Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1889-10-07
The New Student.
lFoR THE MONITOR

stood In her yard raking up the au-
tumn leaves which had begun to fall
Aunt Betsey, as every one called
her, was good old lady, friend to
all who would listen to her stories.
and she always had large stock on
hand in addition to all of of the news
and gossip which were SO abundant in
the little settlement.
As she was now leaning upon her
rake, she caught glimpse of Mrs.
Brown, a thrifty, intelligent neigh
Dor, coming down the street.
''Here comes Mrs Brown. / must
have word or two with her as she
goes by" said Aunt Betsey to her.
self, as she began to work near the
fence, by which Mrs. Brown would
pass, and as her neighbor came OPP
posite to her she greeted her with:
81 have something to tell you,
Mrs. Brown"
Mrs Brown paused, waiting to hear
what it was that was working on the
mind of Aunt Betsey. She cleared
her throat, for she often said that the
doctor had told her that there was
something the matter with her lungs.
She pulled down her face to lengthen
it out to length appropriate for one
of her profession and church stand
ing. Casting a knowing glance at
her neighbor, for she had cultivated
taht glance for such occasions, she
said:
''The new minister took May
James to ride last night, and it was
nine o'clock before they got home.
Mrs. Osgood told me so this morn
ing; her son Charles saw them when
they went by the house, for he was
looking out of the window just in
time. / do think that something
ought to be done, he is paying so
much attention to May lately, and it
was only last Monday night that they
went to walk; met them myself as
/ was coming home from the ceme-
terry. | don't think it looks well, and
you know, Mrs. Brown, that people
will talk so. OF course it is all right
for him to go to Mays home as much
as he does, but you know people will
talk so much. o dear, l am glad
that l amt gossip
Thus Aunt Betsey continued for a
few minutes, when Mrs. Osgood join
ed them.
"Yes,' said Mrs. Osgood, "people
will talk so. If were Mrs. James,
1 wouldn't let my daughter be talked
about so much
Mrs. Brown stood listening to the
dialogue for few minutes, when her
patience was exhausted. AS they
became heated with the discussion,
each adding story after story about
the young minister, she interrupted
them by asking what objections they
could have to Mr.. Bascomb's attentions
to May James. ..-.
81 hain't got none," replied Aunt
Betsey, shut they will talk so; and
l do hate to hear them talk about our
minister so much"
'But," said Mrs. Brown, 81 think
there is nothing improper in Mr..
Bascomb's actions. He has per-
feet right to take May to ride, as has
any other young man, and when we
stand talking as we have to-day, we
are meddling with some ones bust
ness that does not concern us in the
least. l am glad, for one, that he is
paying attention to May, for she is
good girl and would make good
wife, and I think the less said about
it the BETTER
swell, / don't like the looks of 1t.
and / do think that some one ought
to talk with Mr.. Bascomb about it,
interrupted Aunt Betsey.
Mrs. Brown was by this time lit
tie way off, and still she heard the
two others chatting over the mis-
deeds of the new student to their
hearts content.
Walter Bascomb was young theo-
logical student, who had come to this
small village six months before to
take charge of his first church. The |
church was a small one, consisting
mostly of women of an elderly age,
while its support depended chiefly
upon it's few male members. Altho'
the female portion of the church and
society was of great benefit in a pc
cuniary point of view, yet the inter
est which they took in the young pas
tor was unlimited. she is young
yet,'' they would say, "not through
his studies, and in all probability he
will pay attention to some young
lady in the village, because the post
master said that he sent off no letters
addressed to Miss He is to be
in the place just year and is then
to return to his school. Who knows
what may happen during that year"
The first few weeks passed by, but
somehow the good mothers were not
satisfied. The audience in the church
had more than doubled, and still the
new minister did not fall into the
snares which were being set for him.
For some reason the plans which they
had made for him did not seem to
him satisfactory.
''There is Fanny Bush, just love-
L l..