The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1881-03-22


again together, this time prepared for a
walk. Both these ladies were Congre-
gatonalists, and many of their neigh
bors were surprised to see them stop at
the house of Eliza Simmons, one of the
staunchest sisters of the Methodist per-
suasion. 1t couldn't have been over an
hour before the town was alive with the
news.
The orthodox were shocked, the Meth
odists opened their eyes in wonder,
while the Baptists stood aloof in dignif-
ed silence. For one whole day the people
talked of nothing else but this breach of
sectarian etiquette. The next day they
had something else to talk about
These three ladies, in company with
Margaret Stiles, another Methodist
sister, called upon the West sisters,
Mary and Martha, two of the leading
ladies of the Baptist society. They not
only called, but they stayed all the fore
noon and took dinner
This was on Saturday. On Sunday
those six ladies occupied Miss Bailey's
pew in the Congregational church. The
little flock was so astonished that they
paid little attention to the sermon, and
the minister went home with the feeling
that not dozen persons in the whole
congregation could tell what the text
was.
Bosworth was now in q state of in
tense excitement Such thing had
never happened before. Many of the
Congregationalists called on Miss Betsey
and on Miss Sarah, but all they could
learn was that the ladies went with
them by a special invitation.
On Thursday night the six ladies at
tended class at the Methodist vestry.-
Not only that, but Miss Jenkins and
Miss Marth Stiles both took part in the
meeting.
What was to be done? Something,
certainly, for this things could not exist
long. The Baptists visited the Misses
Stiles, but all the information to be gain
ed was that they went to both places by
invitation, and that Martha felt moved
to speak and did so. And the Method
lists were no wiser for having called upon
the erring sisters.
The next Sunday saw more mixing
of the sects, and Monday night there
was gathering at Miss Betsey's resi-
dence of all the ladies engaged in the
conspiracy. Sixteen ladies were present
and-was it chance ?-all were maiden
ladies of fifty years and over. From
this time forward there was great init
macy between these ladies. In vain
they triedto induce others to join them;
at the end of three months their band
still only numbered sixteen persons.
Betsey and Sarah talked the matter
over, and concluded to open another
chapter of their plan. They were not
disappointed in getting only sixteen
ladies to join them in fact that was
nearly double the number they bad
hoped to get in the beginning.
A few days later notice appeared on
the door of the Baptist store to the effect
that it had been sold to Miss Betsey
Bailey. About the same time one ap-
peared on the Congregationalist store
saying IL had been sold to Miss Sarah
Jenkins. Both stores were closed, and
the people had to go to the only
other store in town, the Methodist, if
they would buy anything.
Both the ladies next called on the
Methodist brother, and he readily agreed
to take all the goods from the other
two stores If he could thereby get the
whole trade of the town. He knew
from bitter experience that one store
was all that the town could support,
and he at once began to help the ladies
in their scheme, though he was totally
unaware of the part he was taking ,look-
ing only at the fact that he could make
more money by the change. This plan
of the ladies was partial success, for
the inhabitants fell right into this ar
rangement because they could not help
it.
Still they would not visit nor attend
any but their own church; and three
months more passed and still only the
sixteen maiden sisters belonged to the
visiting company. Now chapter number
three was opened.
One morning the train brought to the
village very pretty young lady and
three large trunks. Such thing was
not a common occurrence, and the
depot loungers soon spread the news,