Middletown transcript., 1891-09-10

The three previous meetings, the at.
tendance was to be unusually large.
People were still coming, the heavy
wagons rattling over the. hard prairie
roads. The horses were hitched to
the fence around the school-house.
When Mr.. and Mrs. McCallistel
drove up III their light spring wagon
with Mrs Hewett, it was with diff
culty that Mr.. McCallister found
room to hitch his horse. The lights
from the open doors and windows
shone out, and the people were sing
ing.
"It's too bad we have to miss any
of it." Mrs. McCallister whispered to
Mrs. Hewett.
By the time they had reached their
seat the singing had stopped. There
was the usual buzz of whispering and
general rustic of people getting set
tied, and then the minister began to
pray. 1t was long prayer, and Mrs.
Hewett, with her bowed head resting
on the desk in front of her, wondered
what her husband was doing at that
minute-if he had guessed why she
had not returned. She remembered
the old time she had spoken to him
of the irreligious life she felt they
led, and had asked him to take her
regularly to church. Before that
time they had occasionally gone to
morning service. but this was the first
time since that talk that she had been
to a service of any kind. Her cheeks
burned, and her heart throbbed pain
fully.
No one could understand how bit
terly he would be opposed to her
being there. She planned guiltily to
keep from him the knowledge of her
having been at the meeting.
The prayer ended abruptly, and
the minister began singing. Not
many knew the piece. Three or four
women sang with their frightened
voices through the first verse and then
stopped. The minister sang on
through the remaining verses Of the
hymn. He sat behind the teachers
desk on the platform, and when he
had finished singing he put down the
book and stood up. He was an old
man and very tall. His gray hair
was very long, and hung loosely on
his head. His face was clean-shaven,
with heavy cheek bones, and large
weak mouth. His eyes were gray
and limpid.. After looking over his
audience for q moment he began
speaking, in earnest, half-sobbing
tones, Of the crucifxion.
In few minutes women were cry
ing softly all over the room. They
suffered physically, so vividly had
been pictured to them the anguish
and suffering of the scene.
Mrs. Hewett sobbed aloud, hiding
her face in her handkerchief. Mrs.
McCallister, with the tears rolling
down her cheeks, listened breathless-
ly.
"And yet His blood flowed for
you, my shining friend. Oh, let the
blood of the cross be upon your
hearts Let its mark be upon the
doors of your homes. Get behind the
blood F.; nothing else will save you !!
And now, while We sing the S49th
hymn, let everyone who has never
felt this blessed cleansing come for
ward. This is the place, this is the
time, when you are going to leave all
for Christ
Are you going?" Mrs. McCallis-
ter whispered to Mrs. Hewett.
"Oh, don't know"
"Come. I'll go with you. Don't
you feel a call !? Don't you want to
go?"
"Yes. Oh, I don't know if I do
or not"
"Come on. I'll go with you"
The two women were sitting near
the front Of the room; and before
Mrs. Hewett could speak again, she
felt herself drawn forward, and fell on
her knees with the rest around the
platform. -
Some one came in and-partly clos
ed the door in the back of the room
The people who were in their seat
turned to see who it was. and there
were whispered comments. The man
who had come in stood with his back
against the wall, his broad felt .ha
still on his head. He had a full
beard. His brown eyes looked in
quiringly around the room. There
was an Indifference in his attitude
and glance that chapged.4suddenly
into one of intense interest: He took
off his hat, and went quickly dowr
the aisle toward the front Of the room
There's John HeWetf going for
ward" some one whispered.
An old man looked upt' from thu
bench where he was kneeling, and
shouted: "The lost is found
Brother Hewett.s; coming to thu
| Lord 7" :: =
There we're loud amens alfpver thu
room.
John Hewett made his way among
the kneeling people to his wife's side
He knelt down beside her and whis-
pered something in her ear, ther
stood up and walked slowly back t.
the door. Mrs. Hewett followed him
The room grew suddenly quiet. Th'
old man, who had been praying loud.
ly, stopped with an impatient groan.
When they were outside in th
school-yard, John Hewett turned ant
looked at his wife.
just wait a minute, Lucy, ant
I'll bring the wagon around"
She made no reply. He drov
around where she was and helped he
in, and they rode silently away.
81 never saw the moon any bright
er than it is tonight. l believe yo'
could see to read a paper" he said.
They were nearly home. She CAV
u halfsob and turned her head away
Don't feel had Iucv 7 shouldn'