Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-10-27
A QUAKER MEETING.
Why Dick and Dorothy Were Too Late
to Attend One.


From the Detroit Free Press.
"Thee may have the horse to take friend
Richard to meeting, Dorothy" said my
father, ''but | will not have thee junketing
about the roads on the Lords Day for
naught but thy own pleasure"
81 have always wanted to go to Quaker
meeting" said Dick, giving me tender
look; at must be very interesting place
of worship"
Dick Howells was of the worlds people,
while / was Quaker's daughter, but oh
how did long to wear the lovely bright
colors l saw on other girls, and go into the
pleasures of the world about which my
brothers. friend Dick had told me so much.
Ny mother not being very well my father
would not leave her to attend meeting that
first day, and my brother had gone to a
distant meeting where pretty Quaker lass
had attraction.
whoa there, Jenny" said my father to
the old mare, in exactly the same tone he
had used to her when was baby. "Climb
in, Dorothy. Friend Richard, thee will
drive her gently an thee please"
"She shall have her own way, sill" an
swered Dick, calamity, as he took up the
stiff leather reins in his gloved fingers.
81 hope thee will have good meeting"
said my father, and went into the house,
his long white hair floating over his coat
collar-that coat whose skirt nearly
touched his heels, and which made him
look like patriarch. Dear coat and dear
wearer. 1t was a marriage garment he
was not ashamed to wear.
sect up" said Dick, Pickering the whip
over old Jenny, who laid one ear back in
remonstrance. "Now, where is that won
derful meeting, Dolly?'
"Over there in the hollow where the
willows grow. You can see the people
going in now. And oh ! Dick, the men all
sit on one side and the women on the
other, and they worship in silence"
81 don't doubt it," said Dick fippantly.
"Now, if go with you, Dolly, / shall sit
with you that is part of my religion"
"Oh, no, no." / cried in alarm. "that
would never do. That would be like the
worlds people"
at is too early" said Dick, ignoring my
speech; "we will drive along that shady
road where the trees meet over head"
"That is Lovers Lane" said, and then
at the look he gave me | wished l had
held my peace.
We drove along, and somehow the air
was so sweet, and the birds sang so blithely,
and there was such heavenly eestacy in
our hearts that we forgot all about first
day and meeting, and when we turned and
reached the gray old building, Dick looked
at his watch and said it was too late. We
could hear the voice of the prophecies
who at intervals cried out;
"Hearken and hear, hearken and hear~
"They are having good meeting" l
said reverently.
$50 are we." Dicks voice fell, and
there was tremor in it.
GLOW did you like the meeting, friend ~
asked my father at dinner.
Every much, indeed" answered Dick.
"What quaint, picturesque method of
worship, so much simpler and better than
ours. Almost thou persuadest me to be
Quaker 1t was a service of love-"
That afternoon [ sat with our guest in
the front room when we saw a neighbor
come in, and soon | heard my fathers
voice raised in anger. He called me to
him. My mother had risen from her
chair, and was looking white and dis
tressed.
'Did thee go to meeting this day, Doro-
thy ?" asked my father with an angry in
tonation of voice; "answer me, yea or nay"
Hardly had my lips formed trembling
"Nay," when my lovers arm was around
my waist and his voice rang ont:
"Fatherl Mother told you that it
was service of love. In the presence of
the ministers of earth and air, Gods holy
angels, Dorothy and were betrothed this
morning. She has promised to be my
welded wife, and so we were too late for
meeting"
There was storm, but it blew over.
We have been very, very happy, but Dick
always says he was defrauded out of the
only chance he ever had to attend