Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1883-06-19
Gales ano Sketfbes.
THE NEW MINISTER

Scragg End suddenly awoke to the
knowledge that it was avillage. Hitherto
it had chung to the skirts OF Ponkapawket,
and had never thought of the possibility
of separate existence. The soil
was poor In that part of the town, and
it had been hard struggle to wiring
living from it; the place was unhealthy
too. and ''as pindlin' as ScraggEn
was household saying in Ponkapawket.
Nobody had seemed TO prosper or to ha re
much ambition. They were not accused
of being ''slack" or shiftless-they were
Woodworking people-but they "never
seemed TO get ahead" Some people
thought there was depressing influence
in the name, and they made a move to
change it; there seemed to be no especial
propriety in retaining 1t. now that the
Scragg family. for whom it was named,
and who were the FIRST settlers, had all
died of. except '.Bueny Visty," the sea
captains daughter. who was married out
of the name. But still the name clung to
the place.
They had a school at Scragg End at
certain seasons of the year. because Pom
kapawket built them school house. and
appropriated to their use 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, the minister. Rather
strangely, it was the want of the last-men-
toned of these servants that awoke Scragg
End to sense of its rights.
Old Mis- Crichett, who had been in
i'll 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 Ponka-
pawket, declared that she didn't think
MIR. Ericsson, the present minister of
Ponkapawket. who now and then preach
ed in the Scragg End school-house on a
Sunday afternoon or evening, was
spiritual" because he wore a ring on
his finger, and she didn't feel to sit under
him" anymore. And good old Mrs.
Summons, who walked all the way to
Ponkapawket to church every pleasant
Sunday, said she had always known that
''until it was watered by the droppings OF
the sanctuary, Scragg End would not
prosper"
And Scragg End suddenly decided that
instead of occasional preaching by the
Ponkapawket minister it was entitled to
"a stated supply"
Adoniram Hewitt. whose father had
been a 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 en-
couraging answer to his application. A
very earnest and talented young preacher
lately graduated from theological
seminary, would at once be sent to Scragg
End
Some of the older people demurred a
little; they didn't think much of prem
tice hands," but the people generally
thought young minister was much more
interesting.
Interest and curiosity were at their
height in Scragg End on the dav when
Lysander Hewitt, Adoniram's son drove
over 10 Poukapawket station to bring back
the new minister. Innumerable guesses
had been made among the younger portion
of the community concerning the appear
ance Of the new parson. 1t was generally
agreed upon by the young ladies that he
would be slender, with dark eyes, me
lodioas voice, and very white hands, and
they embroidered several very handsome
bookmarks tor 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
Hewitt's. the Hewitts being well-to-do be-
yond the majority of Scragg End people.
and being regarded as possessing book
learning. which would make them congo
nial companions tor . minister. for ADO
hiram 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 py theillness of
his father. which made it necessary for
him 10 remain ON the farm. Moreover,
the Hewitts kept . ''hircd girl"--a very
unusual luxury at Scragg End; and both
Mrs. Hewitt and Roxy, the hired girl.
were famous cooks. and ministers were
but mon In the matter of eating. however
spiritually minded they might be; indeed,