The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1883-07-26
The New Minister.
by SOPHIA SWEET.

Scrogg End suddenly decided that
instead of occasional preaching by the
?onkupawl<ot minister, it was entitled
it go without Irregular Gospel priv
ileges."
Adoniram Hewitt, whose father had
been n deacon. was deputed to make
application to the proper authorities in
that denomination to which Scragg End
almost universally belonged for a minis.
ter to supply the Scragg End pulpit. or
rather the school desk until a church
should he built.
Adoniram Hewitt received an encour-
aging answer to his application. A very
earnest and talented young preacher,
lately graduated from a theological sem
mary, would at once be sent to Scrnpq
End.
The minister WAS to board at Adoni-
ram Hcwitt's, the Hewitts being well-to-
do beyond the majority of Scragg End
people, and being regarded as possessing
book learning, which would make them
conGGnial companions for a minister.
Adoniram Hewitts house presented
holiday appearance on that summer
afternoon when Lysander drove over to
Ponlapawlet station to bring back the
minister.
AS night came on Lysandcr drove up
with only n girl beside him. What
could be the reason that the minister
haG. not come? The young lady was
stranger. She had probably come to
visit somebody at Scragg End, and as
there was nobody to meet her Mt the sta
ton, Lysander had brought her over.
But he was helping her to nlight At their
own gate. She was walking up the path.
Mrs. Hewitt adjusted her glasses. and
satisfied herself that the face was unfa.
miliar. She was grave and dignificd
young woman, with sclf-possesscd
manner, but with bright flush on her
face. Why didn't Lysandcr come mp
and introduce her, instead of attending
to the horse?
81 suppose you were expecting me-"
said the Young lady, extending her hand
in friendly way. 81 am the new min
istcr-Nliss Barton"
AS Mrs. Hewitt alterwnrd declared,
"you could have knocked me down with
a feather" And her overwhelming as
tonlshment was SO plainly shown that
the now minister became very much en-
barrnSSCd.
"Of course you know-certainly yon
ought to have been told that-that was
a woman," she said.
Owe didn't know. Why, we never
thought of such thing. They didn't
say u word about it," exclaimed Mrs,
Hewitt and in her astonishmcnt and
dlsmay she utterly ignored the out.
stretched hand.
Tho young lady had a strong and res
Olute face, but Mrs. Hewitt suddenly
became aware that tho corners Of her
mouth were dropping, and there WIS n
hurt as well as weary look in her eyes,
and all her mothcrly compassion was
aroused.
"But it don't make any difference,
ch!ld-I mean mn'nm. I've no doubt
you can preach as well as half the men
We know what is going on in the world,
II we do live good ways out of 1t; only
there never did happen to be woman
preacher anywhere about here. 30 1t TOOK
me by surprise. We believe III giving
women fair chance, here i'll ScragB End
l can tell yOu."
'I was afraid you might have obl'c-
tion8, said the young lady, smile ch"S
ing the wCarmeSs out of her fnce.
"Oh, we shall thiuk everything "f you,
I've no dOubt-afLcr while" You don
know what it is t. be without regular
preaching as long as we have Conn
right in and get rested, and have a cul,
of tea, for I expect yo"'T@ had hard
journey"
Before cscorting her guest to her room
Mrs Hewitt managed to slip upstairs
and slyly abstract IIysander's new shaw.
ing set from the toilette table, where
che had placed it for the convenience OF
the new munster.
1t is undc4i2L!a that az the first receipt
of the news a general dsmay overbpread
Scragg End. The older people we're dis.
posed to consider that trek had been
played upon them, and were angry &C,
eoordingly' soma over, going 50 tar as to