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

concerning the appearance Of the new
parson. It was generally agreed upon
by the young ladies that he would be
slender, with dark eyes, a melodious
voice, and very white hands, and they
embroidered several very handsome
book-marks for the Bible and hymn
book which were purchased Tor 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 Ado
hiram Hewitt's, the Hewitt being we'll
TODD beyond the majority of Scragg
End people, and being regarded as pos
sessine book-learning, which would
make them congenial companions Tor a
minister, for Adoniram had in his
youthful days been sent to an academy
| where Latin was taught, and Lysander'
his son, had fitted himself for college,
and only been prevented from working
his way through by the illness OF his
father, which made it necessary Tor MN
| to remain on the farm. Moreover, the
Hewitts's kept a '.hired girl''-a very
unusual luxury at Scragg End; and
both Mrs. Hewitt and Roxy, the girl,
i were famous cooks, and ministers were.
but men in the matter of eating, how
ever spiritually minded they might be;
indeed, Miss Hepsy Jackson, who was
greatly given to attending county con-
| ferences, had observed that .'the piouser
| thew were the more they ate. But
this was generally regarded as sacrile-
gious. and it was remembered that
| Miss Hepsy was not s'a professor, -
though she had such zeal in the matter
of county conferences. :.
Adoniram Hewitt's house presented
holiday 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:
Mrs. Hewitt had on her best cap, and
the pantry shelves were lined with good
things to eat, in such quantities as to
lead one to the belief that Miss Hepsy
Jackson's words had had their weight.
y All Scragg End was at its windows and
doors. Mrs. Hewitt stood on her door
steps, her cap strings futteringg IN the
} breeze.
Il do hope Lysander hasn't forgot
! ten to get new box of backing. vi
} course the minister viii want His boots
; very shiny she said to herself.
Just at that moment Lysander drove
, up-with only a girl beside him. What
5 could be the reason that the minister had
! not come? The young lady was a
( 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 the
} path. Mrs. Hewitt adjusted her glass
es, and satisfied herself that the face
!; was unfamiliar. She was grave and
: dignifed young woman, with self
9 possessed manner, but with a bright
q flush on her face. Why didn't Lysan-.
der come up and introduce her, instead
: of attending to the horse?
d 81 suppose you were expecting me,
e said the young lady, extending her hand
i in friendly way. 81 am the new MIN
h ister-Miss Barton. =
e AS Mrs. Hewitt afterward declared
it .syou could have knocked her down with
d feather And her overwhelming as
tonishment was so plainly shown thai
t the new minister became very mucf
e embarrassed. r.g
J, s.Of course, you kneW-certainly
n you ought 70 have been told that-that
d was woman she said.
d 1--WE didn't know. Why, we never
= thought of such a thing. They didn'1
l. say a word about it, exclaimed Mrs
d Hewitt, and in her establishment ane
Is dismay she utterly ignored the out
,e stretched hand.
a The young lady had a strong ant
resolute face, but Mrs. Hewitt sudden
IA " became aware that the corners o
u her mouth were dropping, and Their
ar was a hurt as well as q weary look j
|. her eyes, and all her motherly com
,e passion was aroused.
Ia .sBut it don't make any difference
ID child mean mas I've no doub
e. you can preach as well as half tn
4. men. We know what is going on il
t. the world, if we do live a good way
le out of it; only there never did happel
" to be a woman preacher anyWhef
. about here. SO it took me by surprise
r, We believe in giving women fai
m chance, here in Scragg End, can tel
l. you.
( Z was afraid you might have Oh
al jections,'' said the young lady, smil
it chasing the WEAKNESS out of her face
rs ..Oh, we shall think everything G
ct you, I've no doubt-after while. 70
don't know what it is to be withou
d regular preaching as long as we have
" Come right in and get rested, and hay
a. a cup Of tea, for / expect you've had
er hard Journey Va
ell Before escorting her guest TO he
room Mrs. Hewitt managed to slip uI
Il stairs and slyly abstract Lysander's ne'
q shaving set from the toilette table
y = where She had placed it for the cor
Il venience of the new minister.