Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1895-03-29
AN EXPERIMENT.


Matilda. It's against tho Scriptures, and
1t amt right" said Caleb Brown to his
wife.
1T amt ag inst the Scriptures to only
them that won't believe. If the Lord has
revealed the day of his coming to the faith
full Ones doesn't it become them to be
readyH Amt that Scripture, Caleb
Brown?'
The next night there was q meeting,
and Caleb went to it. The elder waxed
eloquent as he described the glories of the
ascension and the terrible destruction Of
the impenitent. Women sobbed hysteric-
ally, and children chung to their parents
in fear
Hes orazy's loon and ought to DO
shut up" thought Caleb.
Mrs. Brown was very quiet all the way
home.
Il don't want to leave you behind, Ca
Sb," she said as they sat before the fire
You'll never need to if you don t leave
me till you 90 that way" he replied.
All the next day Caleb seemed more
disturbed than ever. He leaned on the
hoe handle when at work and talked to
himself while milking. He had faithfully
titled his farm although Mrs. Brown had
protested against the waste Of labor, as
they would not need the products. She
did not dry apples nor mako preserves as
usual.
'It'll be dry eating without them next
winter" said Caleb.
He MIXED the cows that evening, think
ing aloud, as usual.
IL think he"-mraning the elder
"won't be in tonight, and I'll speak to
Matilda about it. She always was a little
mite jealous of Sophy James, though she
was not so much to blame, after all, for
wanting to get married. No woman is.
They are better off, l say"
Caleb went into the house with the pail
Of milk and ate his supper as usual. Mrs.
Brown washed the dishes and drew her low
rocker up to the sewing table The even
ings were chilly, and bright fire burned
in the fireplace, its rudy glow eclipsing
the tallow candle that burned Oh the sew
ing table.
Matilda, when is that ascension to
come OFF," asked Caleb.
1.-The 2Sth-that's three weeks from to-
morrow-and We are going over to Hem
lock hill to watch for the Lords coming
from there. do hope you'll pc ready, Ca
leb"
Pm ready now without going over to
is one thing l wish you would do for me
before the time comes"
What is it," she asked.
Il wish you would learn Sophy James
how to cook. calculate it's going to be
quite a space of time between the ascen-
sion and the destruction of the world. The
Lord warned the Sodomites several times,
and l guess he will do as much for us.
I nt 70 n
no woman can cook us you do without be.
ing learned"
You've always had good victuals, if 1
did cook them, interrupted Mrs. Brown,
not yet seeing the drift of Caleb remarks.
Il know it, Matilda, and l don't find
any fault, only as you are going away
wish you would learn Sophy. She is a
good housekeepcr, but not much Of cook,
SO l have been told. think of getting
her to come and live with me after you CO."
Caleb Brownp' Matilda let fall tho
white robe she was sewing on and stood
before him. You'll wait till have as
cended before you bring another woman
into the house, "a simpering old maid like
Sophy james,"
"She amt to blame for being an old
maid Matilda. Sho has tried hard enough
to get married. and l thought you would
rather have her than young woman. l
had"
You won't need to get anybody for the
present." said Matilda.
No more was said that evening. Caleb
went out to the barn and then took down
the Bible for prayer, as was his custom.
Mrs. Brown was too excited to talk or
sleep. She went around the house the
next day more absorbed even than Caleb
had been. She went to the front room
closet and took out her best china. An
uncle had given it to her on her wedding
day. Not n piece had been broken or
cracked in her 90 years of housekeeping.
She lifted ono of the shell cups.
"Sophy james," she said scornfully.
ut will be a long time before she uses my
dishes if she waits for me TO ascend. They
would get married before 1 was out of
sight" continued Mrs. Brown, forgetting
for the moment the terrible destruction
that was to fall upon the impenitent. 1T
is wonder to me he didn't marry her
years ago, and he would have done So
only she wouldn't give him chance to do
his own counting. Caleb was always mas
ter hand to have his say"
Mrs. Brown went back to the kitchen
and sat down with very sober face. She
began to cry, and she rocked and sobbed
spasmodically, like a tempest that passes
over and returns.
Caleb came in for drink of water
What the matter Matildaf" he asked
ITO think" sobbed Matilda, THAT you
should want Sophy James to keep house
for you while am living"
Caleb did not hoe any more that morn
ing. In the evening a neighbor called on
her way to church and found him and his
wife busy pairing apples.
eve are not going this evening, said
Mrs Brown. 81 am behind with my pre-
serving, and Caleb is helping me pare ap-
pies so can make cider apple sauce"
Mis- Brown" exclaimed the neighbor,
"you amt a-goin to backslide jest as the
time is DRAWN nigh, air your
Il am going to take my chances with
Caleb" answered Mrs. Brown.
The neighbor went her way and report
ed Mrs. Browns backsidden state. The
next night the elder called to eXpostulate
with her. Caleb was chopping peppers,
and whether it was Mrs. Browns lost state
or the pungent odor of the peppers that
affected the elder he could not tell. His
tears and pleadings were all in vain. No
vision of glory or destruction was half SO
real to Mrs. Brown as the vision of Sophy