Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1889-06-24
Receiving Calls at the
Parsonage.

per for the Library Association, and
with an impatient frown answered
fretfully, ''I'm surprised, Bessie, you
should interrupt me, when you know
how important my writing is this af-
ternoon, and"
81 know, interposed the girl-wife,
nervously, with little tremble of the
pretty lips, "but the lady seems SO
anxious to talk with you, that"
"Who is she?" inquired he with a
preoccupied glance at his manuscript.
'That Mrs Fay down by the facto-
~. She has young man with her,
who
sob, some appeal or other proba-
bly,. Say 1 positively can not see
her." And the reverend gentleman
took up his pen again, and Bessie
went slowly back again to the parlor.
Had he been alone the writing
would have, doubtlessly, gone on
smoothly, but his younger brother,
Roy, spending college vacation with
him, had taken in the whole scene
from a snug corner, by the window.
He shrugged his shoulders at Johns
repulse, and thought Indignantly,
ssThat brother of mine has so many
hobbies he's growing into a regular
bear. Wish he could see himself
as others see him." and sauntering
to the table he coolly took up the
writer's last page and said, els it
possible you make that little wife of
yours receive all the calls?"
ssWhat an idea!' replied the big
brother, with an injured air, "I'm
sure don't make her do anything.
But l always said it isn't clergy
mans business to trot out of his study
every time some one calls, and |
mean to live up to it.
"Quite likely" rejoined Roy ,dryly.
s'In the meantime, have you any
idea how many times that bell has
rung this afternoon"
''Really,I haven't noticed it at all, "
replied he with superiority.
ssJust fifteen times since three
O'clock" declared Roy, triumphantly,
''and Bess has had every step to take
from seven this morning"
''But surely her work is not very
hard" insisted the Rev. John, land
as for the calls, Bessie enjoys them.
She Is pleasant and social the peo-
pie like her, and are as satisfied with
attention from her as from me"
''But why not sometimes divide
the labor"
because, as she can't write my
sermons for me, and can attend to
the calls just as well as l.
81 doubt it." argued Roy.
"Well, if you won't be convinced,
and are not inclined to put back that
paper, I'll go and post this letter. 1t
is getting too dark to write anyway"
and not little perturbed, the Rev.
John perambulated down the street.
"Got him worked up some, any
er, Watching his s.; re6fre5afing- ' figure
from the window. ''Now if he can
have an object lesson, he'll be bro't
round yet. I have it," he calculated
after a moment of profound thought;
and with laugh he walked over to
the study table, removed all the sta
tionery from the drawer and careful
ly concealed it; then took down his
brothers best beaver and carried it
upstairs.
Immediately after tea, he surprised
Mr.. and Mrs. Little by putting on
his overcoat and spending the even
ing out, something he had never done
in Linton. For it was a small town,
depending for society on the nearest
city. The first year of Mr.. Titles
pastorate, he gave Bessie the advan-
tage of the musical and art attrac-
tions so numerous there. Lately,
however, Roy had noticed that they
were quite ignored, and he was de-
termined to renew them, for Bessie,
at least.
''Have you been in the art recep-
tion?' he asked her the next morning
as they sat at the breakfast table.
'No," she answered wistfully, 81
didn't even know it had opened"
eyes. It's now the second day.
I'll take you there this afternoon
you'll be at home, won't you, John?'
turning coolly towards him.
eyes," responded that worthy,
hesitatingly, 81 wanted to see Broth
er Haynes a moment, but
"Oh,you can do that well enough"
exclaimed Roy lightly, and quite ig-
noring Bessie's apology of "Don't
know if 1 ought to co. he said, ssWe
shall need to 60 about one," and alb
ruptly left the room.
Promptly at one he was ready, and
Mrs. Little, with most becoming
color in her cheeks, hurried out, and |
was assisted into the cutter by the |
Rev. John.
''The first sleigh-ride l have had
this yearl'' said she merrily.
If the remark was a reproach to
the dominic, he did not "take," but
fastened back to his study, quite
complacent at the idea of whole
afternoon alone.
''Roy is getting decidedly disa-
greeable; he really went too far yes
terday. / shall write much better
without him." sOIiloouiZed he and he