News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1891-01-01

oeans mere for We. Wher'll We hev
'em put ?''
In the woodshed," said the min
lister, with a smile at his wife. cts
gong to be beans. this year, nv
dear, IN a whisper. Then other ar
rivals followed in rapid succession.
and at least three out of every four
brought beans.
!" I've counted fourteen bushels al
ready, " whispered the minister to his
wife, about eight O'Clock, land still
there's more to follow"
It's old clothes in my part of the
house." said Mrs. Spooner. 81 do
believe there's enough to last the
children till they are grown up, if
| they d fit till that time. | can imao-
me the appearance they'd make in
them. No two alike, and probably
not one that would fit one of the
children. It's too provoking for
anything. If it wasn't for making
the people mad I'd sell the whole lot
for rags to the first rag peddler that
| comes along"
Brothers n sisters n frien's m
neighbors," announced Dea. Spears,
after supper, when the party was
about ready to break up, "the pro-
ceeds of this ere donation amounts
to twenty-seven bushels % beans.
three turkeys, pig, two bushels o.
potatoes an a large amount o.
clothing an some other things. In
b'half O the elder an his folks. /
thank yer fer y'r lib'rality. Y'rkind-
ness is appreciated by him m his'n,
feel sartin, an I'm sure his heart'n'
hans is strengthened by this evil
dence o fellowship on your part.
Truly, as the Psalmist saws, 1T is
more blessed to give than to re-
ceive.'"
L cordially endorse the sentiment
from the receivers standpoint" =" said
Mrs. Spooner, as they looked over
the proceeds " of the donation party
when they were alone. "Just look
at the collection of old clothes. i
suggest that you give up preaching
and move to the city, and start in
business as Il bean broker, and I'll
run an old clothes store. We'd be
well stocked up to begin with"
What will you do with the stuff?'
asked the minister, turning over old
jackets and aprons, and other arti-
cles of clothing with comical look of
dismay on his face at the formidable
/ collection.
=" | think | shall make about a hun
! dred yards of rag carpet answered
Mrs. Spooner. That's about all a
| good deal of it is fit for"
One afternoon in the following week
the minister sat down to prepare n
sermoH for lie coming Sabbath. As
was often the case, he talked it over
with his wife. When he named the
chapter he proposed to read at the
opening of the service, sudden CLEAN
of mischief came into Mrs. Spooner's
face. But she said nothing. During
the week Mr. SpOoner wrote to a
friend in the city, asking him if there
was any sale for beans there. He
had twenty-five bushels to dispose of
at n low price, he wrote, adding that
it had been "a great year for beans
in 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
/ CiC Nuidlth nulbC ItduN. DOn L
wait for me, Henry" she said, cor
you may be late. Wen get there in
time for the sermon"
He was reading a chapter from
Matthew when his family arrived
He had reached the verse in which
the lily of the field is spoken of, and
these words rolled sonorously from
his tongue just rs the door opened
and Mrs. SpoOner, followed by her
children, filed slowly and impressively
in:
And yet say unto you, that even
Solomon in all his glory was not ar
rayed like one of these"
As he finished the verse he looked
up at the advancing arrivals, and
the spectacle that met his eyes tested
his power of self control more than
anything else hehad evereXperienced,
he afterward told his wife. His
mouth twitched, and a smile flickered
about his eyes, but he managed to
keep back the grin that would have
appeared at the faintest encourage
mPnt. Such a sight The eldest girl
was arrayed in Almiry's cast-otf
dress of navy blue, with some other
girls polonaise of red. Her sister
was resplendent in a dress of Scotch
plaid pattern of most gorgeous col
ors originally, but now somewhat
subdued by time and wear, still very
vivid, and over it she wore a jacket |
| about three sizes too small for her, |
! the picturesque costume being top
ped off by hat trimmed with old
ribbon freshly dyed very bright
magenta color. The eldest boy had
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 meet the top OF
pair of bright blue stockings, while
his Jacket refused to keep company
with the top of his trousers. Each
article had peculiar color OF its
, 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 up
T. set him for n moment that he read
the verse he had just finished over
: again.
r And vet, Isay unto you, even Sol
, omonin all his glory was not arrayed
like one of these"
q A very audible litter went through
the younger portion of the congrega'
ton. Some even laughed aloud.
| Mrs. Wade looked at Mrs. Pettigrew
to see what that estimable woman
: seemed inclined to think of the pro.
! ceedings, but she couldn't catch her
t eve. She was too busily engaged III
I following the Scripture lessonto look
at any one, =.
"I'H bet she's mad though, y
: Thought Mrs. Wade. Zone O them
{ Jackets an one o. them trowsis came
\ from her. | dunno, though, s they
I look emmy worse than that dress o
, Almiry's does. didn't s'pose they'c
> think of riggin' the children out il
g 'em to wear to church, I'll bet Miss
: Spooner's done it purpose !"
1 Mrs. Spooner had "done it n pur
$ pose" as she admitted to her hus
band on their way home.
v - don't think you ought to hav,
: done it, Susie" he said gravely, bu
e there was laugh in his eye as h
0 said it, as he looked at the motle.
i group ahead.