The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1891-08-01
WHOLE No. 1888

This would take him nearly round
True, there were a number of familie:
whom he had never visited beyond
mere calls, but they belonged to the
poorer part of his charge, and were ot
that class who scorned to make feas,
unless they could do it as well as the
rich. Mr.. Dent hoped most devoutly
that they might not see their way clear
until he had, by judlcious course OF
crackers and tea, restored his stomach
to something like its natural tone.
Deacon Smiths supper and the
nightmare that followed it were safely
past, and he was on his way to fulfill
his engagement with the Martins,
walking briskly along with the cheer
tul alaCrity of man who has made up
his mind 10 do his duty, no matter
what it cost him. Suddenly the brisk
walk ceased, and Mr.. Dent stood star
ing down at the apparition which had
unexpectedly nsen from a thicket of
weeds by the roadside. 1t was not one
from which Mr.. Dent or anybody else
was likely to recoiI, for it was small
and freckle faced, and, moreover, was
so badly frightened itself that it had
barely enough breath to make the
following announcement:
"Please, sir, Aunt Polly has been
awful sick, and mothers had to go off
in 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 little better and having quoted
small Tommy Martins fears by win
ming smile and hearty hand shake,
he turned round and started off in the
direction Of the Lawsons, not even
asking himself whether. or not this ar
rangement would make any differnce
to them.
1t was toreordained, suppose. At
least that is the only way Fir. Dent
could ever account for his doing such
an utterly stupid thing as cutting across
lots, vaulting the back fence and pre-
senting himself at Mr.. Lawson's back
door at an hour when he was supposed
10 be eating chicken eff Mrs. Martins
china.
The Lawsons were about to partake
Of their eveni1g meal. Mr.. LAWSON,
Sam and John were already at their
plates Mrs. LAWSON was arranging
the cups and saucers, and Mary ane
was filling up the teapot, preparatory
to sitting down, when the double rap
was heard at the door.
"The Grimesas to borrow something
| wish we could get through one meal
without them," said Mrs. lawson,
tucklng her solled &pron aside as she
went 10 the door.
Before she gets it open | would like
to Introduce you little more fully to
the Lawson family, that lol may
understand how matters stood on that
November night when Mr.. Dent called.
Mr.. Lawson was an intelligent, we'll
to do man, honest in his dealings,
social, and of considerable iaflunce 10
the church. Mrs. Lawson was kind
and motherly, and an authority on all
matters relating to pickles and pre-
serves.
Mary Jane was quite society
leader, and her way of doing her hair
and dressing herself was always accep-
ted as style by her girl friends. The
boys were fun loving and popular, as
such boys are apt 10 be.
As family they would have been
regarded as perfect, if it had not been
for a bad habit they had-too common
with a great many other people-of
putting the best foot foremost.
When company was coming they
spared themselves no trouble, that
everything might be as pleasant as
possible. They scrubbed and swept,
and put out their best glassware and
forks and spoons, that constituted their
stock of silver, until they shone again ;
ransacked their brains to invent dishes
pleasing the palate, 10 abide in the
memory of their guess forever; array
ed themselves in their best, talked their
best, acted their best; in short, they
did everything cheerful and heartily
that could add to the general pleasure.
But when they were alone it was
different. 1t was so hard to keep the
parlor in order, and it was such a
trouble to carry everything IN and out
Of the dining room, and it was such
bother to dress twice day; as gen
eral rule they took their meals in the
kitchen, and spent their evenings,
when at home, huddled around the
kitchen stove, and their toilets were
not what are regarded as evening dress,
and, moreover, they are apt to betray
the manner of the work in which the
wearer had been engaged during the
day ; the folds and creases retained all
the pleasant odors of the kitchen, so
that any one with an acute sense OF
smell might have given the L1wsons'
daily bill OF fare to note.
On this particular night things were
little better than usual, for they were
saving themselves tor to- morrow, when
the whole house was to be put in order
for the new pastor.
You can imagine much better than
can describe Mrs. Lawson's feelings
when the open door revealed to her
astonlshed gaze, not the familiar dirty
visage of John Grimes, but the hand
some smiling countenance of their new
minister. She retreated a step, then