The Red Cloud chief., 1883-06-22
THE MINISTER At SCRAGG END.

w NOE fls tttE@t
This quecn-among queens young girl.
lTgd f. Pu1ley, ia Cincinnati EngaTrr-
- -
THE MINISTER At SCRAGG END.
Scragg End suddenly awoke to the
knowledge that il was 4 village. Hith-
ertO IL had chung 10 the skirts of Ponk-
apawket. and had never thought Of the
possibility 81 a separate existence. The
soil was poor in that part Of the town,
and II had been a hard struggle to
wrinr a living from il: the place was
unhealthy. too. and "a pindiin' A. a
Ncragg-Ender' was a household saving
in Ponkapawket. Nobody had seemed
10 prosper or To nave much ambition.
They were not accused Of being slack"
or >hifileSs-thcy were Woodworking
peuplc-bu they never seemed To get
ahead. Some people thought there
was I depressing influence in the name,
and had made "A move Ia change IL:
there seemed To De- no especial propri-
eiv in retaining IL. now that the Scragg
family. for whom il VA named. and
who were the first settlers. had all died
of. except "Beuny Vi>ty." the SEA-
Captains daughter. who was married
out of the name. But still the name
chung 10 the place. Although several
romantic names were suggested. such
!, - Laurel Bank and Primrose Plain, the
inhabitants would call il nothing but
Scragg End. and Scragg End il seemed
likely to remain until the END Of time.
They had a school at Scragy End 1T
certain seasons of the wear. because
Tonkapawk ct built them a school-hou-e.
and appropriated 10 their use a certain
part 81 the school money. but they did
al their shopping in Ponkapawket. and
relied upon that village for those Scry-
ants IF society generally regarded a. in
diSpenSahle. the doctor. the lawyer and
the minister. Rather strangely. it WAS
the want IF the aforementioned Of these
servants that awoke Scragg End 10 a
sense of its rights.
Old Mis- Crichctt. who had been in
III health for several months. suddenly
discovered that she had a spine in her
back. and wa not long for this world.
anl Wanted Gospel privileges before she
died Miss An- la LAYTON, who was held
in high esteem because her father hsd
been the minister of Fonkapawket. de-
clar, a that she didn't think Mr.. Ericsson.
tie present minister # Ponkapawket,
who now and then preached in the
Scragg End school-huu>e 81 a SUNDAY
afternoon or evening. was spiritual
Ieeau,e ne wore a ring on his finger.
and -hc didn't feel to st under him
any more. And good old Mrs. SIM
mons. who walked all the way to Ponk-
apawktt ia church every pleasant Sun
day. said she had ALWAYS known that
until il was watered " the druppings
OF the sanctuary, Scragg End would not
prosper
And S-ragg End suddenly decided
that instead If occasional preaching BY
the Ponkapawket minister, il WAS en-
titled To "a stated supply" No longer
would it GO without regular Gospel
privileges"
Adoniram Hewitt. whose father had
been a deacon. was deputed 10 make
application 10 the proper authorities in
that denomination 20 which Scragg End
almost universally belonged for a min
lister 10 supply the Scragg End pulpit.
OF rather the school desk until a church
should be built
Adoniram Hewitt received an encour-
aging answer 10 his application. \ very
earnest and talented Young preacher.
lately graduated from a theological
seminary, would ri once be sem 10
ScraCg End.
Some of the older people demurred a
little; they didn't think much Of prem
tee hands" but the people generally
tho l-ht a Young minister Was much
more interesting.
Interest and curiosity were at their
height in ScragC End on the day when
Lysander Hewitt. Adoniram's son.
drove over to Ponkapawket station 10
bring rack TIE new minister. lnnum-
cradle cuesses had been made among
the younger portion of the community
concerning the appearance OF the new
parsor. Ii was generally agreed upon |
by the Young ladies that he would be |
slender. with dark eyes. n 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 Ado |
hiram Hewitt's. the Hewitt s being we'll
TODD beyond the majority of Scragg
End people. and being regarded As pos
sessing book-learning. which would
make them ~conCenial companions for 3
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 for him
TO remain on the farm. Moreover. the
Hewitts's kept = ..hired giri'-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, how
ever spiritually-minded they might be;
indeed. Miss Hepsy jackson, who WAS
greatly given to attending county con-
ferences, had observed that 1.-The piouser
they were the more they ate But
this was generally regarded IS sscrfe-
gious. and it was remembered that
Miss Hepsy was not - 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 10
Ponkapawket station Z bring back the
minister. The best room was thrown
open. there were flowers everywhere.
Mn. Hewift had On her best cap. and
the pantry shelves were lined with good
thinRp 10 esf. u such Quantities q to