Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1900-07-07
1T DO wish you'd sit down ana
- : keep quiet, Bessie! You dis
trnct mo so. fluttering round

the voom like bird"
Now Mi q Minerva Elliott was tall,
masculine female, hard on the "thir-
ties" with stiff little curls, and gold
trimmed spectacles, and stand-up col
lar and cravat. like Il mans and she
was very busy among a pile of books
and papers, preparing hard questions
intended for the humiliation Of her
Sunday. school class on the morrow,
while little slxtecn-year old Bessie,
with. her. pink and white skin, brown
curls, and innocent blue eyes, picked
up her white kitten and beat retreat,
inexpfessibly mortified mt having dis
trncted" her stald sister.
IL suppose I shall learn better some
time" thought Bessie; but, oh, dear!
am such silly Little goose"
She went on tiptOe past the door
where Mr.. Leroy, the young minister,
was engaged in the revision of his
sermon, for Mr. Leroy lodged at
Widow ElliOtt's, and Bessie felt her
youth and folly more painfully than
ever in his dignitied presence.
She stood a moment In the doorway.
where the cheerful July sunbeams
made golden checkerwork on the
floor, quivering through the morning
glory vines, and sweet odor crept
subtly in of newly mown clover fields,
and roses just blossoming along the
garden wall.
II know what III do" thought Bees
sic, MS her pet, the kitten. dnrted away
through the bushes, "I'll have some Of
those ripe Cherries"
Bessie bounded down the garden
walk. and, deity climbing the old
stone wall. swung herself into the
branches of the huge cherry tree, like
n white-plumed little bird.
Mother would lie Mortified, and
Minerva would have fit" quietly
thought Bessie; "but 1t is so nice and
shady up here, and the robbins are
stealing all the cherries. l almost
wish I was a robin, 1t Is such pleas
ant life up among the green leaves
with the blue sky peeping through.
Dear me, hope that isn't mamma"
Bessie crcpt an Inch or two higher
up, as footsteps came down the garden
path.
Alas! her premonitions were but too
correct. Mrs. Elliotts cap strings were
fluttering below. and Mrs. Elliott's
self had come out with q bowl to pick
currants,accompanied by Aunt Sophia,
her sister.
Now, I'm caught" solIloqulzed our
little heroine. II hope they won't be
long. wonder what they are talking
about. Mr.. Leroy, as 1 live"
And Bessie held her breath and Sc
cretly laughed to see how utterly un-
conscious the two old danes were of
her near vicinage.
"Yes,"- said Mrs. Elliott solcmnly,
"he's good young man, very good
young man."
There amt no minister all the
country round gives such satisfac-
ton" said Aunt Sophia. Them cab
bages is comm on fine, Jullaw
"Oh. bother the cabbagesw said Mrs.
Elliott, tartly; ''it's about Mr.. Leoroy
I'm talking, Sophia. But he ought
to marry and settle down. A single
minister can't do all the good he
could II he was married.
'That's true" assented Aunt Sophia
"and Minerva would make a capital
minister's WIFE"
"She's the very wife he needs. and
II some one would just put the idea
into his head"
perhaps he doesn't mean to marry"
"Then he Is doing very wrong. en-
couraging Minerva the way he does
walkin' to Sunday school with her. and
talkin' about the poor-moncy. and
pickin out the palms and hymns
with his head close to hers. or all
creatures" went on Mrs. Elliott, encr-
getically, # do dislike a male CO.
Quettew
Dear me, julia" said Aunt Sophia.
with mild remonstrance. II don't
s'pose he ever thinks of such thing!'
Then he ought to think Of it. Some
one ought to speak to him."
t'ASSn -huht h'ophiu plSASu CuEIuuts
In perplexed silence.
II don't really think he ought to
trifie with my poor Minerva's feelings
and she in sensitive. too" resumed
the widow.
II never did pretend to understand
young folks when love aud courtship
were in the business" said Aunt
Sophia. But 1t would be a fine thing
for Minerva"
I'D be proud to be the minister's
mother in.law," said Mrs. Elliott, ex.
ultant at the remote possibility. "And
Minerva is Il smart girl. You ought
to hear her talk about Scripture and
theology! Why. Mr.. Leroy himself
was astonished"
IL should thinl; very likely" said
Aunt Sophia, dryly.
Minerva had never been her favorite
niece-she had lectured Aunt Sophia
too often for sleeping In church. eating
fennel seed, singing out Of time, and
other venial sins.
Il don't know what TO do about It,
said Mrs. Elliott. wish somebody
would speak to Mr.. Leroy. and tell
him plainly what his duty is"
Haven't we picked most currnnts
enongh!' hazarded Aunt Sophia.
II s'pose So said Mrs. Elliott, sharp
ly. "iou never ned the trials of q
family. Sophia. and they come hard
though my girls are pretty good girls
after all Minerals quite a model
and Bessie's we'll enough, IL she would