The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1894-12-29
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sleepy town, and the church felt the
quickening current.
Miss Daphne Grant, however, was
the liveliest institution of the town.
Her father had been its founder in
the DAYS when he sold calico and
molasses, nails and salt Goldfish to the
farmers, for their butter, eggs, and
cheese, turning an honest penny there
by, in spite of the narrowness of his
accessories in population and rapid
transit. He built a schoolhouse and
a church, in the first of which he in
stalled his only daughter, Daphne,
and in the latter man who won the
hearts of the people in his buoyant
youth, to retain them in extreme old
age. Mr.. Grants memory survived
in the name of the town, and in the
inherited activity of his daughter.
She had, as before stated, guided old
and young through the reader and
spelling book, thence onward through
the rule of three, and Lindley Muir
ray; she was still primary teacher,
and the head and front of the school
committee, to which she had simply
gravitated under the neutral form of
election.
When, therefore, her ancestral
church discussed change in its an
Gent service, Miss Daphne's opinion
was eagerly sought. 1t was this: "The
old way in which my father wor-
shipped God is sufficient for me. 1t
has served for hundreds of better
men and women than we can ever
hope to be, but if there are those who
need something different, I'll not
stand in the way. Only let it be un-
derstood that if we who are satisfied
make this change for others, they
must see that the church does not
suffer for it. And every one of us
must do our best to make the service
useful" So it was finally adopted,
and the young people crowded the
pews with bright faces, their fresh
voices joining in the responses in ev-
cry tone of the gamut. Then it was
that Miss Daphne's trial began.
"This will never, never do" she
whispered to Deacon Trueman's wife,
as they walked down the aisle after
service.
81 thought you favored it, Miss
Daphne; but I didn't from the fust
ont. What's come over ye?"
"Why they all cantered they actu-
ally cantered through selection, psalm
and prayer" And Miss Daphne beat
tattoo on her prayer-book in imita-
ton of the goddess gallop.
"Well, s'pose they wanted to git
through whit. I'd as lief they hur-
ried as not. The sermons what /
come to church for; all the readin'
and the singin' s no use to me" said
Mrs. Trueman, in frank illustration
of the difficulty of fitting one service
to everybody's need.
WASN'T it fine, Miss Daphne?"
next said a young girl, with a beam
ing face, 81 enjoyed it so much"
ooh, Clara Dent and | taught you
to read!" groaned Miss Daphne.
"When did you ever before read
psalm without breath or pauses"
81 think" interposed young man
at the girls side, Eve hurried to get
through with our part before Mr..
Thomas began his. Perhaps you
noticed, Miss Daphne, that we failed
to do it even then"
Miss Daphne had noticed. Some
thing must be done.
"George," she said, earnestly" next
Sunday you and Clara come with me
up to the front pew, and let us try to
read the rest into proper order" She
we'll knew the pair would be delighted
to stand by each other and read from
one book. "In the meantime, | will
talk with friends as | meet them, and
you do the same. Tell them they can,
at least, mind the stops"
Throughout the week, therefore,
Miss Daphne, at every opportunity,
sought or accidental, exhorted, illus
trated. and entreated in behalf of
moderation and accuracy. She called
on her dear old pastor and was met
with a smile SO beaming, and hand
shake SO friendly, she shrapk from
naming her Grand. Before she was
seated, however, he came, unwit-
tingly, to her assistance.
"Well, Miss Daphne, how are you
pleased with the new order of SER
vice? The congregation joined in
with great unanimity. l found it
wonderfully animating to hear the
voices of my people united in divine