The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1893-07-12

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The next morning found him in his
usual pew at church. Meeting had be-
gun, however, before his wife entered
and took her place beside him, for the
chores had been heavy, and the vege-
tables had to be prepared for dinner. 1t
was with q weary sigh that she hur-
riedly made her toilet, casting, as she
did so, a longing eye upon the comfort
able lounge, half inclined to seek the
needed repose and forego the church
altogether.
"But Jehiel wouldn't like it," she
thought, and after all she might find a
grain of comfort in the sermon, so in
her old-fashioned bonnet and shawl the
pale little woman took her place beside
her husband that memorable Sabbath
morning.
The minister arose, and Mr.. Dobson
fixed himself as comfortably as the un-
cushioned pew would permit, with an
eye possibly to nap should the sermon
prove dull and uninteresting.
"That both he that soweth and he
that reapeth may rejoice together"
Mr.. Dobson settled the spectacles
upon his nose and surveyed the speaker.
"a good text" he resolved in his
mind, land very appropriate to the
season." remembering with much salts
faction his well-filled barn and other
fruits of his reaping.
But as the sermon proceeded, Mr..
Dobson grew restless and his ewes fur
lively sought his wife's face. There
were no signs of rejoicing there, and as
she turned her patient eyes to his, he
noted for the first time that expression
of WEAKNESS and sad resignation. He
was aroused from the unpleasant study
into which he fell by the earnest voice
OF the speaker.
"The laborer is worthy of his hire"
Then followed burning words in which
he denounced the s0-called followers of
Christ, men base enough to take advan-
tage of brothers necessities, reaping
where another had sown, accepting the
best of brain or muscle, giving but a
pittance, sometimes nothing in return.
Timothy's face, as it looked when he
received his last weeks wages, arose
before Mr.. Dobson and made him I'M
easy.
He that is unjust in the least is I'M
just also in much" quoted the speaker,
and Mr.. Dobson fancied his gaze was
fixed upon him as he pictured the la
borer's home, so often devoid of cheer,
barren of comfort, but little for the
present, no hope for the future.
"That both he that soweth and he
that reapeth may rejoice together"
Jehiel Dobson sought the face of
Timothy Smith in the far corner. No
sign of rejoicing there; only dull de-
spair, hopeless apathy. He raised his
eyes at that moment and met Mr.. Dob
sons gaze. The latter's eyes fell, and
flush arose to his brow. Timothy
smiled family.
81 noticed Timothy Smiths wife
amt been to church for a month or
more," he said to his wife, breaking a
long silence at tea that evening.
"No WONDER" replied Mrs. Dobson,
"seein' as how she's no shoes fit to 90
out in"
"Who told you that?" queried he a
little sharply.
"Why, herself, the other day when
she come over to borrer mine. She was
purity nigh barefoot, and he'd to 90 to
town fer medicine fer the youngest
child, that is sick with the fever, you
know"
Mr.. Dobson's tea must have been
very hot, for when he replaced the cup
from which he was drinking, something
like moisture dimmed his eyes; then he
looked at his wife and asked tremu-
lousy:
Mary Ann, do you consider your
husband an honest man?'
Why, Jehieln' she gasped, "what-
ever"
Would you call robber honest?'
he interrupted.
Why, who ever"
He that is unjust in the least, is
unjust also in much" quoted Mr.. Dob
son, rising, "and Mary Ann, | hev
been more than unjust, fer hev took
that what didn't belong to me-"
His wife stared at him in alright.
"Jehielw she cried. Jehiel, are
you crazy?"
ono, Mary Ann" tenderly STOPPING
to kiss her wrinkled brow. " Pm Just
beRinnin' to be sane. 1 hev my eyes
opened at last to find that / hev been
robbing my wife as well as my neigh
Dor. You hev helped me, wife, to sow,
without ever chance TO rejoice over
the reapin'."
60, Jehiel" she sobbed, "you've
been thinkin' of that tex, amt you?
Why, Pm rejoicin' now," wiping her
streaming eyes, "and | feel as if I'd
received a blessin.'"
"And so do l." replied her husband,
shading his eyes with his hand, "and
so, Mary Ann, do l."
Early the next morning found him at
Timothy Smiths door. "Tve come TO
pay what 1 owe YOU" said he, bringing
forth his well filled wallet.
Why-I-didn'tk know you owed me
anything, Mr.. Dobson," stammered
Timothy.
mo more did 1, said that gentle
man with queer smile, "till yester-
day. The text told me how much /
owed you, Timothy. There" placing
in the astonished mans hand roll of
bills, you'll find the real value of the
field, and the extra fifty cents day
that 1 filched from you all summer
and overcome by the poor fellows
burst of happy tears, Mr.. Dobson, to
L 4 L.. L i E.