The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-11-07

about it,"
In the spring it seemed as if every
kernel of grain that had been sown
came up with a purpose to show
what could be done under the most
adverse circumstances.
cit is a lesson to us!" Madam
Vaughn would say, as it grew and
grew until the bearded heads all
swayed evenly together above the
rocks and logs and stumps, making
of the great round hill beautiful
and wonderful sight. "We must
rise above our surroundings if we
are to accomplish our purposes in the
world" And over and over she said:
"What are we to do about that beau
tiful crop?"
"We might burn it," some one sug-
gested. at is ripening now, and we
could easily set the logs and stumps
on fire."
"No, that would be wrong. 1t
would be waste. Let us ask the Lord.
He will show us the way. He has
given us a good season and heavy
crop, enough for some good purpose,
if only we could bring it about"
The haying in the neighborhood
had all been done, after fashion,
and the men had gone to the distill-
cry for holiday, as it was their habit
to do after finishing one piece Of
work, before beginning another.
"The brawling of the men from the
distillery can be heard even here"
said Tabitha. at is hard telling what
they will do before night if they get
as noisy as this SO early in the morn
ing"
"And they have taken some of the
boys with them for the first time. 1t
is great shame" replied Madam
Vaughn. cit seems to me there must
be some way for us to put stop to
such things. That I do not accomp
fish more must be because l have no
men folks of my own in whom l am
particularly interested. l do not
pray in faith; and it may be the same
way with you, Tabitha."
"There is some one in whom have
a deep interest, but there seems to
be no way in which can help him to
a better life," and Tabitha related
her brief love episode.
"Let us call the women together
and talk it over" said Madam
Vaughn. "The men have continual
holidays, but the women work from
years end to years end. This shall
be the women's day"
So they made rally; there were
foot paths, the nearest cut between
all the houses. No one took time to
go by the road, and in a surprisingly
short while all the women in the
neighborhood were assembled in
Tabitha's neat kitchen.
st is easy to talk and to sigh and
to weep" said Mother Phillips, "but
what can we do that will be of
effect?"
Harvest the rye ourselves" said
Tabitha.
"That would please them too we'll"
said some one else.
"We would do it for good luck. It
would be the first stroke of work
without liquor"
II have often used the reaping
hook in my own country" said one
who had not been over long.
at is the full of the moon," sug-
gested another.
"And the men, tired with their day
at the distillery, will go to bed with
the hens"
Sand we can reap the rye, there
are so many of us, between moonrise
and dawn" decided Tabitha. 81 my
self, if l set out, can reap as much as
any man in the settlement"
"Women have rights" said Mad
am Vaughn. Let us take the right
to reap that grain. We have asked
that it may be done without the help
of liquor. The Lord has given us
the opportunity and shown us the
way. Let us ask him to bless our
undertaking."
They all knelt, in their blue and
white check, home made linen gowns,
on the white sanded floor, and when
they again stood up, looking into
each others faces, there was not the
shadow of a doubt anywhere remain
ing.
"Now go home and prepare food
for our midnight meal" said Madam
Vaughn, who was born leader, and
Tabitha added: Sand | will heat my
chimney oven, and you can bring
your food here and cook it when it is
prepared"
This was done: and while the