Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1884-03-07

Tho young lady was a stranger She had
probably come to visit somebody at Scragg
End, and as there was no one to meet her at
the station Lysander had brought her over.
But he was helping her TO alight at their own
gate. She was walking up the path. Mrs.
Hewitt ad justed her glasses, and satisfied her
self that the faco was unfamiliar She WAS
grave and diguifed young woman, with a
self possessed manner, but with bright
flush on her face. Why didn't Lysander
come and introduce her instead OF attending
to the horse2
81 suppose you we're expecting me-" said
the young lady extending her hand in
friendly way II am the new minister-kliss
Barton"
As Mrs. Hewitt afterward declared, you
could have knocked her down with feath
er" Aud her overwhelming astonishment
was SO plainly shown that the new minister
became very much embarrassed.
"Of course you know-certainly you ought
to have been told that-that was a woman" "
she said.
ave didn't know. Why, we never thought
of such thing. They didn't say word
about it," exclaimed Mrs Hewitt, and in her
as,onishment aud dismay she utterly ignored
the outstretched hand.
The young lady had a strong and resolute
face, but Mrs. Hewitt suddenly became aware
that the corners Of her mouth were droop-
ing and there was hurt as well as O weary
look in her eyes, and all her motherly com
passion was aroused.
"But il don't make any difference, child
l 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 il We do live a
good ways out of it only there never did
happen to be woman preacher anywhere
about here SO it took me by surprise. We
believe in giving women q fair chance here
in Scragg End, can tell you"
~ was afraid you might have some objec-
tions," said the young lady, a smile chasing
the weariness out Of her face.
"Oh, we shall think everything of you,
I've no doubt-after a while. You don't
know what it is to be without regular preach
ing as long as we have. Come right in and
get rested, and have a cup or tea, for ex-
pect you've had a 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 toilet table, whore she had placed it
for the convenience OF the new minister.
1t is undeniable that at first receipt of the
news a general dismay overspread Scragg
End. The older people we're disposed to
consider that a 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 nobody seemed willing to tell her,
and there was great curiosity to hear her
preach. There were few courageous spir-
its who openly avowed that they saw no rea-
son why woman should not preach, and
| were glad to have one for a minister. Many
complained Of Miss Bartons youth, but ac-
knowledged that they would not have object
ed on that score to young man OF twenty
| six or seven, which was her age.
There were some who thought she was too
| handsome for a minister, and others who
thought that since she was going to set her
self up for everybody to look at, 1t was pity
she was not handsomer; some who thought
women ought not to preach at all, and others
who thought some women might be allowed
to, but that Miss Barton was not Of the right
kind 1t was tacitly agreed that she should
be given a hearing, but woman minister as
| a stated supply was not what was wanted.
But in two Sundays Miss Barton conquer
| cd Scragg End, except few OF the most
prejudiced who would never own themselves
| conquered. She was so simple, so earnest,
| 10 sympathetic. There were no long words,
| no far-fetched analogies such as Mr. Ericsson
used there was no rattliug of the dry bones
of theology she touched the cords that vi
brated in their every day life.
"She comes right home to you, that's a
fact, said Joshua Ring. shes Scriptooral,
too, and she makes as feeln' a prayer as
| over heard. don't like to see a woman in
the pulpit and amt going to say do, but
she's edifyin, and no mistake"
| II never went to meetin' before when
| didn'. have terrible hard work to keep from
| noddin', but somehow her talk is kind OF
| plain and sensible, aud keeps me awake,
said Luke Pettingill, who was wont to
disturb the congregation by his audible
breathing.
People flocked to Scragg End from far and
near to hear the new minister, at first with
much the same curiosity that they would
have shown TO see a white elephant, but soou
for the sake of the preaching. Nobody could
| quite explain Miss Barton's popularity. Per
haps old Miss Simmons came as near to the
truth as anybody when she said ''she WASH
any smarter than anybody else, but somehow
she seemed Just like own folks, and she
knew Just how folks felt without being told.
Ponkapawket was scandalized. II was {
disgrace TO the whole town TO have a woman
holding forth every Sunday, and drawing
such crowds-drawing half the congregation
away from the Ponkapawket church. too
The deacons requested Mr. Ericsson to preach
a sermon from the text, Let your womer
keep silence in the churches" Mr.. Ericsson
| was Known 70 uOlu tue NOuhu D IlRuls luONc
| ment in contempt; but he had been twice L
hear Miss Barton preach, when there were nj
services in his own church, and he had alsC
called upon her several times and when tn,
deacons conferred with him about preaching
that sermon, they found it impossible to OBJ
tain any satisfaction he was very polite, anC
did not say he would not, but smilingly pu
the question by.
One day he surprised Miss Burton by invit
ing her to exchange pulpits for the following
Sunday but that was in harvest time, anC
she had come to Scragg End in June. Ever
Ponkapawket had become accustomed to th
idea of a woman preacher, if it did not ap
prove of it.
He had found her on the piazza on a warn
afternoon in late September. She had larg
basketful of stockings beside her and wa
darning them diligently. Some were he
own, some were Adoniram Hewitt's and Ly
sanders, for Roxy had gone away on visit
and Mrs. Hewitts hands we're more than full
She looked as if she had never aimed at an,
larger sphere. The shadow of smile flick
cred about Mr.. Erioson's mouth as he observ
ed her employment. Although Miss Bartol
looked up only as much as politeness requiI
ed, she saw the smile, and it brought fus
to her cheek Though she looked so stron
and resolute, it was evident that Miss Barto
her, and Immediately profered his request
perhaps as an aDtidote to the smile.
"Your people would be shocked. The
don't approve of me-" said Miss Barton
"And 1 shouldn't have the courage"
81 never suspected you of any want c
courage" said Mr. Ericsson.
"I am dreadful coward. don't think
fully realized it when began. II had bee
sent anywhere but to ScTRgg End, 1 don
know what l should have done. Here the
are simple-minded people, without stron
preiudices, and do seem TO have found m
way into their hearts. But / am afraid
should never dare enter another pulpit-ce
tainly not yours at POnkapawket"
you would soon conquer there as yo
have here" said Mr. Ericsson.
81 couldn't endure their unfriendly gaz
l should display all my womanishness.
should blush, l should tremble, l mig
faint. l should be a stumbling block to Il
women who are following in the same pat
way. don't mean to be that. My work
Seragg End suffices me, and am so than
full for it,"
3 81 am sorry you feel so about Ponkapa,
ket, because have proposition in my mir
much more audacious than the one that
Z made" said Mr.. Ericsson.
: Miss Barton raised her eyes inquiringl
t and dropped them instantly under the mini
, ter's gaze.
8 81 thought we might unite the churches