Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1892-05-05

yaded the place. Milly sat for a long tim,
thinking, thinking. Then she walked very
quickly to Mrs. Flint's, who lived near by
"Oh, Mrs. Flint, isn't it disgracefui t
have our meeting house shut up?" she criee
on entering
LA, child what should it be open for?
asked Mrs Flint in amazement.
why, to have minister, as they do al
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 Miiiy.
Mel What can do" sighed poor Mrs.
| Flint aghast.
III yoall get your husband to NOV the
] grass and sweep out, III do the rest
Il don't believe he can"
Eyes, he can if he has a mind tn II
wouldn't take an hour" asserted Milly
We'll I'll ask him, but know he
won't"
"Oh, don't ask him; tell him he must, 1"
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 inside.
notice in a feminine hand appeared on
the Postofice door, and another was nailed
to the big elm (the natives calling it elluml
at 1.-THE Corners" to the effect that sun
day, Aug. %, b. ", there will be services
in the Congregational church. All are in.
vited." Old men put on their spectacles
and read these notices slowly through
usually aloud, and also usually said. 81
declar' for'tp'
No one could tell anybody anything fur.
ther, but the farmers drove back to their
lonely homes with pleasant thrill of an
ticipation. Something was going to ham
pen ut last even in Plumville. The WON
en-, when they heard, were much excited.
The most dissipated among them had
never seen a circus OF a minstrel show since
they we're 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
The news was wonderful. Miss Bacon
perked up and got her alpaca" gown out
of the camphor ''chist" to basic fresh lace
at the wrists Mrs. Smith went to talk IL
over" with Miss Brown, and staid to tea
an unheard Of self indulgence. Half the
women texactly four at THE Corners"
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 a tremendous pitch.
On Sunday morning, Aug. %, the farmers
for five miles around came over the hills
and plunged down into Piumviile valley.
The horseshed was full of teams" every
hitching post was in use. Even Deacon
Bird was on time, marshaling his numer-
Gus progeny down the aisle, quite uncon.
scious las all good men are) of the make
shifts in their attire, called thus suddenly
tododaty as Sundays go o-meeting clothes
The soft summer air swayed the long cob
webs depending from the rusty stovepipes
and blew out the musty faint of moldy |
1t was half past TO- Perfect silence
reigned in the little bare church Some |
gray heads were bent forward, as befittinQ |
,he place, but lively eyes glanced over the !
'peetacles in eager expectation. A few |
women shaded their eyes with coarsened /
hands in pretense Of being ut prayer, but !
sven there profound alertness was visi- |
Bile Then this happened: Milly French [
rose and came forward to the communion
able, upon which stood a basket of lovely
erns and late roses. She looked serious,
out not at all frightened. She read a
1salm in clear voice, gave ont a hymn
which was sung by three elderly women
n the front pew, then she opened book
md read Phillips Brooks sermon from
he text, Comfort ye my people" 1t can
,e imagined, perhaps, how these sympa-
hetic words chained the attention and
ouched the hearts of all present. 1t was
! pretty sight and never to be forgotten
" those who saw it.
Az the close the Doxology was given
With will. And thus, d. v, the Plum
lille church was opened on Sunday morn
ng, Aug. %, and it has never been closed
ince. That was years ago, but Milly
french still reads a sermon there every
unday morning. She has educated that
eople far beyond their means to pay for.
hey invite no candidate to their pulpit.
hey are familiar with the great preach
rs OF the world. Some incline to Episco-
acy and do not see how you can get
round the laying on Of hands" Some
re BeecherItes; others agree with Chan
ing. Dean Stanley and Canon Farrar
ave following. Robertson and Maurice
re admired and loved. No creed binds
heir conseiences no formulated vow re-
trains them. They range over spiritual
-uths as presented by different and differ
ig minds. Earnest discussion and zeal
us argument show on occasion unusual
and cultivation.
Thanks to Milly French, Plumville, a
over Of vines and flowers. is one Of the
rettiest of small villages physically while
" intellectual and spiritual training it is
ne of the most advanced. Augusta w
-ellnun In Harnnris NNnnLIr