The record-union., 1891-08-08

During the week Mr.. Spooner wrote to
q friend in the city, asking him If there
was any sale for beans there. He had
twenty-five bushels to dispose of at a
low price, he wrote, adding thai ii had
been great year for beans at Scragsby
Corners.
When Sunday morning came Mrs.
Spooner sent her husband on TO church
ahead of her under the plea that she had
not got the children quite ready. Don't
wait for me, Henry" she said. ''or you
may be late. Well get there in time for
the sermon"
He was reading a chapter from the
Psalms when his family arrived. He
had reached tho verse in which the lily
of the valley is spoken OF, and these
words rolled off sonorously from his
tongue just as the door opened and Mrs.
/ Spooner, followed by her children, filed
hSlowly and impressively in
Verify, l say unto you, even Solomon
i'll all his glory was not arrayed like one
of these"
AS he finished the verse he looked up
at the advancing arrivals, and the spec
tacle that met his eyes tested his powers
of self-control more than anything else
he had ever experienced, he aEterward
told his wife. His mouth twitched, and
a smile fiiclered about his eyes, but he
managed to keep back the grin that
would have appeared at the slightest en-
couragement.
Such sight! The eldest girl was ar
rayed in Almiry's east-oif dress of navy
blue, with some other girls polonaise of
red. Her sister was reSplendent III
dress of Scotch plaid pattern Of most
gorgeous colors originally, but now
somewhat subdued by time and wear,
still very vivid, and over 1t all she wore q
jacket about three sizes too small for her,
the picturesque costume being topped off
by a hat trimmed with old ribbon freshly
dyed q very bright magenta color. The
Oldest boy had a pair Of trousers which
| fairly dragged at the heels, and a jacket
| which was long enough for an overcoat,
while the other boy wore trousers so
short that they failed TO reach the top of
a pair of bright blue stockings, while his
jacket refused to keep company with the
top OF his trousers. Each article had a
peculiar color OF It's OWn, and the general
effect was, as has been said, decidedly
picturesque.
The minister had no inkling of what
his wife intended to do, and the sight of
his family in such fine array so upset
him for moment that he read the verse
he had just finished over again
Verify, | say unto you, Solomon in
his glory was not arrayed like one of
these"
very audible litter went through the
younger portion of the congregation
Some even laughed aloud. Mrs. Spears
looked at Mrs. Pettigrew to see what that
estilnable woman seemed TO think of the
proceeding, but she couldn't catch her
eye. She was too busily engaged in fol-
lowing the Scripture lesson TO look at
anyone.
''I'll bet she's mad, though" thought
Mrs. Spears. '0ne o. them Jackets and one
o them trOWsis came from her. l dunno,
| though, as they look emmy worse than
that dress of Almiry's does. i didn't
/ s'pose they'd think Of riggin' the chill
| dren out i'll 'em to wear to church. PHI
/ bet Miss Spooner done it a-purpose."
/ Mrs. Spooner had done it a-purpose,'
as she admitted to her husband on their
way home.
II don't think you ought to have done
! it, Susie,' he said gravely, but there was
laugh in his eye as he said it, as he
| looked at the motley group ahead.
| Perhaps not" was his wife's reply,
| but wanted them to see the striking
effect resulting from their generosity. OF
course they cam tget angry about it, since
/ they gave the clothes to be worn. / do
/ think it'll have one good effect, and that
| is, that old clothes won't be one Of the
important features of the next donation
party here"
| Mrs. Spooner was right. When the
| next donation party occurred not one old
garment was donated" Mr.. Spooner
at last succeeded in disposing of his
! beans, but he had to do so at sacrifice,
on account OF its having been such a
great year for beans in Scragsby Cor
ners," that they overStocked the market.
Elmer L. Rexford in the Yankee Blade.