St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1883-05-26

others who thought that since she was
going to set herself up for everybody to
look at, it was a pity that she was not |
handsomer; some who thought women
ought not to preach at all, and others |
who thought some women might be al
lowed to, but that Miss Barton was not
of the right kind. TWAS tacitly agreed
that she should be given hearing, but
woman minister as stated supply
was not what was wanted.
But in two Sundays Miss Barton con-
quered Scragg End, except a few OF the
most prejudiced, who would never own
themselves conquered. She was so
simple, so earnest, so sympathetic.
There were no long words, no far
fetched analogies, such as Mr.. Ericsson
used; there was no rafting of the dry
bones of theology; she touched the
chords that vibrated in their everyday
life
..She comes right home to you, that's
a fact,'' said Joshua Ring. 'She's
Scriptooral, too, and she makes as feel
in prayer as ever I heard. don't
like to see woman in the pulpit, and l
amt a-goin' to say do, but she's edl-
fyin'. and no mistake,
81 never went to meetin' before when
I didn't have terrible hard work to keep
from noddin', but somehow her talk is
kind of plain and sensible. and keeps
me awake" said Luke Pettingil1, who
was wont to disturb the congregation
by audible breathing.
People t1ocked to Scragg End from far
and near to hear the new minister, at
first with much the same curiosity that
they would have shown to see a white
elephant, but soon for the sake of the
preaching. Nobody could quite explain
Miss Barton's popularity. Perhaps old
| Mrs. Simmons came as near to the truth
as ANYBODY when she said ''she wasn't
any smarter than anybody else, but
someway she seemed just like oacas folks.
And she knew Just how folks felt with
out being told"
Ponkapawket was scandalized. 1t
was adisgrace to the whole town to
/ have woman preacher holding forth
every Sunday, and drawing such crowds
drawing half the congregation away
from the Ponkapawket church. too!
The deacons requested Mr.. Ericsson to
preach sermon from the text: '.Let
4 your women keep silence in the
churches Mr.. Ericsson was known to
hold the Woman's Rights movement IN
contempt; but he had been twice to
hear Miss Barton preach, when there
were no services in his own church. and
4 he had also called upon her several
1 times, and when the deacons conferred
/ with him about preaching that sermon
they foundsjit impossible to obtain any
satisfaction; he was very polite, and ne
4 did not say that he would not. but she
smilingly put the question by.
One day he surprised Miss Barton by
inviting her to an exchange OF pulplts FOL
the following Sunday; but that was in
8 haryest-time, and she had come tc
]. Scragg End in June. Even PonkapaW,
ket had become accustomed to the idea
of a woman preacher, if it did not ap.
prove of it.
| He had found her sitting on the piaz
"a on warm afternoon in late Septem
8 Der. She had a large basketfnl 0.
stockings beside her, and she was darn
i ing them diligently. Some We're he
own. some were Adoniram Hewitt
t and Lysander's, for Roxy had gone on
/ visit, and Mrs. Hewitt's hands Wer'
more than full. She looked as house
J wifely as if she had never aimed at an.
/ wider sphere. The shadow of smile
flickered about Mr.. Ericson's mouth a
I he observed her employment. Although
t Miss Barton looked up only as polite
ness required, she saw the smile, and
| brought flush to- her cheek. Thous
she looked so strong and resolute,
& was evident that Miss Barton was keen
/ " sensitive. He sat down beside her
: and Immediately proffered his request
i perhaps as an antidote to the smile.
e Your people will be shocked. The
; don't apnroye of me,'' said Miss Ban
: ton. .sAnd I shouldn't have the coul
age
J, 81 never suspected you Of any wan
t of courage said Mr.. Ericsson.
6 II am a dreadful coward. don
n think I fully realized it when | begar
S If Z had been sent anywhere but t
d Scragg End, don't know what shout
e have done. Here they are humble
J. minded people, without strong prelt
r dices, and do seem to have found tn
L way to their hearts. But / am afraid
should never dare to enter another pu
) pit certainly not yours at PonkapaN
E ket.''
J. :. You would soon conquer there
# you have conquered here" said M
u Ericsson. :,
It Il couldn't endure their unfriendl
J. gaze. should display all my woman
e ishness. I should blush. | shout
a tremble, I might faint. / should be
stumbling-block to the women who al
n following in the same pathway.
J. don't mean to be that. My work
" Scragg End suffices me, and am
), thankful for it. =
! IT am sorry you feel SO about POM
apawket, because l have a proPos