The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1892-05-14

SCrlbed their operations. BY and
by she added trellis for a wild rose
bush, and long tent OF twine of her
fluffy wood clematis.
Little by little the small house,
unpainted, but tinted soft, silvery,
weather beaten gray, began TO out
line its window n bright green, and
and t. rhrow woodbine garlands all
over the homely porch. Season
after season went by. Milly now
had seeds and cuttings to give away.
She carried bouqets to the sick, pot
ted root for friend, brought a jar
OF mignonette from Lincoln or
received package Of seeds from
florist. 1t thus came to pass that
every house in Plumville soon
boasted flower bed, and in winter
every kitchen had at least one win
dow full of petunias or geraniums,
the steam of cooking or washing
causing them to grow wonderfully.
Cold frames tor pansies were manu-
factured; even strawberries and
asparagus were attempted. And
that these improvements might not
fail, the land about the house was
drained, low branches Topped off, the
sink nozzle extended to safe dis
tance till light and air and dryness
came to these denizens of the
kitchen.
You would not have known PIrm-
vile. Why, the shoemaker, who
came back to stay, pretended he
had never seen it before. 1t was
rumored that bakers cart would
come over from Lincoln once a
week, and on the strength of it the
loose doorsteps. But this Plumville
boom is far ahead of my story.
Long before the flowers had begun
to be very common there Milly
French puzzled much over the un-
used church. One day she got the
key and went in. Though it was
August, the interior was cold and
damp, almost like cellar. Cobwebs
hung from the two long stovepipes
that extended the whole length of
the building. Torn hymn books
were lying about and several window
panes were broken. A general air
Of desolation pervaded the place.
Milly sat for long time thinking,
Then she walked very quickly to
Mrs. Flint's who lived near by. Oh,
Mrs. Flint. isn't it disgraceful to
have our meeting house shut upi
she cried on entering.
La, child! what should it be open
for? asked Mrs. Flint in amazement.
Why, to have a minister, as they |
do at Lincoln and everywhere else
but Just here in Plumvllle.
There's no use talkin. Milly; we
haven't any money, nor any public
spirit.
If you'll help me, I'll have that
church open next Sunday, cried
Milly.
Me! What can do? sighed poor
Mrs. Flint aghast.
Ityou'll get your husband to NOW
the grass and sweep out, I'll do the
rest.
don't believe he can.
Yes, he can if he has mind to.
1t would't take an hour, asserted
Milly.
Well, I'll ask him, but l know he
won't.
Oh. don't ask him; tell him he
must, said Milly decidedly.
After much protest Mr.. Flint
agreed to cut few swaths in front
OF the church door, but no persua-
sion could induce him to attack the
cobwebs inside.
A notice in a feminine hand ap-
peared on the postoflce door, and
another was nailed to the big elm
(the natives calling it ellum) at the
corners, to the effect that Sunday,
Aug. IS, D. v, there will be ser
vices in the Congregational church.
All are invited. Old men put on
their spectacles and read these
notices slowly through-unusually
aloud, and also usually said, declar'
fort!
No one could tell anybody any
thing further, but the farmers drove
back to their lonely homes with a
pleasant thrill OF anticipation. Some
thing was going to happen at last |
even in Plumville. The women,
when they heard, were much excited |
The most dissipated among them
had never seen circus or min
strel show since they were very |
young; that was SO long ago it did |
not seem as if they saw it. Some
pious souls had sorely missed relig-
ious privileges, and all had felt the
need OF gregarious motive.
The news was wonderful. Miss
Bacon perked up and got her gown
out of the camphor "chist" to baste
fresh lace at the wrists. Mrs. Smith
went to talk it over with Miss Brown
and staid to tea-an unheard of self
indulgence. Half the women (exact-
ly four) at "the Corners" harnessed
up and drove to "the Center" to
learn particulars But no particu-
lars we're forthcoming. There were
the two notices in feminine hand;
there was freshly cut path to the
church door, and the crossbars were
down; that was all. Curiosity was
at a tremendous pitch.
On Sunday morning, Aug, as,
the farmers Tor five miles around
| came over the hills and Dunoed