The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1895-06-07
"What do you know about souls2
You Amt n preacher"

know am only q very ignorant
young girl. but may be able to
be OF use To YOU" Lilith began To feel
quiet fluent Let us talk together
little and see il | can help you, and
shouldn't wonder II you could help
me-"
You amt SO very young" said the
child, who appeared only to be able to
understand by sections, and had got
no further than that assertion She
was looking gravely at Lilith's COM
plexion, and again her tone showed no
rudeness, only a quiet preference for
facts
Not so young as you, of course"
Lilith said, still undiscouraged. But
what does my age matter; what does
anyone's age matter when we think
about eternity?"
"Do you think about eternity?" asked
the child. with polite interest.
This was moment when il seemed
to Lilith that the truth would be be-
coming. II used not to think of it;
used to be idle and worldly, and go to
balls and theaters every night" This
was something Of an exaggeration, but
|
II only cared for knowing grand peo-
pie, and amusing myself, but this
morning l heard words which made
me want to take life more seriously"
This mornin'-you only knew you
was sinner this mornin', and comes
round this afternoon districtin'. /
don't call that conversion, and in that
at, too"
The tone was more of sorrow than of
anger. Lilith began to be impatient
Never mind my hat" she said.
But do mind yer at" the girl said,
mournfully. No one as cared for 'er
soul would go about in at like that,
let alone carin for the souls of other
people. I'm sinner" (this with sud
den assertion of self-respect)-"Ive
knowed I'm a sinner this seven months,
but don't go preachin to others yet
And | wouldn't wear at like that,
no-not if I'd got young man,
wouldn't"
MY poor child" Lilith said, with a
last effort TO fulfill her mission, don't
let us talk of young men and such
worldly topics"
"A young mans well enough" said
the girl, cly-"that is if he fears
! the Lord and don't drink; and mans
the 'ead of the woman, and we amt
| got any call TO despise them. IL you'd
! got a young man you'd be out walkin'
with i'm, instead OF comm ere preachin'
in that at. | don't old with women
preachin.' Let the women be silent in
your churches Churches means wher-
ever there's preachin' goin' on. 1t amt
my place to speak the word, but I'm
sorry for yer. Elizabeth my dear
! turning gently to the muttering Grip
! plc), don't you make them faces-they
amt natural. Not bus what-(turning
stcrnly to poor Lilith) not but what
'er face, though it's the face of strick-
EN- idjit, is better than yours. She amt
got no paynt on. No-nor no curled
fringe; she don't wear a Eighty
at and feather Dor. | read 'er
about Jezebel and 'er paynted eyes the
other day-just as warnn'; but you
need it more than 'er. And that Dor.
Lady, tell yer solemn land she did
indeed tell it very sS)lemn) that Dor
round yer neck is just a moose draggin'
yer to ell. There was some as wanted
me to wear one. Meas knows I'm a
sinner. 'Lor, Hammer they says,
what's the use of mopin'-get feather
Dor, and come TO us at the street cor
ner'" 60 go to the street corner is
simply to go into society, and the
feather boa is the token that you are
there for amusement and recreation
in evening-dress, in fact - and not
Sit nr,1t 70 I'll
or summon your menfollx from the pub
lic-house.) The child went on monot-
onously, after momentary break,
while she soothed the muttering of the
cripple: But wouldn't ear it. No
l says, no feather bors nor no street
corners for me. why not?' says they.
Lots of us gets 'usbands that way
No, thank yer says /. What, don't
yer want 'usband, Hanner?' says
they. Not the sort of husband as looks
for wife at the street corner, says l."
The stern child ended her anecdote
with certain dramatic force that
seemed to dismiss Lilith.
1T seems | can be of no use to you,"
she said, rising
You'd better think about bein' of
use to yerself first" the child said, with
real friendly pity. .'Wash that paynt
off yer face; get rid of that curled
fringe, tayke out them feathers, dress
sober and decent so that people can see
you're respectable-if yer are respect
able-and then yer'll be more fit to
come talkin' about souls to people as
knows they're sinners already. Sim
ners! why, that pore afflicted idjit in
the corner knows she's sinner better
thany you I've taught 'er. She's nearer
/ glory than you are. Elizabeth, my
dear, you give me that dead mouse; it
amt pretty plaything for Christian
child"
Lilith was on her way to the door.
/ The mournful sinner followed her, in
cidentally throwing the mouse through
the window as she passed.
II ope / amt offended yer spoke
| for yer good. If yer really wants to
know yer sinner you come to me, and
! I'll 'elp yer Our Mr.. Patters at the
/ chapel"