News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1891-11-05

y
And, to speak the truth, a hint of
this little conspiracy dropped into
Mr.. Corbin's ear had already tended
to make him not q little uneasy. For
| Miss Prudence Malinda Miles had
countenance like a wooden doll and
figure resembling a bed-post.
"Beautyis but skin deep" said the
clergyman to himself; butreally, Miss
Miles does not commend herself to
the fancy And if one pauses, by in
stlnct, to select rosebud instead of
the colorIess flowers of the potato
blossom, | don't see why pretty
girl shouldn't make as good wife
as one with a plain face.
Mr.. Corbin was sitting at his desk,
considering the Thirdly" of his ser-
mon that day, when old Hester, his
colored hOuse-keeper, came to the
door.
please, sir there's Mr.. Greg
ory's Patty wants to speak to you. !"
"Ask her to enter" said Mr.. Cor
bin. 81 have seen her occasionally
in the Bible class, and she is devOut
and finely natured damsel.
Patty Gregory came in, according
Iy-a ROSY, fresh-faced girl, with linn
pid brown eyes, laughing lips and jet
brown hair forming itself into natu-
raj rings and tendrils on her forehead.
"Mr. Corbin," said she, timidly,
would you like a basket of black ber-
ries?
BIackberries ?" repeated thegood
man, thinking how like one of Millais's s
pictures Patty looked, as she stood
there in the checkered shadows of the
hop-vines which were trained across
the study window. Truly they are
a goodly fruit and most luscious to
the taste"
'1'm so glad you like them," said
Patty. Because I've picked nearly
a peck on Mulloch Hill, and-and
father is poor, and we have nothing
to give you at the donation party.
And if you would accept the black
berries, should be so thankful. Be
cause father feels that ne has enjoyed
your sermons, and he would like to
give something, be it never so little. .
"The gift is most welcome, Miss
Patty" said Mr.. Corbin, And SC
Patty Gregory went away, leaving
him in sort of brown study.
Father" said Patty, when the
good farmer came to his supper, we
thought of something"
"YOu always was q master-One fOl
thinking" said Mr.. Gregory, looking
admiringly at the olive face, with itl
sparkling eyes.
+ "That old engraving that Grand
father Mullett left in his WILL" ex
planned Patty, with the bronze franz
that hangs over the best room man
tel: Martha and Mary at Bethany,
don't you remember? The one tina
Mr.. Corbin admired so much when h
was here. I'm told that the scholar
and gentlefolks admire these old en-
cravings. And why don't you Civ
it to Mr.. Corbin for the donation? ?
m "I'm ashamed to take an old pic
] ter like that said Mr.. Gregory, dr
4 biously. "BeiOre Widow Starke wit
u her barrel of flower, and Mr.. Hodge
quarter of lamb, and Mr.. Johnson
, firkin of June butter, and all ther
> things as is really worth something!
ASK him if he would like it, sus
gested Patty. "And take it quietl
>, around before any one else comes"
at amt q bad idea, said Mr.. Gres
- ory, shifting his hand on the tabi
na Il will! That Marthy is a prett
- picter, when you come to look clio,
,e at it. The palm-trees is dreadful ma
l. ural, and the well almost makes vo
q feel thirsty. It's a sacred subiec
: 700, and ought to suit the parsoI
. I'll take it around this very da,
P'raps he will be pleased"
ID But maybe you'd better ask hi
..s first, father, said Patty.