St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1894-07-19
SeIrrfrn Story.
THE PARTY.

mingS, as he pulled the ragged Dur
falo robe over his knees, touching up
Old Dick with the extreme point of
his whip-lash.
at is cold," asserted Clara, her
blue eyes intently fixed on the even
ing star.
The deacon was grim and hard
featured, with a nose that reminded
one of Cape Cod on the map, and a
complexion Ike a badly-ta med piece
of leather.
Clara was plump and pretty, with
skin like a rose-leaf, long-lashed eyes,
and a :imple which no n had ever
been able exactly to locate.
Hey" said the deacon. Whats
that air in your lap, Clara? A band
box? l didn't buy nothin' that
would likely be packed in a band
box"
mo, 1 know you didn't" said
Clara. Its a bonnet for mother.
There's the surprise party, you
know, at the parsonage tonight.
and I'm going to trim up something
decent for her to wear"
"a bennett" The deacon jerked
the reins in a way that nearly col
lided Old Dick with the churchyard
wall. Amt your mother got a
bonnet? 1t does seem, Clara, as if
money burned a hole in you young
folkse's pocket"
Got a bonnet? Of course she's
got a bonnet" retorted she. THE
same S e's had for five years, until
I'm sick Of the brown satin bows
and the black peoples on it.
Mothers a real pretty old lady,
father, or she would be if you'd give
her a chance"
And who's to pay for all this
fnery :" demanded the deacon, after
an ominous silence.
at isn't fnery, father, it's only
bare decency. And I'm going to pay
for it," said Clara.
Hump" grunted the deacon.
Pm glad you feel so rich. | don't.
&c up, Dick, or I'll let you know I'm
here, We lazy, idle creetur."
The bonnet was only fifty cents
1 couldn't let mother go to the sur
prise party with that horrid old
brown thing"
Il don't myself see no occasion for
goin' gallivantin' around to sur
prise parties-the hull kit an Doodle
of us, I mean! OF course folks x
pect to see me there, bein's I'm a
deacon"
"And everybody else will be there"
quickly retorted Clara, And l don't
mean mother shall stay at home.
She gets so few chances to see any
thing or anybody! There? you tip
with Dick cantering in hat absurd
fashion. l knew something would
happen!"
Whoa, Dick-whoa!" bawled the
old man. There amt nothin'
broke, luckily, I didn't realize. we
were goin' so fast, an the roads is
froze pretty stiff. You see, I'd
calkilated to carry a nice bag O.
dried apples for my share, and if
mother goes"
II dare say we a find something
for mother to carry" said she. l
shall take a ten-dollar gold piece.
My salary was paid last week, and 1
shall never forget how good Parson
Potter used to be when 1 was a
child"
Ten dollars!" echoed the deacon.
"Be my ears a. deceivin' of me ?"
Yes, ten dollars. It's my own,
isn't it, to spend or keep, as I
please?"
Its a downright fingin' away of
money!" gasped the deacon. Ten
dollars Is the gal crazy?"
Here we are!" cried Clara joyous
~ snr:@sing over the wheel.
Mrs. Cummings hurried, smiling,
to the door; but the deacon looked
-~,- &c La I-o-A -o1~I -
the barn.
81 hadn't thought O. going"
faltered Mrs. Cummings.
But you must 60, mother!" said
Clara, with the bow of ribbon
twisted around her finger.
Il hain't nothin' to take"
There's the ioa; Of plum cake that
you baked for Sundays tea. Moth
ing in the world could be nicer"
I've got a piece O blue gingham-
three vards-that l hadn't made Up
into aprons yet. Would that do ?"
wistfully questioned the poor
woman.
"It would be just lovely" protest
ed Clara.
And then she confded to Ter moth
er the secret of the zen dollar gold
piece,
You see said she. 81 feel some
how as if I were paying a debt to
these dear old people, who have
worked so hard all these years for so
pitiful a salary. And I've put the
money in the little, fat shopping
bag just like the one l gave. you,
hear-and [ shall slip it INTO Mrs.
Potter's hand. Wort she be sur
prised when she Comes to open it,"
Clara Cum mings, however, had an
auditor to their sweet hllal con-
fdences of whom she little knew.