“With this statement, gentlemen,” said Mr. Peters, suavely, “should the Finance Committee require it, I am prepared to submit the vouchers which show how much wear and tear on a house is required to raise eighty dollars for the heathen.”

“That,” said the chairman of the Finance Committee, “will not be necessary—­though—­” and he added this wholly jocularly, “though I don’t think Mr. Peters should have charged for his time; fifty dollars is a good deal of money.”

“He didn’t charge for his time,” murmured the treasurer.  “In this statement he has paid for it!”

“Still,” said he of Supplies, “the social end of it has been wiped out.”

“Of course it has,” retorted Mr. Peters.  “And a very good thing it has been, too.  Did you ever know of a church function that did not arouse animosities among the women, Mr. Squills?”

The gentleman, in the presence of men of truth, had to admit that he never knew of such a thing.

“Then what’s the matter with my book sale?” demanded Peters.  “It has raised more money than last year; has cost me no more—­and there won’t be any social volcanoes for the vestry to sit over during the coming year.”

A dead silence came over all.

“I move,” said Mr. Jones, at whose house the meeting was held, “that we go into executive session.  Mrs. Jones has provided some cold birds, and a—­ah—­salad.”

Mr. Jones’s motion was carried, and before the meeting finally adjourned under the genial influence of good-fellowship and pleasant converse Mr. Peters’s second book sale was voted to have been of the best quality.

THE VALOR OF BRINLEY

However differentiated from other suburban places Dumfries Corners may be in most instances, in the matter of obtaining and retaining efficient domestics the citizens of that charming town find it much like all other communities of its class.  Civilization brings with it everywhere, it would seem, problems difficult of solution, and conspicuous among them may be mentioned the servant problem.  It is probable that the only really happy young couple that ever escaped the annoyance of this particular evil were Adam and Eve, and as one recalls their case it was the interference of a third party, in the matter of their diet, that brought all their troubles upon them, so that even they may not be said to have enjoyed complete immunity from domestic trials.  What quality it is in human nature that leads a competent housemaid or a truly-talented culinary artist to abhor the country-side, and to prefer the dark, cellar-like kitchens of the city houses it is difficult to surmise; why the suburban housekeeper finds her choice limited every autumn to the maid that the city folks have chosen to reject is not clear.  That these are the conditions which confront surburban residents only the exceptionally favored rustic can deny.