The Old Peabody Pew: A Christmas Romance of a Country Church

“And all the time,” said the chairman of the carpet committee to the treasurer of the Dorcas Society—“all the time, little as she realized it, Nancy was laying the carpet in her own pew.  Now she’s married to Justin she’ll be the makin’ of him, or I miss my guess.  You can’t do a thing with men folks without they’re right alongside where you can keep your eye and hand on ’em.  Justin’s handsome and good and stiddy; all he need is some nice woman to put starch into him.  The Edgewood Peabodys never had a mite o’ stiffenin’ in ’em,—limp as dishrags, every blessed one!  Nancy Wentworth fairly rustles with starch.  Justin hadn’t been engaged to her but a few hours when they walked up the aisle together, but did you notice the way he carried his head?  I declare I thought ’t would fall off behind!  I shouldn’t wonder a mite but they prospered and come back every summer to set in the old Peabody Pew.”