St. Paul daily globe., 1895-11-28

l.
ner on your way from church. Dea-
con Humphrey is so lonesome without
Eben and Selma, l asked him, too; but
there will be no one else
Miss Patience accepted with alac-
trity and went on her way rejoicing,
sure of good dinner, at least, for
Mrs. Westfield's fame as a cook was
an enviable one and hospitality the
watchword of her life.
The good woman went back to her
warm. bright kitchen and her dinner,
knowing her coming home had made
two people happy, at least.
She frightened up her coffee pot
and brought out her best china and
her old-fashioned spoons, that had
been given her as a wedding present
so long ago. And on the shiny mahog-
any table she spread her very best
damask cloth, and she baked her mince
pies, cut her fruit cake and opened her
ounce jelly with the appreciation of
a true housewife.
What would the girls husbands
say" she murmured to herself as the
rich, plummy slices of cake fell apart
and the spicy odor of mince pies filled
the air. THANK goodness, they're not
here. How glad l am that I've a house
of my own and am beholden to none
of en- A smile born of relief
dawned on her comely features as she
stepped briskly about. The roasting of
the turkey went merrily on, the veget-
ables were put to boil and the little
sitting room all in apple-pie order when
the deacon and Miss Patience came
in. The deacon took a seat on one
side of the fire and Miss Patience on
the other, while their hostess hustled
about happier than she had been in
weeks. How much better than visit
ing this was. The glow of the fire
Lent color to her cheeks, and her
merry black eyes sparkled brightly.
The deacon couldn't help but watch
her. "She's the finest lookin' woman
for her age that ever 1 saw" thought
he to himself; 81 wonder if she'll have
me-
The deacon's blessing was a long one
that day. The neighbors always de-
clared him a master hand" at prayers,
and he not only prayed well, but he
tried to really live his religion, so
have no doubt his petitions went a
great deal higher than a great many,
voice faltered somewhat over his plea
for the sick and the afflicted, the be-
reaved and the sorrowing, the hungry
and the desolate. 1t was really beau
tiful prayer, a just tribute, happily
paid to the Giver of every good and
perfect gift.
After dinner the three sat down to
enjoy neighborly chat. 1t had turned
colder since the snow, and a keen wind
was blowing. But more Goals were
heaped on, a pitcher of cider brought
in, and the old friends gathered round
the fire. The deacon began to get a
little anxious. The momentous ques-
tion he wished to put troubled him not
a little. How he did long for a few
minutes alone with his old neighbor.
But Miss Patience had no intention of
quitting the field, and seated herself
with a certain grim enjoyment, as if
she really knew what thoughts were
transpiring in the good mans mind.
But fate, SO oft unkind, was in sum
ny mood today, and the deacon'S un-
spoken wish was not to be thwarted.
There comes Johnny Bassett," cried
Miss Patience, as a small boy came
tearing up the walk. Hes come after
me, I'm certain sure" Miss Patience
was always sent for in sickness.) Mrs.
Westfeld met him at the door. us
Miss Patience here?" queried Johnny,
breathlessly. MAS got spell of neu-
ralgia, and wants her right away; and,
pleas'm she wants to borrow some
mustard and red flannel. Miss Pa
tience rose reluctantly, the warm fire
and comfortable room made her loath
to leave, but she never shirked her
duty, and pinned on her shawl with
a sigh. Come again, Patience" said
Mrs. Westfield, handing her the re-
quired red flannel and mustard, "and
here, Johnny, take this turkey and pie
with you, and give this jelly to your
ma. If you need anything else just
let me know" Johnny joyfully nod
ded, and the small boy and the tall
spinster departed together. Mrs. West
field came back to the fire, after see
ing them off, and took a seat comfort
ably opposite her guest. The freight
threw out it's strong, rud6y beams, il
Eliminating the two faces with sudden
glory Patience Warmers a good
woman" began she, after a short 81
lence Cor now, since his opportunity
Ildu COIlS, Tie uedcOI was dDSO1ulely
.tongue-tied), ''but dreadful solemn
like, don't you think so, deacon? But
there, 1 hadn't ought to- say a word
about that, for nursin' sick folks con-
tinually aim very enlivenin' occupa-
ton. I guess there amt been a death
bed in this neighborhood for years but
Patience was there, and helped to lay
'em out" The deacon shuddered. He
was too comfortable to regard the
dark side of life today without
shiver. People have to be miserable
to court the grave, and the deacon was
particularly happy.
"Yes, she's what you would call
good woman, dare say" admitted he,
somewhat reluctantly. Its kind of
strange that she never married, amt
it?" ("Not that she's the kind of wo-
man I'd fancy'D, put in the deacon
hastily. II wouldn't marry her if she
was the last woman in Christendom."
The deacons voice had an excited
tone to- it, and Mrs. Westfield laughed
and regarded him with suddenly
awakened interest. But her smile died
away as she observed the unsightly
stitches in his sleeve, that he had
groaned over that morning. Good
ness, Deacon" calculated the good wo-
man, what in the worlds the matter
with your coat?"
'I mended it." answered the deacon,
with guilty look; ''there was nobody
else; does it look bad?"
"Bad, should say it did," was the
reply; "such nice cloth as it is, too.
Let me mend it for you," reaching for
her work basket, and energetically
threading her needle. She adjusted her
thimble, and moved her chair closer to
the deacon's. Deity went the needle
in and out, darning so neatly and