The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-06-08
-1r you1I 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. 1t
wouldn't take an hour" asserted Milly.
well, I'll ask him, but 1 know he
won't"
"Oh, don't ask him; tell him he must. !"
said MiIly 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.
A notice in feminine hand appeared on
the postoffice door, and another was nailed
to the big elm (the natives calling it ellum)
at 1.-The Corners" to the effect that Sun
day, Aug %, d. ", 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. II
decIar' for'tp
No one could tell anybody anything fur
ther, but the farmers drove back to their
lonely homes with a pleasant thrill OF an
ticipation. Something was going to hap
pen at last even in Plumville. The wom-
en-, when they heard, were much excited
The most dissipated among them had
never seen 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.
The news was wonderful Miss Bacon
perked up and got her alpaca" gown out
of the camphor ''chist" to haste fresh lace
at the wrists. Mrs. Smith went to talk it
over" with Miss Brown, and staid to tea
an unheard of self indulgence. Half the
women Exactly fouD at 1.-THE Corners"
harnessed up aid 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 Plumville 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 ali good men are) of the make
shifts in their attire, called thus suddenly
odo duty as Sunday-go-to-meeting clothes.
webs depending from the rusty stovepipes,
and blew out the musty faint of moldy
months.
1t was half past TO- Perfect silence
reigned in the little bare church Some
gray heads were bent forward, as befitting
the place, but lively eyes glanced over the
spectacles in eager expectation. A few
women shaded their eyes with coarsened
bonds in q Of hairer OF b,t
even there a profound alertness was visi-
BILE. 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 frightened. She read a
psalm in clear voice, gave out a hymn.
which was sung by three elderly women
in the front pew, then she opened book
and read Phillips Brooks sermon from
the text, Comfort We my people" 1t can
be imagined, perhaps, how these sympa-
thetic words chained the attention and
touched the hearts of all present. 1t was
a pretty sight and never to be forgotten
by those who saw it.
At the close the Doxology was given
with a will. And thus, d. ", the Plum
vile church was opened on Sunday morn
ing, Aug. IS, and it has never been closed
since. That was years ago, but Milly
French still reads sermon there every
Sunday morning. She has educated that
people far beyond their means to pay for
They invite no candidate to their pulpit.
They are familiar with the great preach
ers of the world. Some incline to Episco-
pacy and do not see how you can get
around the laying on of hands" Some
are Beecherites; others agree with Chan
ming. Dean Stanley and Canon Farrar
have a following. Robertson and Maurice
are admired and loved. No creed binds
their consciences, no formulated vow re-
strains them. They range over spiritual
truths as presented by different and differ
ing minds. Earnest discussion and zeal
Gus argument show on occasion unusual
thoughtfulness and cultivation.
Thanks to Milly French, Plumville,
bower of vines and flowers, is one of the
prettiest of small villages physically, while
for intellectual and spiritual training it is
one of the most acknowledgement W.
kellogg in Harper's Weekly.