Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1893-09-14

trembling all over with delight. this
foolish old man, for it was Isany a
weary month since anyone had invited
him out to tea. and he was as pleased
as child at the prospect.
A little smile stole over the wrinkled
face with its sad lines and burrows of
care, and ParsOn Wade decided. in this
new, intoxicating pleasure, to say moth
ing to his daughters of the parish com
mittee'S decision until after his return
from Widow Bicbford's tea So off he
started, with something akin TO brisk
ness in his gait, and his head quite
erect, as became pastor invited out
to tea by a wealthy member Of his
flock
All through the meal, at which the
parson was the only guest, the CHEEKY
little widow watched him narrowly
with her sharp eyes, gossiping gayly
the while about this thing and that.
And the parsOn forgot his sorrows.
forgot his shabbinPss; yes. forgot his
daughters even. and laughed his weak.
quavering laugh which no one had
dotes of by-gone days.
The widow, it seems. had observed
the old man for many months. with
mingled pity and Indignation, and had
come to a somewhat startling deter
mination in her funny, whimsical fash
ion. To be sure, she had been beset
by doubt or two, mainly in cOnnec-
years. But she was not a woman to
hesitate long when she saw her duty
plainly, and these doubts were there
fore disposed of summarily
EFF the Lord wants me to marry the
parson and take care of him. why,
guess he'll take care of Hiram Bick-
ford's feelings, and I don't have no
need to trouble myself about 'em. And
Hiram was alters such a sensible crit
terri
So the old lady, in her crisp black
silk gown and best lace cap, smiled on
the shabby, sad old man, while she
helped him literally to the sweets on
the table, and finally said
James Wade, you'd orter be look
do it.
The amazed parson fairly gasped for
an instant, but he had been ruled all
his life by woman kind, so he meekly
murmured, 'Yes'm."
IT'S kinder lonely withouter man
bout the place, and that Jake, he's
wuthless 'n'less there's a man to see
ter him. You and I, Parson, are old
enough to do without high-falutin' talk
bout love and SIGH, and so, I say, the
sooner we're married the better"
The widow drew a sigh of relief as
she ended, to think that now the mat
ter was all settled. The parson wiped
his spectacles, and said tearfully, "God
bless you
A little later, as they Sat before the
blazing fireplace, the parsOn faltered
out, But what will the girls say?"
''Say?" responded the widow briskly.
why, lots O. things. Never saw 'em
when they didn't. But we won't tell
'em till its ali over with, and then let
'em talkn'
And SO they were married. 1t was
wonderful to see how soon Parson
Wade got accustomed to his fine broad
cloth and his life of ease. Then, too,
he never realized that the affectionate,
almost Obsequious manner with which
his daughters now treated him was
due to the change in his fortunes. The
simple Old man really believed that
of which he had dreamed was come.
and that his daughters had returned
to their old, childish fondness for him.
The old taunts and Sights We're all
forgotten, and if ever Mrs Wade were
tempted to remind him, she foreborc,
though she insisted always that her
money should not be spent upon 1.-The
girls
SO wealth of cheer and comfort came
into the lonely, sad old life, and Par
son Wade seems likely to end his
days almost unconscious that he was
ever otherwise than happy. For, every
day, the memory of the old sorrow
grows fainter and he drinks the sweet
cup of oblivion.