The footsteps were heard at the door, the
signal was given; a lively tune was started, and Maria confronted the
parents as they entered.
"What's that?" was the exclamation.
"Well," said Maria, soothingly, "we've had the piano brought over."
"Why, of all things!" exclaimed the mother.
The father laid down his hat, walked immediately upstairs, entered the
hall, and said, "Come, daughter, play something lively!"
So that was all.
But that was not all for Mr. Mitchell; he had broken the rules accepted
by the Friends, and it was necessary for some notice to be taken of it,
so a dear old Friend and neighbor came to deal with him. Now, to be
"under dealings," as it is called, was a very serious matter,--to be
spoken of only under the breath, in a half whisper.
"I hear that thee has a piano in thy house," said the old Friend.
"Yes, my daughters have," was the reply.
"But it is in thy house," pursued the Friend.
"Yes; but my home is my children's home as well as mine," said Mr.
Mitchell, "and I propose that they shall not be obliged to go away from
home for their pleasures. I don't play on the piano."
It so happened that Mr. Mitchell held the property of the "monthly
meeting" in his hands at the time, and it was a very improper thing for
the accredited agent of the society to be "under dealings," as Mr.
Mitchell gently suggested.
This the Friend had not thought of, and so he said, "Well, William,
perhaps we'd better say no more about it.
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