St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1890-01-30
SARAH GURNEYs SHARP TONGUE.

crowded into the meeting mouse DIS
soon as it was known that Ralph
Kirk would preach, and when the
service was over the decorous family
groups paced more slowly than usual
homeward, down the shaded side
walks, discussing the young minister.
A knot of stout matrons who had
put on dignity with their Sunday
black silks and gold watch-cha1ns,
gathered around Miss Atwater,
stranger who was visiting in the vii
lage, gossiping solernnly as they
walked.
Il have heard of the young man
before" she said He has church
in Harrisburgh. He is considered
there one of the most eloquent and
Jealous ministers in our communion
"He was born here" said Mrs.
Peabody. His mother lives just
outside the town. Everybody is
proud of Ralph. But he has not been
here for three years. The fact IS,
lowering her voice, he was attached
to Jeanie Quincy, but her mother
would not hear of it. She insulted
him.
Il should think it an admirable
match for any young lady" said the
stranger.
$50 we all did We are all fond OF
Ralph. But the Gurneys hold them
selves apart as f.
''Hush-hI"
The speaker paused abruptly and
glanced around Mrs. Quincy, a tall
woman with an ivory white COM
plexion and black, searching eyes,
was crossing the street toward her
Jeanie. faded, misunderstanding girl,
was beside her
And what did you think of the
sermon, Mrs Gurney?" asked Mrs.
Peabody, when the Misunderstanding
was over.
Sermon - all ?" she hesitated.
''Oh, well enough-well enough-for
Young man. Poor Kirk has, how
ever, the family features-thick lips
dropping eyelids-sure signs OF
taste for liquor l should not like &
man with such tendencies to have
charge of my spiritual concerns"
Ralph Kirk has never shown sucI
Il tendency said Mrs T1verton, IN
dignantly-
Not as vet," calmly rejoined Mrs
Gurney.
Teanie looked at her mother stead
ilv a moment, and then, without {
word, left the group and walked
quickly homeward. There was an EN-
barrassed pause. Arrabella Tw1gg
began to talk about the weather
She was a shriveled, bird-1ike l1ttl
creature, who dearly loved peace
whenever there was a flash of i'll tenn
per among her companions, she fiut
tered chirping about, trying to cove
it over with straws of commonplace
Did you finish your currant Jell
yesterday, Mrs. Gurney?" she sa1'
anxiously. Remember [ want t.
send YOU some of our raspberrles
Don't you need some help with you
cakes on Tuesday? | heard you wer
going to have the house full of minis
tiers from the Presbytery at OaF
borough"
mo doubt you heard it, Arrabella
Could a woman lose a button fror
her shoe in the town, and you nc
hear it? Yes; | am going to hav
six ministers, and l shall lay in bl
store of provisions. 1t behooves n
to do it Your country clergyma
may have grace or power IN praye
or he may not, but he always has a
enormous appetite
They had reached the corner nov
and the ladies, with one cOnsen
chose one side of the street, leavln
Mrs Quincy to pursue the other.
What a savage, rude woman
exclaimed Miss Atwater-
'Oh, no." said Arrabella. ''She
not savage, and she does not mea
to be rude She knows that ever
body knows that Ralph Kirk is III
a drunkard, that the ministers a
not gluttons, and that | am not
prving gossip Her bark is wOr
than her bite"
Everybody says that of Sar;
Gurnev," said Mrs. Tiverton. "B
if she can put so much venom in
bark, what would the bite be ~
''She is a kind, tender-hearty wol
an" interrupted Arrabella, hot
''She nursed me through diphther
when everybody fled from me. WI
need care if her tongue is bitter ~
''Arrabella is right" said Nj
Peabody ''She would give you h
last crust if you were hungry; b
she would cut you to the quick Wi
some ill-natured speech as she did il
Il have heard my father say" So
Mrs. Tiverton, that her graz
father, old Peter Vibbert, had a bla
drop in his heart of i'll will iowa
every human being. 1t is in t
blood, l suppose"
THE Gurneys are wealthy ~
quired Miss Atwater-
No They have farm as me
Of nc have Rut this same old Pc