The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1888-11-30

almost simultaneously, the reason for
Patience's altered demeanor was made plain,
and the young pair had hearty laugh that
made the old parsonage ring like peal of
Thanksgiving bells.
The Tuesday following was the regular
day for the weekly sewing circle, and sell
dom had that interesting gathering proved
SO lovely and animated as on this occasion,
well nigh bursting with some important
secret that she was only waiting fitting OPP
portunity to divulge. That opportunity was
not long in coming, for Mrs. Deacon Farrell,
who was constitutional croaker, took occa-
sion TO say, in reference to the hard times:
"The deacon had been tryin' ter collect the
church tax, and he says he never found
money so tight in all the years he's lived here.
It's as hard to get five dollars now as it used
10 be 10 get ten"
"And no wonder" spoke up Mrs. Patience,
with the stony severity of sphinx. "You
can't expect folks to feel like payin' out their
money when they seeit fairly thrown away an
wasted.'
Everybody looked curious, and some ofthe
younger girls began TO bride defantly The
minister's sweet young wife was evidently
a favorite with them, at least.
what do you mean by thatW asked Mrs.
Farrell, pointedy. Mrs. Graham is young
and inexperienced, to be sure; but as the
deacon was sayn' only yesterday, she does
very well indeed considering"
Patience tossed her head knowingly. II
don't want to say nothing to hurt her, but
Twin next door as do, can't always help
seem and hearin' things that other folks can't
be expected to know about, and when see
and know things like"
There was an ominous pause, and the dea.
cons wife asked excitedly:
Like what?"
Chicken pies, with legs and feet of the
chicken baked in ?"
Had thunderbolt fallen among them II
could not have caused greater surprise TO
those tidy thrifty New England housekeepers
than this dreadful revelation of the incapaci-
ty of the pastors young wife.
care you sure of IT." gasped one matron,
breaking the ominous silence. II know it
for fact" was soemnly returned.
Chicken legs in pie"
"Shc's born fool calculated the deacon's
wife, Indignantly, land I'm thankful for her
poor husbands sake that sent her over one
of my pies yesterday. They had to throw
hers away, of course, and it's lucky that he
didn't have to go without his Thanksgiving
breakfast on account of her ignorance an
shiflessness."
How did you know about the pie ?" asked
one of the girls.
Miss Patience bristled defiantly "Thats
nobody's business but my own" she retorted,
tartly. 81 don't go round to find out things
that don't concern me- I'd have you know, but
when they're thrown right into my face, rs
you might say don't shet my eyes no
moren other folks"
Just here the door opened, and in walked
the subject OF their conversation, her pretty
face glowing with the haste that she had
4 Ill,
eyes that nobody noticed, SO occupied were
they in hiding the confusion that her sudden
entrance had created.
Walking to the table where most of the
ladies were sitting, she saluted them cordially;
and then holding out upon the tip of her
slender finger a wel-worn silver thimbe, she
said archly-
Where do you think found your Thin
BILE, Miss Patienceg
SO pleased was Miss Patience to regain her
lost treasure that she forgot for a moment all
assumed dignity and exclaimed joyfully
"Well, declare, | am glad to see that
thimble once more! told Mary Jane that
l felt sure had it on my finger when l run
into your house Thanksgivin' mornin' arter
that yeast. But when | got home, it want
nowhere to be found. Now where did you
find it"
Her shrill, high voice had attracted the at
tention of all in the room, and everybody
looked up curiously as the minister's wife
replied, with an innocent smile:
I'm the chicken pie that our good friend
here" and she nodded brightly to Mrs Farrell,
sent me. l left the pie on the dresser when
went down the cellar after your yeast, and as
soon as | came back put it on the table, and
when my husband cut it there was your
thmble in it. How could it have got there?
1t is certainly very mysterious anyway"
Silence, deadly profound, yet, oh how ter
ribly significant to the deacon's wife and her
spinster neighbor, fell upon the group.
This was apparently unnoticed by Mrs.
Graham, who, with playful admonition to
Miss Patience to take better care of her thin
BILE 10 future, began an animated conversa-
ton with the ladies nearest her, that soon re-
stored the company to their wonted ease and
good humor.
But poor Miss Patience she never heard
the last of her lost thimbe. While the dea-
cons wife, to the day of her death, never
trusted any hands Int her own hands to
make Thanksgiving lirs for her minister.