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

Scragg Eud suddenly awoke to the knowl-
edge that it was a village Hitherto it had
clung to the skirts Of Ponkapswket, and had
never thought of the possibility of a separate
existence. The soil was poor in that part of
the town, and il had been hard struggle to
wiring single man from it the place was
unhealthy, too, and 'as pindlin' as a Scragg
Ender"s was a household saying in Ponka-
pawket. Nobody had seemed to prosper or
to have much ambition. They were not &C
cused OF being "slaek" or shiftless-they
were haId-working people-but they 'never
seemed to get ahead" Some people thought
there was a depressing influence in the name
and had made move to change il there
seemed to be no special propriety in retain
ing il, 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 ont
of the name. But still the name clung to
the place. Although several romantic names
were suggested, such as Laurel Bank and
Primrose Plain, the inhabitants would call it
nothing but Scragg End, and Scragg End it
seemed likely to remain until the end Of
time.
They had a school at Scragg End at certain
seasons of the year, because PonkRpswket
built them a school-house, and appropriated
to their use certain part of the school mon
ey, but they did all their shopping at Ponka-
pawket, and relied upon that village for those
servants of society generally regarded as in
dspensable, the doctor, the lawyer and the
minister Rather strangely, it was the want
Of the last mentioned OF these servants that
awoke Scragg End to a sense Of its rights.
Old Miss Critchet, who had been in i'll
health for several months suddenly discov-
cred that she had a spine in her back, and
To- 10, IL NaI
pei privileges before she died. Miss Angola
Lawton, who was held in high esteem be-
cause her father had been the minister OF
Poukapawket, declared she didn't think Mr..
Ericsson the present minister of Ponkapawket,
who now and then preached in the Scragg
End school house on a Sunday afternoon OF
evening, was spiritual, because he wore
| ring on his finger, and she didn't feel to sill
under" him any more. And good old Mrs.
Simmons, who walked all the way to Ponka
pawket to church every Sunday, said she had
always known that "until it was watered by
the droppings of the sanctuary, Scragg End
| would not prosper"
And Seragg End suddenly decided that in.
stead of occasional preaching by the Ponka
pawket minister, it was entitled to 'stated
supply" No longer would it go without
regular gospel privileges"
Adoniram Hewitt, whose father had beer
q deacon, was deputed to make application
| to the proper authorities in that denominR
tion to which Scragg End almost universally
belonged, for minister to supply the ScragG
pulpit, or rather the school desk until q
| church should be built.
Adoniram Hewitt received an encouraging
answer to his application. very earnes
and talented young preacher, lately gradu
ated from theological seminary, would b'
sent at once to Scragg End
Some Of the older people demurred little
they didn't think much of prentice hands ),
but the people generally thought youn(
minister was much more interesting.
Interest and curiosity we're at their heigh
at Scragg End on tho day when Lysande
Hewitt Adoniram's son, drove over to Pom
kapawket station to bring back the new min
lister. Innumerable guesses had been made
among the younger portion Of the communi
ty concerning the appearance of the younI
parson. 1t was generally agreed upon by tn
young ladies that he would be slender witt
dark eyes, a melodious voice, and very whit
hands, and they embroidered several YER
handsome book-marks for the Bible an
hymn-bOok which were purchased for tn
desk-Mr. Ericsson had been obliged to brin
his Own-and an elegant satin cushion to res
them on.
The minister had to board at AdoniraI
Hewitt's, the Hewitts, being well-to-do beyon
the majority of Scragg End people, an
regarded as possessing book learning, whic
would make congenial companions for th
minister, for Adoniram had, in his youthfl
days, been sent TO an academy where Lati
was taught, and Lysander, his son, had titte
himself for college, and had only been pr,
vented from working his way through by th
illness of his father, which made it necessaT
for him to remain on the farm. Moreover
the Hewitts kept "hired girl-a very III
usual luxury at Soragg End and both Mr.
Hewitt and Roxy, the girl, were famor
cooks and ministers were but men in II
matter of eating, however spiritually minde
they might be; indeed, Miss Hepsy Jacl
son, who was greatly given to attendin
county conferences had observed that "the p
ouser they were the more they ate." Br
this was generally regarded as saorilegiou
and it was remembered that Miss Hepsy Wi
not professor" though she had such re
in the matter of county conferences.
Adoniram Hewitt's house presented hol
: day appearance on that summer afternoC
when Lysander drove to the Ponkapawk
/ station to bring back the minister. The be
[ | room was thrown open, there were howe
1 J everywhere. Mrs. Hewitt had ON her be
. cap, and the pantry shelves were lined wi
' good things to eat in such quantities as
) lead one to the belief that Hepsy Jackson
r words had had their weight. All Scragg Ell
was at its windows and doors. Mrs. Hew
5 stood on her door steps, her cap strings fU
tering in the breeze.