The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1897-01-09

strangers, you'll catch white blackbird!
exclaimed Mrs. Tallboy, as she came up
stairs. She was flushed and tired. All
the m orning she had been in the kitchen,
the oven door opening and shutting with a
bang and the air resembling with the beat,
ing of eggs and pounding of crackers. 1t
was the first Tuesday in October. The
great annual meeting of the A. b. c. F. NJ.
was to be held in C-this year, and this
was the day when it would begin, with its
influx of visitors from every part OF
Christendom. "There is an ocean Of things
to be done YETI continued Mrs. Tallboy
to her aunt, who had just dropped in for a
moment, "and Pm tired to death now"
She sat down in an attitude of utter de-
lection with an armful of fresh towels in
her lap.
Louise" said Aunt Eliza, its because
you won't give up your besetting sin. You
can't look me in the face this moment and
deny that you've been making three kinds
of cake when one would do, and rolling
croquettes like Martha instead of giving
your guests cold ham like Mary. How
many are you going to have?'
''Four! Fool that | was to say that I'd
take so many when the committee came
round last spring! A minister and his wife
from Fileno, Me-wherever that may be
and home missionary and his wife from
out West somewhere"
"Well, dear, its not for your own pleas
ure you undertake it. Dent forget that,
and I'm sure the Lord will help you
through
"Pain and fatigue ever 90 along to-
gether with me, | find" answered Mrs.
Tallboy, taking up the towels with sigh.
She got through with all that her ideals
of housekeeping demanded barely in time
to dress herself and meet her guests, when
they arrived before tea, with smile, which
to her eyes bore no suspicion of forcing.
The Rev. MI. and Mrs Brock, of Fileno-
he, tall and thin, with gentle stare over
his spectacles as il he called back his ideas
from another world with an effort; she,
thin also, but small, worn, and anxious
looking, in a well preserved black dress Of
the style of dozen years back, and snowy
bonnet, presented by the village minister
for this occasion, that bore no relation what
ever to the meek little head under it, with
its face 80 patient and sweet. Mr.. and
Mrs. Hayward, the other two, were young
er and more sprightly with u heartiuess
and Western frankness that stood out in
striking relief from the quiet subdued
manner of the Brooks.
The supper was excellent and went off
we'll. That lifted Mrs Tallboy spirits a
little as did also her husband cheerfuiness
at the sight of his well filled table. But
the fatigue was still there, and the rebel
lion that she had consented to all this
trouble for perfect strangers. She had given
her own rooms to the Brooks. When she
went to bed she had to go to closet off
their room for her slippers. Through the
partition she eard-involuntarily at first
this conversation
"Josiah isn't this beautiful room!
Why, l can't help thinking all the time
its just dream, my being at a Board meet
ing. How stunned | was when Mrs.
Marvin said TO me that mornin, Mrs Brock
the whole parish is bound you shall 90 this
year, and clapped that money into my
hand! Won't they all be pleased when they
hear what delightful family VIC were
assigned to-
eyes" answered the minister's slow
voice, "we're highly favored in every way,
Amanda. Mrs. Tallhoy seems to be really
delighted to have US" here he paused as
if hunting for something. Il was almost
afraid you'd forgotten my clean co! ars for
the week, but I've found them in the
bottom of the bag. You know you were
80 excited, dear, yesterday, when you were
packing. it wouldn't have been strange. -
''Well, and its nothing to wonder at if
was," answered the other gentle voice, as
il half laughing Its the first outing I've
had for fifteen years, you know" Then
she went on eXcitedly: so Josiah, to think
that for three whole days not IA hands turn
to do, and Pm going to those grand meet
ings and shall hear and see men I've read
Of all my life! And then the music from
such n great congregation Why it just
took me off my feet at the meeting tonight!
And such lot of old friends one keep.
coming across that you haven't seen for
years! And then tomorrow we are going
around little between times, to see the
city and the sights. l declare, Josiah, it
does seem too much for me!'
"No, Amanda answered the minister's
voice, with a fearful culver in it, ''you de.
serve every bit OF it. Let us kneel right
down and thank the Lord for His great
goodness to us.
Mrs. Tallboy left the closet softly, and
her eyes were running over when she went
back to her husband. 'Im ashamed o.
myself for listening, and yet I'm glad
did. never should have dreamed how
happy We were making these good Chris
tians, putting pleasures into their lives