Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1894-07-02
POliy's Religion.

Life to the Dennings took on new
meaning when Joe brought his wife
home. None Of the family had ever
seen her They knew that she was
one of the Austruthers of Kentucky.
EfThere are Austruthers in our
church, in that state" said Grace. 81
hope Mary belongs to our member
ship"
ooh, yes, certainly" said Joe, eager
ly. He was just starting to be mar
ried, and he was anxious that they
should all love Polly in advance.
f'Does she sing in the choir?" said
Isabella.
II think not. But she has one of
the sweetest voices-a low contralto.
And you ought to hear her laugh,
Belle. The merriest ring? Oh, she'll
bring new life into this house."
The girls smiled. They were fond
of Joe, and ready to welcome his
wife.
''But hope she is really to take
leading part in the church," said
fill fathers place some day, and his
description of her does not give me
the idea of an energetic, religious
woman"
"We'll hope for the BEST" said Isa-
bella. She was busy making an imi-
tation stained glass window for the
Sunday school room, and was anx-
ious to finish it before Mary arrived.
ssUncle Ben must be kept in his own
room when she comes, and Tom can
be sent to the country for months
VISIT Grace said, her delicate face
flushing painfully.
There were two skeletons in the
Denning household. The squirrels
brother Ben, who was paralytic old
soldier and most cross grained, pro-
fame old fellow, occupied one wing Of
the mansion. He had man to nurse
and read to him, for his oaths were
intoierable to his nieces. Tom was
their brother, younger than Joe. Tom
Denning had disappeared for three
years after he left college, and came
back haggard, dissipated loafer.
Nobody in Balls Ferry knew just
what he had done in that gap Of time,
but all were certain that he was I'M
der ban The family treated him
with gloomy patience. They had
taken up their cross and bore it; but
it was heavy and he knew it. Tom
was never seen by visitors, at the Ia
bic or in the parlor. AT dusk he
would skulk out to join some of his
comrades at the village grog shops,
and occasionally, but not often, was
brought home brutally intoxicated.
Joe's wife disappointed them all.
She was a plump, merry little girl,
nothing more. GA very pleasant lit
tie heathen!" sighed Grace, after two
days had passed. 'sI named some Of
the best books of religious fiction, but
she had never heard Of them; and
she did not know single one of our
foreign missionaries"
Good Mrs. Denning was uneasy at
this, and my ideas concerning these
difficult points. The truth is, after
mothers death ] had the charge of
my four brothers, and I had SO lit
tie
"You will have more time now,"
said Isabella 81 will mark out
course of doctrinal reading for you"
But Mary made slow progress with
her course of reading. AS time passed
and she sett1ed down into her Mace
in the family, she proved to be very
busy little woman. She had a posi-
tive talent for finding work; took
her part Of the family mending, tossed
up dainty little desserts, helped Joe
with his accounts. When Joe had
gone to his Office she took tremen-
dous walks, advised mother Denning
about her fancy work or copied the
squirrels papers for him.
.'What clerky hand you write!"
said Grace, one day. 81 often wish
mine were not so delicate when father
worries those papers. But as
for T nbroidery, women Of
give up that useless
yes are falling"
useless to me-"
''She thinks you
be going or
20 said Isa
,ther. ssYou
ack Lane.
nd bring |