Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1888-04-02
The Deacon's Reward.

Ilon, as ne was attempting 10 petuse
his paper bottom side up. His wife
was standing near, viewing him
sharply through a pair OF steel bowed
spectacles, herself excited and IN a
mood not the most pleasant. In a
tone of petulance, she exclaimed
"Josiah, you will certainly end
your days in the poor-house -
81 hope not" said the deacon.
"What put that unpleasant idea into
your head?"
"Don't be a hypocrite," said his
wife.
"a hypocrite, ElizaY'
"Yes, a hypocrite p said she, In
tone more loud than tender. "Ts IL
anything but hypocrisy to sit here
and pretend you haven't just given
half cold chicken TO that tramp
who is limping off across the swamp
lot"
"He looked so cold and hungry,
Eliza. You should have seen him
eat and drink"
"What did you give him 10 drink,
/ should like TO know"
"Only a bowl of cold coffee, my
dear. The poor wretch was blue
with the cold"
"Blue, indeed ~ said his wife, 81
wish he had been black and purple,
and all sorts Of colors before he had
ever come here IL don't make any
difference what trumped-up story he
tells; anything will take you in.
Here we are in debt; the very house
over our heads mortgaged, and YOU
are shoveling out our household goods
to every lazy vagabond that comes
along !"
"But my dear wife"
"Don't tell me" said the wife,
still more wrathful. "All the coun-
try knows it !"
"My dear" said the deacon, "we |
are told in the good book"
ave are told in the good book" |
angrily interrupted his wife, "that
charity begins at home There's
lame Peter Pike, the fiddler, / don't
believe our barn would ever have
burned up if it hadn't been for his
old pipe that night he slept there :"
alt was the sparks from the loco
motive, my dear, which"
"Sparks from the locomotive, in
deed do declare, deacon, I've no
patience with you You are running
us Yes, running But there is to be
an end TO all this I'm tired of keep
ing tavern for all the wretches be-
tween here and Mount Kearsage !"
"Yes, yes, Eliza" said the deacon.
"Haven't You anything TO say for
yourself?" cried Mrs. Wilmot.
"What should / say, my dearY
But his wife now hounced out Of
the room. The good old mans face
grew very sad as he laid away his
and put his spectales slow
ly into their case. And he said 10
himself, alt is true enough we are
ruined, although poor Eliza did not
realize il when she spoke those words.
The mortgage is going 20 be fore
closed uext month, and really don't
see how | have been careless, but
everything has gone wrong.
There was last summers dry spell,
and then that sickness among the
;attle, aud the loss of twenty tons OF !
lay in the barn that was burned
nothing but one continuous run Of III
uck. We must let the old place go
the place where my father was born
before me). | don't mind il SO much
or myself, but | don't know how
o tell Eliza" And two or three
ears trickled down his cheek, and
ell noiselessly on his knee. "But !.
lon't the bible say, Il have been ~
'oung and now am old, yet have /
lot seen the righteous forsaken, nor . .
us seed begging bread 2 Can't COM "
ort myself with thatY "
He reached out his hand for the :
Id family bible, but at that moment
here was a knock ct the door, and in :
7alked Lawyer Spruce. The dea- - :,
on's heart sank within him, but he "
topped forward and offered him a
hair. -
"Thankee, thankee," said the law Z,
er, "but can't stop. I've came to 4
ee you on some business connected
18th Mr.. Peter Pike, commonly 81,
nown as 'lame Pete, the fiddler q,
"What, is he sick, poor soul?" i,
"He's dead % said the lawyer. =,
"Is he, poor old fellowl Well,
re must give him decent burial, and 81,
ee that he he don't lack a neat tomb !.
tone. I'll give my share towards IL, n
aid he, putting his hand into his =
ocket.
"You're mistaken, Deacon Wilmot,
together mistaken. MIR. Peter Pike o'
as not died penniless. He has left I'
nough to bury himself, and little ~
esides." ~
"Indeed! / am glad to hear it," y
aid the deacon. ~
"Yes, he must have been rather :"
Lrange old fellow, deacon. lie has '"
1T quite a sum in the savings bank W
about four thousand dollars" -
"You don't say so, lawyer -Four i'
dollars, ehg That is a deal ~
money. II only had four thous- ~ "
nd dollars now" -
II