Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1897-01-14
Miss Penel0pe's Idol
Marshall Saunders. in The Commonwealth.

ciety was the idol of her soul.
"Zareby," she cried, in 4 quavering
voice, give me that idol"
The children all ran to her except Fare
by. who stood still, and laid protecting
hand on the top of the idols head.
THE missionaries sent me that idol
out of India" said Miss Penelope.
Yes, and you lent it to us for our
bazaar" replied Zareby.
"lll-Ill take it back" said Miss Pene-
lope.
But the bazaar amt over" exclaimed
dozen disappointed voices.
You're worshipping it." said Miss Pen
elope, land that amt right
We'll. | don't care, take back your
old idol" said Zareby. handing it over
the fence; III make another. They're
only the work of mems hands"
"Zareby, Zareby," said Miss Penelope.
solemnly, whats got into your
Satan is riding through the valley on
a hroom-stick, my ma says. replied the
child, smartly. You're going TO drive
away Mr. Brother Pastor when he amt |
done thing. and ma says she'll not join |
your old church now; she don't want re-
ligion if that's the way YOU act. An I'm |
going to he heathen-its lots of fun. |
I've told six lies to-day, an | can slap |
anybody that | like without saying 'ex-
cuse me, an I'd rather be a heather than |
Christian"
| Zarehy's black eyes flashed wickedly. |
| She had been leading her teacher a life |
| that morning, and Miss Penelope dinly |
comprehended il as she looked at her.
"larehy, Zarehy--" she began. warning |
| ", but at that minute the school bell
rang, and the children flashed away from
| her.
She gazed in dismay at the leerng face
of the clay image; then, holding it at
arms length, she retraced her steps to
| the house.
| Her soul was filled with concern about
the spiritual state of Zareby's mother.
| and she intended to seek her out without
delay and reason with her; but that after
| noon, Just after her dinner dishes were
washed poor Brother Pastor was taken
with sudden fit of illness while labor
iously engaged in the composition of his
resignation, and for some days he de-
manded all her attention.
Miss Penelope did not get out until the
afternoon of the conference and business
meeting. That she felt it her bounden duty
to attend, though Brother Pastor was still
ill; for was she not the only sane woman
in this valley full of misguided people.
So she got neighbor to sit with Brother
Pastor, and wrapping herself in shawl
and the iael- in a newspaper, she plodded
through the snow to the church.
Religion. which ought to be the chief
concern of mortals here below, was the
chief concern of the people in the valley.
Once month on Saturday afternoon they
dropped their occupations and came driy-
ing from far and near to attend the con-
ference meeting held in the old white
church. This particular meeting was
uncommonly well attended, for every one
in the valley was in a fever of excite
ment over the resignation of Brother
Pastor. Nothing like it had been known
since twenty years ago. when lion had
escaped from travelling circus and had
run amuck among the farms for three
whole days before being captured.
. There were tearing fires in the two big
stoves in the church. and the air was full
+ of whsperings and murmurs. Most eyes
e We're bent on n youthful Boanerges in
e very black coat and a very white shirt
2 front, who modestly occupied one of the
$ back seats. What clever, brilliant
young man he was. what eye-openers his
2 addresses were-how unfavorahly the old
fashioned utterances of their antiquated
Brother Pastor compared with his blasts
l | of sophomore eloquence.
e The senior deacon presided over the
e meeting. and shortened the devotional
D exercises to half their usual length in or
. der that plenty of time might he given to
the transaction of business later on.
v, Most people present listened impatient
e ~ to the perfunctory prayers and eXhorta-
S tions-the timeworn petitions of Brother
|. Green and Brother Tompkins-the one
i praying that they might he forgiven their