The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1884-08-07
PeLLT'S RELIGION.
81 RIBxccA HARDING nAxrx

leILT'S RELIGION.
81 1EB1CCA HARDING DAYR
There can be little doubt that II the
people of Balls Ferry had been asked
to decide which was the most piou,
family in their midst they would unani
mously have named the DemminRs.
They had long ago been the huclcul
about which the Presbyterian church
gathered. Now Squire Demming's pew
faced that Of the pastor, and no matte,
how stormy the weather there was his
venerable white head in its place and
Mother Demming's placid old face be-
side it. Grace and Isabella, the un.
married sisters, and Joe, filled tho pew.
Young Mr.. Floyd (who was radical in
his views), or any visiting clergymen
might preach what they chose, the
Demmings listened with the same
calm, devout pleasure. It never occur.
red to them to dispute any opinion
promulgated by minister of their
church. 1t was "all good" like the BIZ
BILE. There was no room for choice in
either. The squire would be just as
likely to read a chapter in Numbers to
penltent sinner as one in st. John.
The effect Oh his mind was very much
the same. Both had the soothing ef-
feet of a repeated charm which set him
safely apart from other men.
You would always find on the Dem
ming's centre table all the papers and
magazines published by the denomina-
ton. Their house was the headquar-
tiers for clergymen and colporteurs.
The girls could tell you at moments
notice where such and such minister
was now, how long DIR. D. of st. Louis
had stayed in Europe, and how much
money had been given to dear Mr.. j.
by his flock in Chicago to visit the Holy
Land. They were exceedingly fond,
too, of religious poems, and could re.
peat whole pages of Henry Kirks
White and Miss Havergal. They took
an eager interest in all foreign mission
ary work; the story of these heroic men
in African jungles or Indian bunga-
lows had all the dramatic power of q
novel for them. Grace declared she
had a positive affection for that lovely
Miss W., who was at work in Ceyloa,
and considered Mrs. s. who was in
Hong Kong, one of the apostolic type
of Christians, although she had never
seen either of them. Isabella took
more interest in the ascetic doctrines
coming into notice. She protested q
delight in symbolism, filed her room
with religious emblems and pictures,
wore black on Good Friday and lilies
on Easter, and tasted as religiously az
any Episcopalian. Every week she
noted down in her diary the change in
her spiritual condition. The whole
family were fluent in the use of theo-
logical terms, and talked garrulously
of the doctrines of their denomination {;
indeed, works of controversy on this
subject filled their book shelves.
This familiarity with the outer gar
ments of religion made them appear de-
vout in the eyes of others, and in their
own. They were well-to-do family,
and hence felt none of the temptations
of poverty. They were naturally gen
tie, unpretending, amiable folks, and
hence were not likely to yield to the
temptations of wealth. Their pleasant,
mild harmlessness, which was in fact
due to temperament, was set down by
their friends as the effect of piety.
Life to the Demmings was like long
summer day until 200 brought his wife
home. None of the family had ever
seen her. They knew she was one of
the Anstruthers of Kentucky.
'There are Anstruthers in the United
Presbyterian Church." said Grace. II
hope Mary belongs to our membership. :"
"Oh, yes, certainly" said Joe eager
ly. He was just starting to be married
and he was very anxious that they
should all love Polly in advance.
"Does she sing in the choir?" asked
Isabel.
II think not. But she has one of the
sweeteet voices-a low contralto. And
you ought to hear her laugh, Belle! The
merriest ring-oh, she'll bring new life
into this housed"
The girls smiled. They we're fond of
Joe, and ready to welcome his wife.
~ l oh 30 ~ Ao1-
leading place in the church, said Grace,
after he had gone. "Joe will some day
fill fathers place, and his description Of
her does not give me the idea of an ener-
getically religious woman"
"Well hope for the best" said Isa-
bella. She was very busy making an
imitation stained glass window for the
Sunday school room, and was anxious
to finish it before Mary arrived.
"Uncle Ben must be kept in his own
room when she comes, and Tom can be
sent to the country for a months VISIT"
Grace said, her delicate cheek flushing
painfully.
For there were two skeletons in the
Demming household. The sources
brother Ben, who was paralytic old
soldier and most cross-grained, pro-
fame old fellow, occupied one wing of
the mansion. He had man to nurse
and read to him, for his oaths were in
tolerable to his nieces. Tom was their
brother, younger than Joe. Tom Dem
ming had disappeared for three years
after he left college, and came back u
haggard, dissipated loafer. Nobody in
Balls Ferry knew what he had done in
that gap of time, but was certain that
he was under the ban-a marked man.
The family treated him with gloomy
patience. They had taken up their
cross and bore it; but it was heavy, and
he knew they found it heavy. Tom
was never seen by visitors at the table
or in the parlor. At dusk he would
skulk out to Join some of