Smyrna times., 1891-05-20
Mrs. TallbOy's Guests.

II 0NeF open my mouse again +
strangers, you'll catch a white black
bird !" exclaimed Mrs. Tallboy, as sh
came upstairs. She was flushed an,
tired. All the morning she had bee
IN the kitchen, the oven-door openin
and shutting with bang and the al
resounding with the beating of egg
and the pounding of crackers. It wa
the first Tuesday in October. TIL
great annual meeting of the A. B. c. F
M. was to be held in Blank this wear
and this was the day when it would
begin, with its influx of visitors from
every part of Christendom. "There /
an ocean of things to be done vet
continued Mrs. Tallboy to her aunt
who had just dropped in for a moment
"and I'm tired to death now.~ Sh,
sat down in an attitude of utter deiec
ton, with an armful of fresh towels il
her lap.
Louise" said Axnt Eliza, tits be
cause you won't give up your beset
ting sin. You can't look me in the
face this moment and deny that you've
been making three kinds of cake when
one would do, and rolling croquetts
like Martha, instead of giving your
guests cold ham like Mary. How many
are you going to have ?"
-Four! Fool that l was to say that
ia take so many when the committee
came round last spring! A minister
and his wife from Fileno, Me.--wher.
ever that may be land a home mis-.
sionary and his wife from out West
somewhere.
Well, dear, it's not for your own
pleasure to undertake it. Don't forget
that, and I'm sure the Lord will helm
you through"
Faith and fatigue never go along
together with me, l find, answered
Mrs. Tallboy taking up the towels with
a sigh.
She got through with all that her
high ideals of housekeeping demanded
barely in time to dress herself and
meet her guests, when they arrived
before tea with smile, which to their
eyes bore DO suspicion of forcing.
Rev. Mr.. and Mrs Brock, of Fileno-
he tall and thin, with a gentle stare
over his spectacles as if he called back
his ideas from another world with an
effort; she thin also, but small, worn
and anxious-looking, in a well.pre-
served black dress of the style of a
dozen years back, and a snowy bonnet
presented by the village milliner for
this occasion-that bore no relation
to the meek little head under
i, with face SO patient and sweet.
Mr.. and Mrs. Hayward, the other two.
we're younger and more sprightlv.
With heartiness and Western frank
ness that stood out in striking relief
rom the quiet, subdued manner of the
Brooks.
The supper was excellent and went
IF well. That lifted Mrs. Tallboy's
Ipirits little, as did also her husbands
at the sight of his we'll
illed table. But the fatigue was still
here, and the rebellion that she had
to all this trouble for perfect
trangers. She had given up her
DOM to the Brooks. When she went
o bed she had to go to a closet of
heir room for her slippers. Through
he partition she Overheard-involun-
arily at irst-this conversation:
Josiah, isn't this beautiful room
Why, can't help thinging all the time
hat it's just dream, my being at
SOard meeting How stunned was
Vhen Mrs. Marvin said to me
hat morning: "Mrs. Brock, the whole
arish is bound that you shall 60 this
ear, and clapped that money into my
and Won't they all be pleased when
hey hear what delightful family we
Tere assigned to ~
"Yes," answered the minister's slow
oice, We a are highly favored every
'ay, Amanda. Mrs. Tallboy seems to
e really delighted to have us'-here
e paused as if hunting for something.
was almost afraid you'd forgotten
" clean collars for the week, but I've
'und them in the bottom of the bag.
ou know you were so excited dear,
esterday, when you were packing,
wouldn't have been strange"
well, and its nothing to wonder at
l was" answered the other voice as
halt laughing. ats the first outing
We had for fifteen years, you know,
hen she went on excitedly, "oh,
Dsiah, to think that for three whole
ays not hands turn to do, and I'm
ping to those grand meetings, and
lall hear and see men I've read of all
y life And then the music from
lch a great congregation Why, it
st took me off my feet at the meeting
might And such lot of old friends
one keeps coming across that you
avn't seen for years and then to-
orrow we are going around a little,
stween times, to see the city and the
ghts. l declare, Josiah, it does seem
10 much for me |"
mo, Amanda" answered the minis.
RS voice, with fearful quiYer in it,
7Ou deserve every BIT of it. Let us
neel right down now and thank the
ord for his great goodness to U.S.
Mrs. Tallboy left the closet softly,
Id her eyes were running over when
ie went back to her husband. I'm
named of myself for listening. and
1t I'm glad 1 did. 1 never should
I'VE dreamed how happy I'VE were
aking these good Christians, putting
easures into their lives they will
,ver forget. What am I-ungrateful
etful creature THAI such privilege
mONMl