The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1891-11-06
THE NEW MINISTER.

course everyone was anxious to become
acquainted with him at once. In Wood
leigh the recognized way of doing that
was TO have him come to tea and spend the
evening.
For nearly a month the Rev. John Dents
face had been missing from the table of
Mrs. Dodd, in whose family he had been
received as a member until his plans for
the future had been handed around from
one member of the congregation to another.
He had talked literature, art and fashion
with the mothers and daughters, and poll
tics and church finances with the fathers
and sons. He had sat down to suppers of
fried chicken and waffies until his stomach
began to rebel and cry for rest and change
of diet. Tuesday Deacon Smith had
spoken for him. On Wednesday he had
promised to see the Martins, while Thurs
day had been set apart by the Lswsons as
the only day on which the pastor must
break bread with them.
This would take HIM nearly around.
True, there were a number OF families
whom he had never visited beyond mere
calls. but they belonged to the poorer part
of his charge, and were of that class who
scorned to make 4 feast unless they could
do it as we'll as the rich. Mr.. Dent hoped
most devoutly that they might not see their
way clear until he had, by . judicious
course of crackers and tea, restored his
stomach to something like its normal tone
Deacon Smiths supper and the night
mare that followed it were safely past, and
he was on his way TO fulfill bis engage
imet with the Martins, walking briskly
with the alacrity of a man who has made
up his mind to do his duty, no matter what
1t cost him. Suddenly the brisk walk
ceased. and Mr.. Dent stood staring down
as the apparition which had unexpectedly
risen from a thicket of weeds by the road
side. 1t was not one from which Mr..
Dent or anybody else was likely to reeoil,
for it was a small and frsckle faced, and,
moreover it was SO badly.frightened itself
that it barely had breath enough to make
the following announcement:
please, sir, Aunt Polly has been awful
sick, and mother had to go off in a tearin
hurry, and come to our house another
time"
OF course Mr.. Dent didn't care, and
another time would do just as well, if not
a little better; and having quieted small
Tommy Martins fears by a winning smile
and hearty hand shake, Returned round
and started off in the direction of the Law
sons, not even asking himself whether or
not this arrangement would make any diff
ference to them.
1t was foreordained, l suppose. At least
that is the only way Mr.. Dent could ever
account for doing such an utterly stupid
thing as cutting across lots, vaulting the
back fence and presenting himself at Mr..
Lawson's back door at an hour when he
was supposed to be eating chicken off Mrs.
Martins china.
The Lawsons were about to partake of
their evening meal. Mr.. Lawson, Sam and
Join were already at their plates. Mrs.
Lawson was arranging the cups and
s~aucers, and Mary Jane was filling up the
teapot. preparatory to sitting down when
the double rap was heard at the door.
THE Grimeses to borrow something! l
wish we could get through one meal with
out them,'' said Mrs. Lawson tucking her
soiled apron aside as she went to the door.
Before she gets to it I would like to in
troduce you a little more fully to the
Lawson family, that you may understand
how matters stood on that November night
when Mr.. Dent called.
Mr.. Lawson was an intelligent, well-to-
do man, honest in his dealings, social, and
Of considerable influence in the church.
Mrs. Lawson was kind and motherly, and
an authority on matters relating to pickles
and preserves.
Mary Jane was quite a society leader,
and her way Of doing her hair and dressing
herself was always accepted as style by
her girl friends. The boys were fun loving
and popular, as such boys are apt TO De.
As a family they would have been re-
garded as perfect, if it had not been for a
bad habit they had-too common with a
great many people-of putting the best
foot foremost.
When company was coming they spared
themselves no trouble, hat everything
might be as pleasant as possible. They
scrubbed and swept, and put out their best
glassware and forks and spoons, that con-
situated their stock of silver, until they
shone again; ransacked their brains to in
vent dishes pleasing to the palate, to abide
in the memory of the guests forever; ar
rayed themselves in their best; in short,
they did everything cheerfuily and heartily
that oould add to the general pleasure.
But when they were alone it was differ,
ent. 1t was so hard to keep the parlor in
order, and it W as such a trouble to carry
everything in and out of the dining room,
and it was such a bother to dress twice a
day; as a general rrlet they took their meals
u the kitchen, and spent their evenings,
when at home, huddled around the kitchen
stove, and their toilets were not regarded
as evening dress, aud. moreover they were
apt to betray the manner OF the work in