Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-04-28
THE MINISTER AT sCRAGG END.
By SOPHIE SWEET.

euSe tnat lt was village. h1t0efe0 n had
chung to the skirts Of Ponkapswket and had
never thought Of the possibility Of Q separate
existence. The soil was poor in that part of
the town, and it had been q hard struggle to
wiring living from 1t; the place was unhealthy,
too, and " as pindlin' as . Scragg- Ender'' was
a household saying in Ponkspswket Nobody
had seemed to prosper or to have much
ambition. They were not accused Of being
" slack" or shftless-they were Woodworking
people-but they never seemed to get ahead"
Some people thought there was depressing
influence in the name, and had made q move to
change 1t; there seemed to be no especial
propriety in retaining 1t, now that tho Scragg
family, for whom it was named. and who were
the first settlers had all died off, except "Bueny
fisty, the sea-captaiI's daughter, who was
married out OF the name But still the name
chung to the place. Although several romantic
names were suggested, such as Laurel Bank and
Primrose Plain, the inhabitants would call 1t
nothing but Scragg End. and Scragg End 1t
seemed likely to remain until the end OF time.
They had school at Scragg End at certain
seasons of the year, because Ponkapawket built
them school-hOuse and appropriated to their
use a certain part of the school money! but they
did all their shopping in Ponkapawket and relied
upon that village for those servants of society
generally regarded as indispensable, the doctor.
the lawyer, and the minister. Rather strangely,
it was the want of the aforementioned of these
servants that awoke Scragg End to sense of
its rights.
Old Mis- Crichett, who had been In Ill health
for several months. suddenly discovered that
she had spine in her back and was not long
for this world, and wanted Gospel privileges
before she died. Miss ANGELA Lawton who
was held In high esteem because her father
had been the minister of Ponkapawket,
declared that she didn't think Mr. Ericsson, the
Yrn mil ictn
and then preached in the Scragg End school
house on Sunday afternoon or evening, was
spiritual" because he wore ring on his
finger, and she s. didn't feel to sit under him
any more. And good old Mrs Simmons, who
walked all the way to Ponkapawket to church
every pleasant Sunday, said she had always
known that 81 until it was watered by the drop
pings OF the sanctuary, Scragg End would not
prosper"
And Scragg End suddenly decided thati Instead
of occasional preaching by the Ponkapawket
minister it was entitled to " a stated supply"
No longer would it go without regular Gospel
privileges"
AdOnram Hewitt. whose father had been
deacon, was deputed to make application to
the proper authorities in that denomination to
which Scragg End almost universally belonged
for minister to supply the Scragg End pulpit,
or rather the school desk, until church should
be built.
Adoniram Hewitt received an encouraging
answer to his application. A very earnest and
talented young preacher, lately graduated
sent to Scragg End.
Some of the older people demurred a little;
they didn't think much of prentice hands,"
but the people generally thought young
minister was much more interesting.
Interest and curiosity were at their height in
Scragg End on the day when Lysander Hewitt
Adonlrams son. drove over to Ponkapawket sta
tion to bring back the new minister. Innumerable
guesses had been made among the younger
portion of the community concerning the
appearance OF tie new parson. 1t was generally
agreed upon by the young ladies that he would
be slender, with dark eyes, melodious
voice, and very white hands, and they
embroidered several very handsome book marks
for the Bible and hymn-book which were
purchased for the desk-Mr Ericsson had been
obliged to bring his own-and an elegant satin
cushion to rest them on
The minister was to board at Adoniram Hew-
tits. the Hewitts being weIl-to-do beyond the
majority of Scragg End people, and being re-
garded as possessing bOok-learning, which
would make them congenial c0mpauiOns for a
minister, for Adonram had in his youthful days
been sent to an academy where Latin was
taught and Lysander. his son, had fitted him
self for college, and only been prevented
from working his way through by the Illness of
his father, which made it necessary for him to
remain on the farm. Moreover, the Hewitts
kept a '.hired girl"-a very unusual luxury at
Scragg End; and both Mrs. Hewitt and Roxy
the girl. were famous cooks and ministers were
but men in the matter of eating, however spir-
ltually minded they might be; indeed, Miss
Hepsy Jackson, who was greatly given to at
tending county conferences. had OBSERVED that
~ the Pouser they were the more they ate"
But this was generally regarded as sacri-
legiOus, and it was remembered that Miss
Hepsy was not "a professor" though she had
such zeal in the matter Of county conferences
Adtuir3n HpWittfS HOuSp tod hnIi
appearance on that summer afternoon when
Lysander drove over to Ponkapawket station to
bring back the minister. The best room was
thrown open. there were flowers everywhere
hfs Hewitt had ON her best cap, and the pam
Try Shelves were fined with good things to eat
Ia such quantities as to lead one to the belief
that Miss Hepsy JacksOn's words had had their
weight. All Seragg End was at it's windows
and doors. Mrs. Hewitt stood on her door
steps, her cap strings futterir,g in the breeze
Il do hope Lysander hasn't forgotten to get
a new box of backing. Of course the minister
will want his boots very shiny" she said to
herself.
Just at that moment Iysander drove up-with
only girl beside him. What could he the rea-
son that the minister had not come? The Young
lady was stranger. She had probably come to
visit somebody at Scragg End and as there was
nobody to meet her at the station Lysander had
brought her over. But he was helping her to
alight at their own gate. She was walking up
thC poeu- Mis- hcNlll leT glasses and
satisfied herself that the face was unfamiliar
She was grave and dignifed young woman.
with self-possessed manner but with bright
flush on her face. Why didn't Lysander come
up and introduce her, instead Of attending to
the horse?
IL suppose you were expecting me-" said the
young lady. extending her hand in friendly
way. Il am the new minister-Miss Barton"
AS Mrs Hewitt afterward declared "you
could have knocked her down with a feather"
And her overwhelming establishment was 80
plainly shown that the new minister became
very much embarrassed.
'Of course you knew-certainly Won ought to
have been told that-that was q woman" she
said.
1--WE didn't know Why, we never thought OF
such thing. They didn't say a word about It,"
exclaimed Mrs. Hewitt, and in her establishment
and dismay she utterly ignored the outstretched
hand.
The young lady had strong and resolute
face, but Mrs. Hewitt suddenly became aware
that the corners Of her mouth were drooping.
and there was hurt as well rs q weary look In
her eyes, and all her motherly compassion was
aroused.
But it don't make any difference. child
mean maam. I've no doubt you can preach as
well as half the men. We know what Is going
on in the world, II we do live q good WAYS
out OF 1t; only there never did happen to be a
woman preacher anywhere about here so II took
me by surprise. We believe In giving women a