The Anaconda standard., 1895-12-29

had included, as a gentle hint, in her
parcel of charity groceries, whereupon
be responded. We'll. Susannah, let's
soap So"
In the exercise of his church duty
my husband attended the church con-
gress at Norwich. 1 accompanied him.
We reached Thorpe station on the
evening of Monday, the 7th of October,
when the crush of the ecclesiastical
dignitaries with their impedimenta
rendered the chance of securing a por-
ter's assistance an utter impossibility.
Clutching our baggage as best we
could, we were struggling along to-
ward the narrow exit of the arrival
platform when a sudden radiation OF
Alexander's countenance warned me
something he deemed brilliant had
seized him. At the instant he carried
in his right hand a large portmanteau,
in his left a rug and tea basket, while
his teeth were securely clenched upon
our tickets. For a spell, therefore, he
lacked opportunity to unburden him
self. Once past the ticket collector and
into breathing space, however, he cast
off his burden for a time, and, turning
a beaming face toward me. relieved
himself of what 1 had foreseen had
weighed upon him: Verify the way of
congressors is hard!" Ere 1 could
frame a reply his attention was divert
ed by the disgraceful actions of God
less porter, who, with no warning save
a hoarse yell of Way there!" charged
the CATERS of group of very rever-
ends bishops that stood discussing
matters sacredotal near the book stall.
"Ah!" exclaimed Alexander, did you
notice what those were, Susannah?"
YES" / returned wearily, three
bishops
NO." rejoined the insensate being,
"three bish-hops."
Yet even that / forgave. Next morn
ing rain drove us to the reception
rooms, where members are wont to
scan the journals. On a couch near
me sat the wife of the dean of
Frampton- Chelmsford, a woman justly
esteemed alike for her careful manage
ment and her good works. She re-
tailed to another matron the difficulty
she had experienced In inducing her
daughter-a girl of dissatisfied coun-
tenance. who. at a table hard by de-
voured a fashionable magazine-I fail
to understand the committees sane
ton of such periodicals-to abandon all
thoughts of the expensive gafetfes OF
an inn, and to content herself with
apartments. During this recital Alex
ander wriggled uneasily in his chair
wherein he was presumed to be en-
crossed in the Churchman; and a min
ute later he covertly handed me
scrap of paper whereon was scribbled
fsThe maid said hotel; the married
woman said private lodgings" 1t be-
hooves me to say that the Maids Head
hotel is a famous norwich hosiery.
4 treated this ebillution of folly with
the contempt it merited; and vouch-
safing him but a scornful glance. drop
ped the ribald communication on the
floor. Alexander had a bad five min
ntes ere he contrived to recover IL
from close proximity to the estimable
lady.
A prelate whose seat adjoined ours
at the table d'hote that day. feasted
largely upon oysters. AS Alexander
watched him suck up his third dozen
/ heard him say in an audible whis-
per: "Oysters. clerical oysters. clois-
ters." But recollecting. no doubt. my
pointed reproof OF the morning. he
Judged il advisable to direct my at
tention more plainly to his alleged wit.
still 1 knew as / watched him trthe
with those sacred themes that his hour
was nigh. That night we attended an
extremely interesting conference upon
foreign missions. And as we occupied