The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1889-09-21

" s<ls4 " w I'll ~
"Do go, and send them away be-
fore our company comes." said Mrs.
Goodman.
II have seen some of them at the
industrial school," said Ellen with a
sudden CLEAN Of merriment; "can
this be one of fathers curious tricks 2"
ut certainly is," said Adelaide.
"fOr there he comes himself out Of
that omnibus"
And in fact the good deacon was
now seen making his way through a
crowd OF poor people, who stood
humbly waiting near the gate, and
offering his arm to q Withered old
lady, in rusty bomhazine, who had
been among the first arrivals, he pre-
sented her and the foremost of the
guests to his lady who stood in a
rustic of establishment and stiff bro
cade, on the veranda steps, and to
his elegant daughters, who were half
way between laughing and crying at
the novelty of the scene before them.
Mrs. Goodman, fortunately, had
the good sense of philosophy to per-
ceive that state of things which
was manifestly not to be cured had
better be endured with the best grace
possible; and her innocent guests,
though somewhat awe struck at such
undreamed of magnifcence of appar-
rel. were all unconscious of the strug-
gle-and triumph, too-of grace that
was going on beneath the studied
hospitality with which she received
them.
There was the old, lady in black,
who proved to be aAwidow, and ut
terly alt'ne in the world about the
supply of whose wants the deacon
probably knew more than any man
living. And there was an old man
with one wooden leg; and a blind
man, who was strongly suspected of
having been seen at the wayside beg =
ging, until some benevolent indiyid-
ual-name unkroWn-had supplied
him with a basket of saleable arti-
cles by means of which he was now
able to support himself and family,
There were women. too, with wan
faces who seemed never to have en-
joyed the blessings of Gods air, and
puny children in their arms. whose
heavy eyes frightened at the sight
of green grass and waving trees. The
old people were soon seated IN the
house. on the piazza, while the chill
dren, under convoy of Miss Ellen,
who entered heartily into the spirit
of the occasion. scattered in merry
games on the green lawn. Meyer
was such play before; and TO Ellen
herself it seemed that the little birds
never sang so sweetly nor the fresh
summer air breathed so softly, and
never was it so delightful to have a
home in the country as this very
day.
The company once disposed of. a
sober second thought occurred to the
lady hostess. more distressing, doubt
less, than the first. An appealing
look brought her husband to her cor
ner. "What in the world am I to
do ?" she said, "I have not got half
provisions enough for them to eat ?"
"That is all right" replied the
deacon, pointing to a market wagon
which was Just unloading at the
kitchen gate. "There is an abun.
dance for them all. and 1 have given
directions to the cook"
Anxiety was needless every ar
rangement had been completely
made. and the entertainers devoted
themselves again to their guests.
Happily passed the hours of the gol-
den afternoon. The ladies of the
family recovered speedily from the
shock of disappointment. and could
not help admitting that they had
never so thoroughly enjoyed COM
pany before. It was only because
the real delight of social Iife-that of
comforting happiness Oh others-had