The Somerset reporter., 1889-11-07
"From vanity turn my eyes;


The corrupt design to which this esti-
mable matron had been tempted had been
the purchase of Parian ilower-vases,
whose beauty had struck to her heart
when she went with her butter and eggs
to the neighboring city-but recolecting
herself in time, she had resolutely shut
her eyes to the allurement, and spent the
money usefully in buying loaf sugar.
For it is to be remarked that the deacon
was fond Of good eating, and prided him
self on the bonnties of his wife's table.
Few women knew better how to set one
and the snowy bread, golden butter, clear
preserves and jellies, were themes OF ad-
miration at ali the teatables In the land.
The deacon didn't mind few cents q
pound more for a nicer ham, and would
now and then bring in treat of oysters
from the city when they were dearest.
Those were comforts he said-and one
must stretch point for the comforts of
life.
The deacon must not be mistaken for a
tyraunical man or bad husband. When
he quietly put his wife's flower patch into
his corn-held, he thought he had done her
service by curing her of an absurd no.
ton for things that took time and made
trouble and were of no use. And she,
dear soul, never had breathed dissent to
any course of his, loud enough to let him
know she had one. He laughed in his
sleeve often when he saw her TRANQUILITY
knitting or shirt-making at those times
she had been wont to give to her poor
little contraband pleasures As for the
tiower-vases, they were repented of-and
Mrs. Tilden put handful of spring ane
mones into q cracked pitcher and set 1t on
her kitchen table. till the deacon tossed
them out of the window-he couldn't
bear to see weeds growing round.
The poor little woman had kind OF
chronic heart sickness, like the pining of
teething child: but she never knew ex-
actly what it was she wanted. If she ev-
er was sick, no man could be kinder than
the deacon. He has been known to har-
ness in all haste and rush to the neighbor-
ing town at four O'Clock in the morning,
that he might bring her some delicacy she
had a fancy for that he could see the use
of. He could not sympathise in her crav-
ing desire too see Powers Greek Slave,
which was exhibiting in neighboring
town. "What did Christian people want
of stun images?" he wanted to know. He
thought the criptures put that thing
down-"Eyes have they, but they see not
ears have they, but they hear not
neither speak they through their throat.
They that make them are like unto them;
so is every one that trusteth in them
There was the deacon's opinion of the
arts; and Mrs. Deacon only sighed, and
wished she could see it, that was all.
But it came to pass that the deacon's
eldest son went to live In New York, and
from that time strange changes began to
appear in the family, that the deacon
didn't like; but as Jethro was a smart,
driving lad, and making money at great
pace, he at first said nothing. But on his
mothers birthday, down he came and
brought box for his mother, which. he
ing unpacked, contained Parian statuette
of Paul and Virginia-a lovely simple lit
tie group as ever held its story In clay.
Everybody was soon standing round 1t
in opened mouth admiration, and poor
Mrs. Tilden wiped her eyes more than
once as she looked on 1t. 1t seemed
vision of beauty in the desolate neatness
Of the best room.
Very pretty, s'pose," said the Dea-
con, dOubtfully-for like most fathers of
spirited twenty-threc olders, he began to
feel little awe Of his son-"but dear me,
what sight of money to gye for q thing
that after all Is Of no USE"
II think" said Jethro, looking at his
mothers suffused eyes, at is one Of the
most useful things that has been brought
into the house this many day."
IL don't see how you're going to make
this out" said the Deacon, looking appre
hensively Al the young Wisdom that had
risen In his household.
"What will you wager me, father, that
l will prove out Of your own mouth that
this statuette is as useful as your cart
and oxen"
'"I know you've got = great way OF
coming round folks. and twitching them
up before they fairly know where they
are; but Ill STAN you on this question
any way"
And the Deacon put his yellow silk
bandanna over his bald head, and took up
his position In the window seat.
"Well now, father. what 10 the use Of
your cart and oxenf"
why, l could not work the farm With