Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1892-03-28
ParsOn Mobiles Donation.

7'I'm real glad you've come, Miss
Purdyi'' exclaimed Miss Betsey Mar
vim, opening the door to the village
<iressmaker tEI've been expecting
YOU fur this three weeks, my alpaca
is gettin so rusty Pm most ashamed
to wear it. When'd you get homer"
s'Last night" answered the little
woman, shaking out the folds of the
large figured delaine before her.
''Then you haven't heard the news,
naybe-about Parson Mobiles leavin'
US, hev you?'' asked Miss BETSY with
an air Of mysterious Importance.
sENot word except what saw in
the newspapers. You see I've been
over to Florence, sewing for three
months; Cousin Maria's youngest
daughter was married last Tuesday.
How will you have your dress cut,
bliss Marvin"
You don't say! Well 1 never! What
luck she does hev marrying off her
girls? Cut it polnase, Miss Purdy, and
don't git it ter long behind, it's a
dreadful sin to waste cloth, so think.
Well Pm glad you didn't hear it from
Sophia Jackman-she has such habit
OF coloring up things SO. Now [ al
ways tell straightforward story and
Let folks touch it up to suit them
selves. How did you like Parson Noble,
what you heard him, Miss Purdy?"
EeHe always put me in mind of those
Da,11 tolls ahOut Cf
whom the world is not worthy" an
sswered the dressmaker, measuring
Miss Marvin's plump waist with her
tape measure.
<1Oh, WE'LL [ s'pose most folks was
pleased with him at first; maybe
hear about the donation. 7 can't say
but what he had a pleasing way with
him, but always thought he was a
little loose in his doctrine. [ mistrust
ed from the first that like as not he
wouldn't stay long. Somehow his
preaching WANT strong enough, there
want theology enough about it,"
POSSIBLY not" remarked Miss
Purdy, basting up the lining, "but it
seemed TO me he preached the same
gospel that Jesus Christ preached
the gospel of love-and that was good
enough for me.'
SsDo you think he was very spiritu
aI?'' asked Miss Betsey, waving the
contested point. ''He's BEN seen
mOre'n a dozen times sliding down
Dragon hill with the boys on their
double rippers- as they calPem. What
do you think of that?''
81 think most likely he enjoyed it,
and Pm sure the boys did. l never
saw a man have such a faculty for
making everybody happy around him
it was really wonderful"
Miss Marvin laughed low laugh,
which had in it neither mirth nor
music.
E'It's a real pity to spoil your good
opinion OF him." she said; "and
hate to do it, but s'pose somebody
else will tell you if don't. When he
came here, you know, they promised
him 500 salary, but the times is hard
and everything is cheap and they
thought, mebbe, this year he'd be
satisfied with six. Nobody but him
and his wife, you see. Seems to me
500 an the parsonage is a monstrous
price-what do you think?'
81 suppose they have to have food
and clothes, Miss Marvin; in fact, I
Ead an idea that ministers were hu-
man,
E'I began to think so myself, Miss
Purdy-dreadfully human" sighed
Miss Betsey. 'sWell, as 1 was saying,
they went to him the committee did
and kindly asked him if he'd take
$500 this year, as money was SO scarce
and what do you think ne said?'
81 haven't the slightest idea, unless
he said he would preach for nothing
<ENo, indeed; he said couldn't but
FEst live on 500, and he thought he
ought to be making some provision
FOR the future now, if ever. Mrs
Chaplin said she thought that was dis
trustin' providence, and that's the
way 1 look at it. HASN'T the Lord
promised to provide? Didn't He feed
Elijah and the children of Israel? And
L calculate if ministers is faithful the
Lord win take care of'm when they're
too old to preach"
''Well, what did the committee do
-then?" inquired the dressmaker.
sit made sight of talk, I can tell