Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1882-04-26
Whole No. 2066.

iHv WHupnt 'H"'v'H "''p N"''"'
She played cards with them-she
danced with them-she encouraged In
fidelity; It was going to bc as bad In
the end as tho bar.room, Gradually
the elIeryescence subsidized, II was
seen that there was less desire to roam
tho country at large, The Brown boys
came into Deacon Sherburncs one
evening to talk over some knotty point
with Sam, and tho deacon found HIM
self insensibly interested, as well as
astonished that these boys showed so
little of the clovcn foot, When three
months had proved that if anything
interesting were provided, no lack of
interest or acceptance could be COM
planned of, Ruth opened the long dis
used wing, furnished ii with long
table and comfortable arm chairs, had
light shelves put up at one end, and
herself covered the volumes which
were the nucleus Of what she hoped
might bc the village library,
Two backgammon boards, set of
chsssmen, and one or two other pleasant
games were there also, and one even
ing before their talk began she took
her tribe into the CHEEKY quarters.
This is your own room, boys she
said. But there are certain condi-
tions you will all he willing to sub
scribe to. No noise-no smoking-no
lounging. | have made it as pleasant
as / can, and now it is yours till a bet
ter is found
Having this amt going to break
up our other evenings, is IT, asked
Harvey Brown, anxiously. we can't
spare them, no how, Miss Ruth
mo, you shall have them still,
Ruth said, touched and gratified by
the eagcrness with which all had wait
ed her answer. Already the little seed
sown in weakness was showing green
above the hard soil.
open Sundays the villagers cried,
when the new departure came to be
canvassed. Breaking the Sabbath
and making II nest of ungodliness in
our midst 7
Ruth said nothing, and it was found
that the eleven lads were engaged in
Bible lesson each Sunday afternoon,
not conducted on ordinary plans, per-
haps, but made fascinating with maps
and pictures, and the most vivid de-
scription of land that had been prac-
tically unknown, the tongue of com-
ment changed. No knowing what
Quakers would not do, but certainly
this was an unexpected turn, and one
to be approved by deacons and minis
ters and people. Ruth shrank from
any discussion, but the time came
when discussion was necessary, and
she was forced to define both her work,
and her wishes for its future. Deacon
Sherburne, as the representative OF
the most popular church, and who
looked at Aunt Mercy's cap and kerr
chief as a symbol of mysterious heresy
as full of threatening now as in old
Puritan days spent an evening in ques-
tions and returned home converted.
you may say what you please, ne
said week later to the knot of men
in the store, about her passin' by her
own sex an going for the boys. Her
own sex can behave themselves better,
an amt making for the streets the
minute teas done. Boys must have
to take up their minds, an
they've got it; an it's a shame we
hain't thought more about it. An
there's more to be done. Her hands
ought to be strengthened. There's
things a gal can't do an selectmen
can, and it's time for to talk them over.
That north wing amt nigh big enough
for them that would come. I've been
turning it over in my mind, au' I'm
ready to give the old -shoe-shon if any
body'll help pay for the moving to the
fork at the head of the common an
ixin' it up some. You see summers
coming OH, and the way she figures it,
It's time all of us should have some
benefit out of what she is beginning to
yet together. She's got a friend that's
going to give hundred dollars worth
,f books; aud the long and short of it
Is, here is a chance for a town library
% start, and we to hold our heads up
IS high up as other folks. Iguess we
can show we amt quite run out yet
So long speech had never been
heard from the deacon in all his life
before, and hot discussion followed.
The shoe-shop was too old; it wasn't
worth moving. Who was going to
paint it and put it generally in order?