Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-04-28
! hearing but q woman minister a. a stated SUD-
! MY WAS mt what va wantod

ply was not what was wanted.
But in two Sundays Miss Barton conquered
Scragg End except few OF the most prejudioed
vino would never own themselves CONQUERED
She was 80 simple, so earnest 50 sympathetic
There were no long words, NO far4etched analo-
gies. such as Mr.. Ericsson used; there was no
rafting Of the dry bones orthodoxy; she touched
the chords that vibrated In their everyday life.
said Joshua Ring. "She's Scriptoorai, too, and
she makes az feeiin' prayer a. ever heard. I
don't like to see woman In the pulpit and I
amt a eoin' to say do, but she's edifyin', and
no mistake"
Il never went to meetin' before when didn't
have terrible hard work to keep from noddin'.
but somehow her talk is kind Of plain and SEN
| sbe, and keeps me awake" said Luke Pettin-
gill, who was wont to disturb the congregation
by audible breathing.
People focked to Scpagg End from far and
near to hear the new minister, at first with
much the same curiosity that they would have
shown to see white elephant, but soon for the
sake Of the preaching. Nobody could quite ex-
plain Miss Barton's popularity. Perhaps old
Mrs. Simmons came as near to the truth a. any
body when she said "she wasn't any smarter
than anybody else. but someway she seemed
Just like o,ra folks. And she knew Just how
folks felt without being told. .... :
POnkapawket was scandaliZed. It was dis
grace to the whole town to have woman
preacher holding forth every Sunday, and draw
ing such crowds-drawing half the cOngrega-
ton away from the Ponkapawket church, too!
The deacons requested Mr.. Ericsson to preach q
sermon from the text, Let 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 he had also called upon her
several times. and when the deacons conferred
with him about preaching that sermon they
found 1t impossible to obtain any satisfaction;
he was very polite and he did not say that he
hr,f shn ~
by"
One day he surprised Miss Barton by inviting
her to an exchange of pulpits for the following
Sunday; but that was in harvest time, and she
had come to Scragg End in June. Even Ponka-
pawket had become accustomed to the idea OF q
woman preacher, if it did not approve of it.
He had found her sitting on the piazza on q
warm afternoon in late September. She had a
large basketful Of stockings beside her. and was
darning them diligently. Some were her'own.
some were Adonram Hewitt's and Lysander's,
for Roxy had gone away on visit, and Mrs.
Hewitt's hands were more than full. She looked
as housewifely as if she had never aimed at any
wider sphere The shadow Of q smile nickered
about Mr.. ErcsOns mouth as he observed her
employment. Although Miss Barton looked I'D
only as much as politeness required, she saw
the smile. and 1t brought flush to her CHEEK
Though she looked 80 strong and resolute. it
was evident that Miss Barton was keenly sens-
tive. He sat down beside her, and Immediately
profered his request, perhaps as an intidote to
the smile.
''Your people would be shocked. They don't
approve Of me-" said Miss Barton. "And I
shouldn't have the courage"
II never suspected you OF any want of cour-
age" said Mr.. Ericsson.
81 am dreadful coward. don't think I
fully realized it when began. II had been
sent anywhere but to Scragg End don't know
what should have done. Here they are hum
ble-minded people, without strong prejudices
and do seem to have found the way to their
hearts. But am afraid should never dare to
enter another ,pupt-certainly not yours at
Ponkapawket."
You would soon conquer there as YOU have
conquered here" said Mr.. Ericsson
II couldn't endure their unfriendly gaze. I
should display all my wOnanishness. l should
blush, should tremble. l might faint. l should
be stumbling bock to the women who are fol-
lowing in the same pathway. / don't mean to
be that My work in Scragg End suffices me-
and am so thankful for it,
Il am sorry you feel so about Ponkapawket.
because have proposition in my mind much
more audaclous than the one that made" said
Mr.. Ericsson.
Miss Barton raised her eyes inquiringly, and
dropped them again instantly under the minis
ter's gaze.
81 thought we might unite the churches"
Mr.. Ericson's voice trembled q little, as if he
were afraid.
81 don't see how it could be DONE" said Miss
Barton, frgidly.
"Of course there is but one way" said Mr..
Elicson. quietly: II dared not ask you to be-
your work need not be given up"
The girl rose to her feet. Lysander's stock
ing fell from her hand and was blown away by
the wind unheeded. Il don't know what /
thought that at least yon respected me, and l
thought my calling made me sacred from such
such attacks altogether
81 am sorry that you should think 1t an insult
| can hardly see how a man could give you
better proof of his respect than to ask you to
become his wife. And as for your calling
making You sacred, we don't believe In the;
celibacy OF the clergytyou know" In spite of
his evident modification and distress, there
was a sly twinkle in Mr.. Ericson's eve as he
said that.
But II am woman" said Miss Barton.
sitting down again. and covering her face with
her hands.
The more reason why you should be mar
rled. said MI. Ericsson, calmly. You need
protector"
81 am perfectly sufficient for myself And
shall never care for an! 6ody-anyth ing-but my
work"
MI Ericsson arose. Il am sorry to have trou-
blcd you" he said, gently. II love YOU. and
have never known what it was to love woman
before; that is all my excuse
Miss Barton watched him as he went down
the road, with the yellow leaves falling upon
him. She observed, as she had never done be-
fore. how finely his head was set upon his broad
shoulders, what manly grace there was about
his strong, well-knit figure
But he has no business to love me-" she said,
drawing her brows into tight frown
Then suddenly she remembered Lysanders
stocking, and went down in the grass to look for
it. 1t had blown over the fence into the field.
She stretched her arm between the Stats and
drew it back. AS she did SO she caught sight of
Lysander. He was gathering sqnashes and
pumpkins on the little south hill; she saw his
figure in silhouette against the sky. He started
to come toward the house, and she waited for
him-wated until a sudden thought sent flame
of color over her face
1T can't be" she said. half aloud, inouir-
ingly: Il acia keep that out of my life. won't
be failure! won't bel" And she rushed up
to her room and locked herself In.
She came down as calm and grave as ever
when the tea-betl rang, and after tea she and
Lysander read their daily quantity Of Greek, for
Lysander was pursuing his studies with re-
newed avidity since he had companion to help
him. and had not yet given up his long cherished
hope OF studying for the ministry. though there
seemed no prospect Of his being able to leaYe
After that day Miss Barton devoted herself
more Zeatousy than ever to her work She
darned no more stockings. When she was not
j