Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1898-09-09

"a IaSt look over the pTtlulSeS anu saw
that all was in readiness for the recep-
tiun 20 be given i'll honor OF the new
minister a4d his wife who were TO ar
rive oIl lis hlst field OF labor that day,
The ladies' had taken great interest
and just pride in furnishing their coZy,
new parsonage which was to be opened
to the public that evening. An adj
ditional glamor shone over the occasion
since a newly married couple were to
try their first experime ut of housekeep-
ing OF course there were not lacking
ladies Of experience TO offer council, and
no end of dlsinterested advice.
Mrs Welsted, the pastors wife, was
charmed with the house, the equip
ments aud the people who gave them
such cordial welcome.
1T is all right nice, and the people so
friendly" they said to Mr.. Welsted as
with real child.like pleasure they went
over the house after the last guest had
wished them every known good and
departed.
The first Sunday was safely tided
over, the new minister and ihis wife con-
graduated themselves that their home
was to be III So pleasant place for the
next two years (; while the sermons and
the young wife We'd with each other as
topics Of discussion i'll many a house
hold for the following week.
The sisters called, and one and all
went away with the best possible i'm
preston
Time wore on, but despite all the
good advice which the poor child tried
hard to follow, Notwithstanding every
separate parcel was in direct opposition
to every other parcel, the skeleton
bobbed up, not in the traditional closet
this time, but i'll the kitchen. Servant
No. mixed bread with an old cob pipe
in her mouth, and dipped snuff; then
spat with unerring precision into the
fireplace, no matter how far she was
away. Then the peculiar dishes pro.
duced the dear little housewife knew
must be all wrong, but for her life she
could not tell why. No. l was gently
dismissed at the end of the week and
No. 2 installed only TO share the same
fate when she was discovered with coffee
and sugar under her capacious apron
when starting for her own cabin for the
night.
What with the general excitement
and household worry Mrs Welsted
began.to look pale and troubled.
The young husband thought that
would never do. He pondered, and
finally had what seemed TO him, "a
bright thought. He would have meals
sent from a restaurant until compe-
tent person could be procured TO take
charge of the house. He proposed it
with the best intention, but right there
came turning point in his career. But
for that seemingly harmless act, this
narrowing tale had not been TO relate.
He had thus far slipped along through
life without being seriously tempted
hence he had not learned his limitations.
On the day that this new plan was TO
be inaugurated he went down and or
dered dinner served late, as himself and
wife were 10 take "a long drive to visit
some of the country families, expecting
TO strike some place about luncheon
time. In this they were unfortunate.
At the first place the family were
absent, so they were forced 10 drive
several miles in another direction be-
fore stopping BY that time the noon
day meal was quite out of the way, and
being strangers they did not intimate
that they were furnishing, but after a
pleasant call turned homeward in a state
of semi starvation, having eaten nothing
since light breakfast save bit Of cake
able offering AT plantation homes.
"Pity 'tis, It's true" but preachers
are human-are men. (mostly,) and a
hungry man should not be held resror.
sible for all he may do and say before
dinner, that is, a late dinner ] dwell
upon this thought 10, in some measure,
prepare you for brother WelSteds mo-
mentary weakness Arrived at home
that Itfinn ny-sipa a nj ,,,cVa 11yr
he was sure that the dinner should have
been there; he knew it was past time
he walked up and down the dining room
and down the gallery impatiently, while
the equally hungry wife quietly Invested
herself of her dusty wraps
He wondered why 1t always took a
niger SO long TO cook meal he hoped
there would be enough when it did
come He was sure those laundering
no count darkies had forgotten every
thing about It. If they didn't put in an
appearance pretty soon he would 20
down there and see what they meant by
1t. You see he was a born Georgian
and 1t took an unusual supply of grace
to eradicate the desire TO cuss q darkey
on the slightest provocation. Surely, nc
one could call this slight one. He
reached for his hat, bat was arrested by
tap at the back door He lost no time
in reaching it fully prepared TO give
those lazy, trifing fellows such warn.
ing that they would not again have 70
wait for meals.
A we'll dressed, middle aged colored
man bowed politely. handing him a
silver tray on which was broiled
spring chicken, some snowy rolls, 9
glass of jelly, etc.
"Missus SEN
He got no further before the paste,
broke out with, "you lazy black rascal
why wasn't you here one hour ago,
(They hadn't been home over twenty
minutes. Sitting the dainty napkin he
went or more and more outraged as he
gave vent 10 his ire. "What kind of a
dinner do you call this for two half
starved people? Take it back and bring
MS a decent meal step lively too, do you
hear"
The poor man did hear, but he YET
had something on his mind He stood
with mouth open and eyes ablaze, too
much astonished to stir. In vain ht
tried again to speak, for the iratt
Drpacher hlurted Out-UIf Won dnn't