The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1889-05-03
THE DEAeoN,s DINNER.

When Katie Weston became Mrs. Deacon
Lee, every one said whats good match slt
had made; for the deacon was an honorable
upright man, pleasant, kind and generous
in addition to this, he was the owner o
the best farm for miles around, including
large piece of woodland.
Since every one thought of him as a
model husband, they never dreamed of at
~tributing the care-worn look that grew OF
Katie's face to any fault ofhis. How coult
they, when she, loyal little woman, always
spoke Of him with so much pride aud re
spect that the village gossips could find
nothing of which to complain?
Even close-mouthed Jonas, the grocer,
said le ''never see so good a proyidel
as the deacon was" Perhaps lie might
have thought differently, if lie had heard q
few remarkssMary Ann Hoolihan made,
when, after working at Deacon Lees q
couple of weeks. she announced her inten
ton of leaving.
"Sfurc it's a good missus We are, mum,
an everything is plisant an foine like
around; but me ripitation as cook is what
I'd not like to be losing; there's many a
place where the master has sinse enough,
saving yer presence, mum. to know how
it takes wood to build the fire, an not &c
tell ye, 4 guess 3e can be piekin' up some
thing to last ye the day, wlIeniver yc
speak of the want Of a stick for the days
bakin'. But don't worrit yourself, III not
be spanking of it outside. for it's many a
kind word ye've given me, an Mary Ann
Hoolihan niyer will forg:t that same"
And she was as good as her word. N o
one but Katie's half-sister, Jessie suspect
ed that there was any reason for her leay-
ing.
After that Mrs. Lee did her own work.
and never complained to the deacon, whc
always found his meals well cooked, nesel
inquiring how they became so; and a;
time rolled on, his confidence in her abil
itY to "pick up some pieces around the
yard grew SO great that it seemed to have
crowded all knowledge of the use Of al
axe ont Of his head; for, beyond drawing
up q lot of old rails when he put in his
new wire fences, he left the getting of the
wood, as we'll as building fires, entirely TO
Katie.
People driving by admired the well-kept
yard, and said to each other what q neat
man Deacon Lee was, to keep every chip
and piece of wood picked up-neyerdream
ing how Katie searched for every stray bit
that might make kindling, running in il
she saw a carriage coming, for fear the oc-
cupants would see how she was employed,
and censure the deacon for his neglect.
Great things from little causes flow
and so it was that the deacon owed his re-
formation to 4 call made by Jessie and a
friend one cold day in spring. The fire
got low, and Mrs. Lee, excuslng herself
for a moment, left the room, leaving hel
little ~thIee-year-old girl in Jessie's care.
The child played about the room for y few
moments, then, taking holdof the window
sill with her chubby hands, raised herself
up and looked out.
"Ma's tuttin wood" she said, as Jessie
looked at her. ''she's tuttin wood..'
Miss Davis was talking aud did not no
tice; but Jessie did, and the words con-
frmed a suspicion she had had for some
time. She found it hard to be entertaining
until Mrs. Lee came back, who, after re-
plenishing the fire, renewed her converse
ton with Miss Davis
Jessie seemed very much occupied with
her own thoughts next day as she went
about her work. At last a CLEAN of mis-
chief came into her eyes, and she seemed
to have arrived at some determination, for,
as she hung the last piece Of her snowy
ironing on the clothes-bars, she brought
her small foot down very emphaticslly
and said:
'Ill do it, i'll ever have a chance"
Her chance came that haying-time,
Deacon Lee had a nice lot OF hay to put
in, aud, as it was the fashion there for the
farmers 60 change work. he concluded t.
have a tos. Accordingly he asked a nun.
Der Of his friends to come, and made az
rangemenis for a big days work.
But when he returned to t~heloase, aitel
moving a roadway to the north meadow
he found chat Mrs. Lee had been takel
suddenly i'll. The doctor Was hastily sum
moned, ard said it was necessary that the
patient be kept perfectly quiet; she mus
not be worried about anything, or il woll'
result IN brain-fever. Ho left two or tlire'
bottles Of medicine aud went away again.
leaving the deacon almost in danger o
brain-fever himself.
What should he do2 In spite OF hi
thoughtlessness, he dearly loved Katie,
and was very anxious about her. In addi
ton to this anxiety, were his thoughts o
the bee aud the care, of his little girl an'
49, -. L. 49,.