The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1883-06-22

Hewitt, and in her astonishment and
dismay she utterly ignored the out
stretched hand.
The young lady had strong and
resolute face, but Mrs Hewitt sudden.
" became aware that the corners of
her mouth were dropping, and there
was a hurt as well as weary look in
her eyes, and all her motherly compass.
sion was aroused.
"But it don't make any difference,
child mean ma'am. I've no doubt
you can preach as well as half the
men. We know what is going on in
the world, if we do live good ways
out of it only there never did happen
to be woman preacher anywhere
about here, so il took me by surprise.
We believe in giving women far
chance, here in Scragg End, ! can tell
you
81 was afraid you might have OBJ
jection,' said the young lady, smile
chasing the WEAKNESS out of her
face.
"Oh, we shall think everything of
you, I've no doubt--after a while.
You dou't know what il is to be with
ont regular preaching as long as we
have. Come right in and get rested
and have cup of tea, for | expect
you have had hard journey"
Before escorting her guest to her
room, Mrs. Hewitt. managed to slip
up stairs and slyly abstract Lysander's
new shaving set from the toilette
table, where she had placed it for the
convenience of the new minister.
1t is undeniable that at the first re-
ceipt of the news a general dismay
overspread Scragg End. The older
people were disposed to consider that
trick had been played upon them,
and were angry accordingly, some
even going so far as to wish TO have
Miss Barton told that her services
could be dispensed with But no
body seemed willing to tell her, and
there was a great curiosity to hear her
preach There were few courageous
spirits who openly avowed that they
saw no reason why woman should
not preach, and they were glad TO
have one for minister Many com
planned of Miss Barton's youth, but
acknowledged that they would not
have objected on that score to young
man of twenty-six or twenty-seven,
which was her age
, There was some who thought she
was too handsome for minister, and
others who thought that since she was
going to set herself up for everybody
to look at, it was pity she was not
handsomer some who thought women
ought not to preach at all, others who
/ thought some women might be allow
, ed to, but that Miss Barton was not
; of the right kind. 1t was tacitly
7 agreed that she should be given a
hearing, but woman minister as a
l stated supply was not what was want
ed.
But in two Sundays Miss Barton
= conquered Scragg End, except few
of the most prejudiced, who would
never own themselves conquered. She
, was so simple, so earnest, so sympa-
thetic. There were no long words,
, no far-fetched analogies, such as Mr.
, Ericsson used; there was no rafting of
, the dry bones of theology; she touch
, ed the chords that vibrated in theil
, every day life
. "She comes right home to you
, that's fact, said Joshua Ring "She'I
q scriptooral, too, and she makes as
, feelin prayer as ever | heard.
>. don't like to see woman in the pulpit
> and amt gong to say do, bu
n she's edifying and no mistake.
81 never went to meetin' before
when | didn't have terrible hard worl
to keep from noddin', but somehow he
D talk is plain and sensible and keep
, me awake said Luke Pettingill, WHIT
4 was wont to disturb the congregation
p by audible breathing,
i People flocked to Scragg End from
V far and near to hear the new minister
!, at first with much the same curiosit'
,, that they would have shown to see
9 white elephant, but soon for the SAX
IS of the preaching. Nobody coul
II quite explain Miss Bartou's popularity
: Perhaps old Mrs. Simons came a
= near to the the truth as anybody whe
she said, "she wasn't any smarter tina
e anybody else, but someway she SCENE
: Just like our own folks. And she kne,
:, just how folks felt without bein
II told"
o Ponkapawket was scandalized.
y was a disgrace to the whole town
e have woman preacher holding fort
every Sunday, and drawing sue
Is crowds-drawing half the congregi
d ton away from the Ponkapawk,
, church, too. The deacons requeste
er Mr.. Ericsson to preach sermon fro
the text, 'Let your women keep s
ID cnce in the churches Mr. Erioso
er was known to hold the Woman
er Right movement in contempt; but
* had been twice to hear Miss BartC
As preach, when there were no service
y in his own church, and he had all
st called on her several times, and VIII,
I'd the deacons conferred with him abo
IL preaching that sermon they found
at impossible to obtain any satisfaction
I'd he was very polite, and he did not 81
as that he would not, but, che, smilin
IS put the question by
er One day he surprised Miss Bart
by inyiting her to an exchange of p
1t, pits for the following Sunday; b
)f that was in harvest time, and she h
ITS come to Scragg End in June. Ev
Ponkapawket had become accustom
We to the idea of woman preacher, if
lat did not approve it.
.er He had found her sitting on {
J a piazza on warm afternoon in Ii
TO September, She had large bask
as full of stockings beside her, and "
he darniug them diligently. Some w
er her own, some We're Adoniram He
at tits and Lysanders, for Roxy |
up gone away on visit, ana Mrs, lie
Ter tits hands were more than full.
he looked as housewify as if she
we never aimed at any wider sph,
4 a The shadow of smile flickered alb
a Mr. Ercson's mouth as he obser,
MT her employment. Although Miss L