-"
I'm going to Glen Depot. nv dear" the
deacon somewhat hurriedy interrupted, at
this janeture; land perhaps shan't be
home until one O'clock
He withdrew, snd Mrs. Smar, turned to
Ell. Dale with half laugh.
There, my dear said she, throwing
down the faded green roll Of pin-psper on
the dresser. there YOU behold the secret Of
my domestic unhappluess. the skeleton in
my closet :"
Ell. opened her round hazel eye. very
wide.
81 can't think what YOU mean, Juiianns,"
ssid she. You unhapP, and the dear
deacon such a truly good man"
That. the trouble said Mrs. Smss, !;
"he'. too good"
Il don't see t9s ths; can be possible"
protested Ella, more perple1ed than ever.
And us eli at my expense" said Mrs.
Smart, doefully. "Do YOU see tha, paper
Of pins p
why. Of course see it, said Ella.
"w.ll, Mr., Smart hs. bough, ths, paper
Of pins ofa pedcler At The door," said Mrs
.fa k.r
house is a Mecca to the race Of peddiers
them-he'. too good hearted to say no; or
rsther-let US speak the truth and shame
him who .haIl be nsmeless between us-he
is too indoient 10 resist their impof'uni-
ties"
Ella burs, Gu, laughing.
but wha, . very Insignificant little
trial :" said she.
"Oh, YES, dare say !" said Mrs. Smart
1.-The sting Of a hornet isn't so very terrible
in itself, but when whole swarm is let
loose upon yop, Whist then ?"
a swarm p repeated innoeen, Ella
"My dear" said Mrs. Smart, lowering
her voice to confidential whisper, "up
stairs in nv bed room closet have eighteen
papers of just such cheap pins-utterly use
less fer anything bu, TO bend themselves up
double when you try to put them through q
single thickness of calico, and to deprive
you OF your temper just when you need i,
most; six card. of porcelain buttons, an
article which ! nerer use nine packages o!
stove backing; thirteen hottie. of sewing
machine oil; five papers of rusty needles a
dozen pairs of shoes'rings and eight rolls
Of tape, which is an insult TO ones common
sense If could reconcile it to my con-
science, I'd fling the whole collection into
the FIRE but ! was brought up to econumize
Whist do you think, Ella? Would i, be a
sin to anuhilate all these pitfalls to my
equanimity ?"
at is rather a problem" said Ella Dale,
soberly.
"And with all this" said Mrs. Smart,
waxing vehement as she vent on, "Eben-
ezer is unwilling to give me money TO buy
decent darning needles and respectable tape.
He wonders why can't make my dresses
last a little longer, and thinks am ex,rav-
sgant in wanting new feather for my old
velvet hat. He announces that use too
many raisins and spices, and asks me why l
can't raise eggs and poultry to exchange for
groceries at the village store. And yet
oh, the inconsistency of men,-he expects
me to give bowl Of coffee and sandwich
to say nothing of wedges Of apple-pe and
three-cornered bits of cake to every able
bodied tramp and stout peddler-~oman who
comes along"
Doesn't he make any allowance for it in
the housekeeping money!" said Ella.
Not he Just look here" Mrs Smart
opened the drawer of the kitchen-table.
IA. he
which he gives me every week-and he
came here twice this morning to get quar-
ter for lame beggsr, and to hunt up ten
pennies for thst same outrageous paper Of
pius!"
And sbe cas-. baleful glance at the arti-
Gle, which still lay on the dresser.
This is piracy" said Ella, judicislly.
"lt's highway robbery" declared Mrs.
Smart. 'And there comes the butchers
cart, and haven't money enough left from
my week. allowance to buy a single steak.
and here it is only Wednesday,"
Can't you buy on credit ?'
"Never" said Mrs. Smart, with spirit,
''lts thing that never have done and that
| never will do"
Elias brown eyes sparkled, as she shook
her head vehemently at the butcher, who
was just checking his old horse at the door.
Nothing to-day said she. "Go on I"
Mrs. Smart dashed away q tear.
"Give me some OF that shelled corn.
Ella" said she. Il suppose can catch :
chicken for dinner"
.'Do nothing Of the sort, my dear" said
Ella Dale.
.sBut what are we 10 do ?"
"Why, have picked-up dinner, to-be-