The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1894-03-10

Oil Il Shell isS OTOEe SlA Iitlt~ W IHe Io&'s,~
doorsteps. But this Plumvi boom is far
ahead of my story. Long b. re the flow
crs had begun to be very C., mon there
Milly French puzzled much over the un-
used church. One day she got the key and
went in. Though it was August, the in
terror was cold and damp, almost like II
cellar. CObwel,s hung from the two long
stOvepipes that extended the whole length
of the building. Torn hymn books were
lying about and several window panes were
broken. A general air of desolation per
vatled tie place. Milly sat for IL long time
thinking. thinking. Then sine walked very
quickly to Mrs. Flint's. who lived near 10y.
"Oh, Mrs. Flint. isn't it disgraceful to
have our meeting house shut up?" she crietl
on entering
''l.a, child: what should it I've open for:"
asked Mrs. Flint in Amusement.
"Why. to have n minister. us they 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"
IL don't believe he can
"YeS, he can If he has mind to. 1t
wouldn't take an hour" asserted Milly
well. III ask him. but ! know he
won't" -"--
v..'Oh, dom ask him: tell him he must
said Milly decidedly.
After much protest Mr.. Flint agreed to
cut n few swaths in front of the church
door, but no persuasion could induce him
to attack the cobwehs 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. %, ID. ", 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
declar' for't!'
No one could tell anybody anything fur
ther, but the farmers drove back to their
lonely homes with pleasant thrill OF III
ticipation. Something was going to hap
pen ut last even in Plumville The WON
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 sawit. Some
pious souls had sorely missed religious
privileges. and all had felt the need of Il
gregarious motive.
The news was wonderful. Miss Bacon
perked up and got her ''alpacca" gown out
of the camphor "chist" to haste fresh lace
h,> TO L.
over" with Miss Brown, and staid to teal
women Exactly FOUR at 1.-The Corners
harnessed up and drove to 1.-The Center" to
learn particulars. But no particularly
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, Aug. 70, 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 nuner-
GUS progeny down the aisle, quite uncon
scious las all good men are) of the make
shifts in their attire. called thus suddenly
TODD duty as Sunday o-tO-meeting clothes.
The soft summer air swayed the long cob,
webs depending from the rusty stovepipes.
and blew out the musty faint of moldy
months
It was half past TO- Perfect silence
reigned in the little bare church. Some
gray heads were bent forward, as BETTING
the place, but lively eyes glanced over the
spectacles in eager expectation. 4 few
women shaded their eyes with coarsened
hands in pretense of being at prayer, but
even there a profound alertness was visi
bic. 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 Il
psalm in clear voice, gave out n hymn.
which was sung Ivy three elderly women
in the front pew, Shen 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. 1t was
pretty sight and never to he forgotten
by those who saw it.
At the close the Doxology was given
with will. And thus, D. w., the Plum
vile church was opened on Sunday morn
ing. Aug. %, 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 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
thou oh fn lness and cultivation