The Olneyville tribune. (Providence, R.I.) 1893-189?, 1894-08-25

newl y-furnished parlor. IL was rain,
following heavy fall Of snow. The
roads were almost impossible, and
most OF the singers lived long dis
tance from the village.
The town-hall was opposite the
Brecks' house, and Phoebe Jane
looking out Of the window, saw that
the choir OF the new society was as
sembling in spite OF the storm. 1t
was to be a great occasion with the
new society tomorrow; jerome,
Aunt Cynthia's oldest son, who was a
student in a theological seminary,
was going TO preach.
But great volume OF smoke was
pouring out OF the doors'and windows
OF the hall, and Llewellyn, who had
been over to investigate, announced
that that old chimney was smoking
again, and they would have to give
up their rehearsal. Then Llewellyn.
who was u strong partisan, and didn't
like Aunt Cynthia's Jerome, turned
somersault Of excitement and de-
light.
1T is too bad !" cried Phoebe Jane,
whose soul was sympathetic. Faith
er-Eunice-don't you think we
might ask them to come in here?"
Father Breck hesitated. rubbing
his hands together nervously. He
said he was afraid people would think
it was queer, and il any Of their choir
should come it would be awkward
Then Eunice suddenly came to the
front, as Eunicc had way OF doing
quite Unexpectedly.
II think Phoebe Jane has right
TO use the parlor as she likes, she
worked so hard for the rug" said
Eunice.
"Well, well, do as you like, Phoebe
Jane. Maybe it's n providential
leading" said Father Breck.
Phoebe Jane threw her waterproof
over her head and ran out. There
were Cynthia and jerome, and with
them professor from Jerome's sem
mary. Phoebe Jane had lump in
her throat when she tried to speak to
them, but behind, oh JOY there was
Luella.
IF you will come and rehearse in
our parlor you know about my
rug!" said Phoebe Jane; and then
she drew her waterproof over her
head again and ran back.
There was consultation, evident
ly. Phoebe Jane heard old Mrs. Tack
aberry's voice, and was afraid they
would mt come.
But they did 1t seemed almost
the whole Of the new society came
pouring into the parlor, and by that
time Alma Pickering, and 10 Flint,
and the Hodgdon girls, Of their own
choir, had come
1t would have been n little awk-
ward if old Mrs. Tackaberry had not
been Immediately struck by the new
rug, and begun to ask questions
about it with freedom that made
every one laugh.
Soon they were all talking about it.
Phoebe Jane remembered, rs she had
meant to, where she had put almost
all the pieces" of which Mrs. Prouty
had told her the history.
Old Mrs. Tackaberry cried about
the pink delaine that was her little
granddaughter, Abby Ellen's, who
died and about the brown tibet that
was her daughter Amanda's wedding
dress when she married mission
AIRY and went to China, and died
there.
Then they all laughed mt an ara
besQue in one corner which was Je-
rome's yellow flannel dress-Phnbe
Jane had been little afraid to tell of
that jerome was SO imposing in n
white necktie. Aunt Cynthia would
not believe that she had let the dress
maker make that dress until she re-
membered that it was the time when
she scalded her hand.
People kept coming in. Phoebe
Jane had an inspiration, and made
Llewellyn 90 and invite them. 1t
became good old-fashioned neigh
borhood party-"just like n quilt
ing" old Mrs. Tackaberry said. Ev-
erybody found some of their pieces
or their relatives pieces in the
rug, and smiles and tears and innu-
merable stories grew out of this.
The newcomers found the two fac
tions apparently so reconciled that
they were surprised out of any ami
mostly that they might have felt;
and when they came to rehearse
their music it happened oddly
enough, that both parties had chosen
the same hymn, and they all sang
together.
When they had finished rehears-
ing, someone - Phoebe Jane never
was quite sure whether it was Jerome
or the professor-started Blessed be
the tie that binds" How they did sing
it Old Mrs. Tackaberry's thin, crack
ed treble sang out in defiance OF time
and tune, and when the hymn ended
tears were rolling down her seamy
checks.
'rm going back to the church ! "
she said, brokenly. "I've split my
meet'n's and other folks long
enough. And-and-Im going to
do what I'm mind to, TO home,
when it comes sun-down on the Sab