Milford chronicle., 1896-05-22

AID, and they could talk
..Yy..ng but the opera. They were
all going. They had boarded up their
money and bought their tickets, an |
heaven would open Monday night at
eight sharp. The parsons wife began
| to wish that the opera company would
stay away. Then she wished that it
would come and that her husband was
, doctor or a lawyer or a broker, or any
thing so that she might be justified in
going. Alas! who is strong to stand
in the hour of temptation? She hal
hardly wished the last wish when her
husbands brother. a worldly, amuse.
ment-loying fellow, came in. SAY"
said he, come to the opera Wednesday
night. Jim's away and all the church
folks win be at prayer meeting, AMI
nobody'u know the difference Sue
and are going Monday and Tuesday,
but she saps She doesn't care a rap for
this 'A-dea' or Idea or whatever you
call it, and she said she knew you'd en-
joy it,"
"Oh, you know l would, Fred, but
would it be right?'
fright? OF course. Come on. It'll
do you good"
But you know James thought he
would be home by Wednesday in time
for prayer meeting"
"Well, I'll fix that. Look over your
apparel and come along. I'll call for
you at about half-past seven"
The parsons wife had many qualms
during the next few days. She said 10
herself over and over again that there
is nothing wicked in opera, unless it is
the ballet. She hoped there would be
no announcement of ballet, but there
would be one nevertheless. She wanted
to know what the shocking thing is
like.
She was relieved when she found her
self in the balcony of the music hall
Wednesday night with not a soul any
where about whom she knew. Present
ly two persons brushed past them AMI
sank into the next seats, and then she
heard a familiar voice cry: "Why, |
Sister Coodman You here!"
Alas! for the parsons wife, two of |
the stauchest members of the church |
NtAN NAANAN bIsiNAI AANAs uNIG MBo /
nothing for it but to brazen it out |
They were just as culpable as she was
Yes, I'm here. / just couldn't stay |
away" she said. "And you. Why are |
you not at church,"
well, we couldn't stay away, either"
said Brother Baldwin. He saw that |
the parsons wife was somewhat i'll at
ease, and when the curtain descended
On the first act he diverted himself at
her expense. Dear me-" said he.
why it looks as though most of the
fathers in Israel were here tonight"
What? What do you mean?" asked
the scandalized parsons wife.
"Why, way over there I see Brother
Siddons, and there's Father Blodgett
down there in a box, and"
''Wherel where?" cried the parsons
wife clapping her opera glasses to her
eyes. you don't mean to say Father
Blodgett would come to the opera, Of
all things!"
Look QUIT look out! he's squirting
up here and he'll see you'll"
The parsons wife involuntarily
ducked. Indeed, the opera was we'll
nigh finished before she was assured
that the venerable churchmen whom
Rrother Baldwin had pretended T.
point out were not in the audience. AMI
she was glad, for she did not think that
the ballet would have been good for
them. When she got home whom
should she find there but the parson
who had arrived by a late
train. Goodness, my dear" said he,
looking at the clock. What an extraor-
linarily long meeting tonight
Yes" said she, looking at her hus
bands brother in agonizing appeal
1t was long. Buffalo Courier.