Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1892-05-05

mir OF dcsolation prevailed the place.
Milly at for long time thinking,
thinking. Then she walked very quick
ly to Mrs Flints, who lived near by.
"Oh, Mrs Flint isn't it disgraceful
to have our meeting house shut up?"
she cried, on entering.
ia, childl what should 1t he open
for?" asked Mrs. Flint, in amazement
"Why, to have minister, as thcy do
at Lincoln, and everywhere else but
just here in Plumville.
There's no use talkin', Milly; we
haven't any money, nor any public
spirit"
IF you'll help me, I'll have that
church open next Sunday" cried
Milly.
mel What can do?' sighed poor
Mrs. Flint, aghast
''If you'll get your husband to NOW
the grass and sweep out, I'll do the
rest"
81 don't believe he can."
"Yes he can, if he has mind to. IT
wouldn't take an hour" asserted Milly.
"Well, I'll ask him, but ! know he
won't"
"Oh, don't ASK him; tell him he must"
said Milly, decidedly.
After much protest Mr.. Flint agreed
to cut few swaths in front of the
church door, but no persuasion could
induce him to attack the cobwebs in
side.
A notice in feminine hand appeared
on the post Office door, and another
was nailed to the big elm (the natives
called it eluna) at ''the Corners" to the
effect that Sunday, August 2s, d. r.,
there will be services in the Congrega-
tional church. All are invited" Old
men put on their spcctacles and read
these notices slowly through-usually
aloud, and also usually said: II de-
clar' for't!"
No one could tell anybody any
thing further; but the farmers drove
back to their lonely homes with
pleasant thrill of anticipation. Some
thing was going to happen at last even
in Plumville. The women, when they
heard, were much excited, The most
dissipated among them had never seen
a circus or minstrel show since they
were very young; that was so long ago
it did not seem as If they saw it. Some
pious souls had sorely missed religious
privileges" and all had felt the need
of a gregarious motive.
This news was wonderful Miss Ba.
con perked up and got her 'alapacca"
gown out of the camphor ''chist" to
baste fresh lace at the wrists Mrs.
Smith went to "talk it over" with
Miss Brown and staid to team un-
heard-of self-indulgence. Half the
women Exactly FOUR at "the Cor
ners" harnessed up and drove to ''the
Center to learn particulars. But no
particulars were forthcoming. There
were the two notices in feminine
hand; there was a freshly-cut path to
the church door and the crossbars
were down; that was all. Curiosity
was at tremendous pitch.
On Sunday morning, August 2S the
farmers for five miles around came
over the hills and plunged down into
Plumville valley. The horse shed was
full of ''teams;" every hitching post
was in use. Even Deacon Bird was on
time, marshaling his numerous progeny
down the aisle, quite unconscious las
all good men are) of the makeshifts in
their attire, called thus suddenly to do
duty as Sunday-go-to- meeting clothes.
The soft summer air swayed the long
cobwebs depending from the rusty
stovepipes and blew out the musty
taint of moldy months
1t was half past ten. Perfect silence
reigned in the little bare church. Some
gray heads were bent forward, as be-
fitting the place, but lively eyes
glanced over the spectacles in eager
expectation. A few women shaded
their eyes with coarsened hands in a
pretense of being at prayer, but even
tls,rc profound alertness was visible
Then this happened: Milly French rose
and came forward to the communion
table, upon which stood basket OF
lovely ferns and late roses. She
looked serious, but not at all fright
ened. She read Psalm in clear
voice, gave out a hymn, which was
sung by three elder women in the front
pew, then she opened book and read
Phillips Brooks sermon from the text;
Comfort ye my people" 1t can be
imagined, perhaps how these sympa-
thetic words chained the attention and
touched the hearts of all present. II
was pretty sight, and never to be for
gotten by those who saw it
At the close the doxology was given
with a will And thus, D. Y, the
Plumville church toas opened on Sun
day morning, August 2s, and it ha:
never been closed since. That was
years ago, but Milly French still reads
sermon there every Sunday morning
She has educated that people far be-
yond their means to pay for. They in
vite no candidate to their pulpit. They
are familiar with the great preacher:
VI buC NOtlos oOllC w
pacy, and do not see ''how you can ge'
around the laying on o hands," Some
are Beecherites; others agree will
Claiming. Dean Stanley and Canor
Farrar have following. Robertson
and Maurice are admired and loved
No creed binds their consciences, NJ
formulated vow restrains them They
range over spiritual truths as presented
by different and differing minds. Earn
est discussion and Jealous argumen
show on occasion unusual thoughtful
ness and cultivation.
Thanks to Milly French, Plumville
bower of vines and flowers, is one >
the prettiest of small villages physic
ally, while for intellectual and spirit
ual training it is one of the most ad
vanced. Augusta w. Kellogg, in Har
per's Weekly.
Mrs. Briskie-"Johnny, did tn
doctor call while was out?" Littl
Johnny (stopping his lay)-"Yes. III