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

NHN
ruff. Goodness knows, l need money
a great deal more than Parson Pot
ter does, and Clara amt no business
to be so wasteful and extravaganza"
And he went downstairs c~huckllng
softly to himself.
Amt supper ready?" said he.
What cold corned beef and par
ships? And biscuit! There want
no need of anything but bread and
cheese, seein' we're goin' to hav a
slap-up supper to the parsonage.
Here, Clara, put this meat on the
shelf for breakfast tomorrow morn
in. An set them preserves
back in the closet. Hump we'd all
fetch up in the poor-house if we went
ahead in this fashion"
Mrs. Cummings would have en-
joyed her evening at the parsonage
if her husband had not glared SO
severely at her new bonnet.
Gloves, eh ?" said he, as the climb
ed out of the wagon. Squire Sill
leck's wife don't wear no gloves.
I'll go bail them cost fifty cents !!
Hump!"
But they're mended, father-and
I've had 'em a year!"
Hump" was all the reply he
vouchsafed.
The parson, a withered little man
in a threadbare black suit. received
his guests in a truly Christian spirit
OF resignation.
II hope there will be enough for
them to eat" whispered he to his
better half, a tall, pale woman.
Il guess likely there WILL" she re-
sponded. Most of EN- has brought
victuals-and very little else"
Everything was there. Plates and
dishes which matched nothing;
brass warming pans, of no use ex-
cept for senseless decorations; tissue
paper flowers, and gruesome worsted
work; painted banners, and en-
and damaged tides; and as they
kept arriving, Mrs. Potter's heart
sank correspOnd1ngly.
Presently, however, she came to
Clara with tears in her faded eyes.
oh, Clara" she faltered, chow
a l thank you enough for your
kindness, your noble generosity?
Mr.. Potter is as grateful as 1 am,
but his voice is simply gone. He
cant speak"
The deacon Rugged himself.
Il knOwed that dollar would be a
plenty" said he. "Bless me! there's
that young Lawyer Harrison, the
parsons nephew. goin' off to the
study with Clara. He once had
quiet a notion to the gal. Wonder
if they're goin' to company keepin'
ogain? Kind O. singular he should
be here tonight. Folks say it was
him who brought the handsome
black walnut desk in parsons study.
Strange how ex~travagant folks will
be! Specially young folks. Eth!
what's that they're sayin'? A fire
and in our direction! Now, l
wonder if Clara didn't leave the tall
err candle burnin' in her room, an
the cat knocked it over? And there
was that hundred dollars, Doctor
Pettibone paid me for hay, in the
house. Polly, look here" to his
wife; "do you see that blaze? NV
eyes amt as good as they was. Is
it anywheres out Il wav?"
La, no, deacon!" said his wife.
Its only little Peter Pettibone's
BONFIRE"
I'm glad ont" said the deacon.
Polly, what did you do with that
hundred dollars 1 give you to keep
me till l got a chance to bank it?"
Mrs. Cummings looked puzzled.
Il put it in my little reticule-the
one Clara gave me-" said she-''in
the bureau drawer. Where you 60
in deacon? ~
II jest remember that 1 didn't fod-
der the cows afore I started, said he.
I'd better jest step home an look
arter EN-. Gimme the key of the
bureau drawer, Polly"
On the outer doorstep he paused,
however. There was a little buzz
and hum of gossip in the air.
Mrs. Potter had been cryin' ever
said the Widow Purkiss.
Tears O. real, ginooine joy, you
know. She somehow can't get over
it. A hundred dollars! Aud from
Clara Cummings, that teaches
school over to Green Mills. Folded
away in a leather bag with steel
trimmin's.
For a second or so the deacon
stood motionless as the Sphinx.
Then he turned and went back into
the house.
Il guess" muttered he, "ther'
no use in my goin' home to git
them cattle foddered. may as we'll
stay and eat supper It's like to
cost me enough
Clara's face was radiant w.,aeB She
came to breakfast the ..ext morning.
Father" said SIC two such strange
things have happened! Aleck Har-
rlson q asked me to be his wife,
lad added Clara, "our two leather
reticules somehow got mixed up last
night, and instead of the ten-dollar
gold piece I had intended, 1 gave