The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-08-02
Mrs. Mumfords First Caller.


When the Mu1nfords m5ved 20 Oak
Park last spring they went into the town
as utter strangers, and owing TO the fact
that they have had few callers it has
been rather lonely. Mrs. MImford, espe-
cially, has found life dull and monoto-
nous during the last three months.
ITS all right for you. Fred she said
10 her husband one evening few weeks
ago, because you go into town every
day and meet your business acquaint-
ances. but think Of me being alone out
here with no friends to run IN and see
and nobody even TO speak 10 on the
street. Unless we begin 10 get acquaint-
ed pretty soon I just won't be able to
stand it,
We'll, Elizabeth" Mr.. Mumford re-
Piled, I'm sorry for you, but honesty
don't know how I can help matters.
If the ladies won't call 7 certainly can't
go out and drag them in"
NO" she answered, but there's one
thing you can do. You can go TO church
with me. We've been barbarians long
enough. There's nothing like church
for bringing people together. If We be-
come regular attendants somewhere it'll
not be long before the members of II
begin to take an interest IN US. And the
best thing about making friends in this
way is that you needn't be afraid you'll
get in with the wrong set. One never
runs any risk in getting acquainted with
church people. Let's take a pew some
where and begin TO go regularly"
Frederick Mumford could think Of no
good argument to make against his
wife's proposition, and therefore con-
scented TO her plan.
On the following Sunday they went 10
church and were cordially welcomed.
There were no callers during the first
week after their regeneration, but they
tried II a second time, and after the
services were over several Of ,le nernbrs
shook hands with them and announced
their intention to call.
IT must tell DIR. Goodleigh about you"
said g genial, motherly looking lady TO
Mrs. Mumford, land I know ne will be
pleased to give you a special invitation
to join our church. The doctor is such
fine man! He's been away for the last
month or SO, but we expect him back
this week -
Two or three days later Mrs Mumford
was sitting on the front porch. busy With
her fancy work. when a gentleman
whose long, black coat was closely but
toned turned up the walk toward her
She hastily put her work aside and ad-
vanced TO meet him at the steps.
He had his card ready, and as he held
it out re said:
Good morning. Is this Mrs. Mumford?
I am Dr. -"
"Oh, I'm very glad to see you, doc
tor, indeed" she replied, taking the card
and shaking his hand. without waiting
for him TO finish. Won't you come into
the parlor?"
He followed her inside, and sat down
in the chair that she pushed forward for
him.
SCI suppose Mrs. Pleasanton spoke to
you about US. She told me she intended
to do so. It's very kind of you 10 call
so soon. You see. we are strangers
here. and It has beer awfully lonesome.
But l know we shall like your church
very much. I'm so sorry my husband
isn't here to meet you. He has never
been much of a church-goer and l must
confess that we had rather an unworthy
motive in starting here, at first. It was
to get acquainted, rather than 70 be bet
ter people, that we decided to become
regular attendants OF course, have al
ways wanted to be connected with some
church, but I have never been able TO
get Mr.. Mumford to go. Now I am be-
ginning 10 hope that he viii get inter
ested and want to join. Our coming out
here will be the greatest blessing that
could have happened 10 US il he DOES
that. Ny folks are all Episcopalians,
and my Uncle Alfred is senior warden
in one Of the churches at Cincinnati
But I must admit that I hardly ike so
much form as they go through with, es-
peciaIy in the high church, and that's
the one we have always belonged TO.
would prefer some other denomination
on my husbands account, If not my own
because ne IS very much opposed to any
thing but the simplest kind OF a service.
His people are Baptists, but he is rath r
inclined 10 break away from them, TOO.
Do you believe in hell-hre and close COM
munton? There's no use trying 10 get
Mr.. MumfOrd into a church where they
scare people. He's very peculiar in some
ways, but the best-hearted man you ever
saw. What a beautiful church you have
and how lovely the members all arel
What do you think of infant d4mnation?
My sister Maud. who lives in Buffalo lost
such sweet little girl a year ago this
summer and she wasn't baptized. Oh,
We ali feel just terrible about It, They
didn't belong to any church, and so #
was neglected. II almost breaks my
heart every time 1 think of it, for we
loved the dear little thing just as much
as Il she had been our own. That's one
reason why l tell my husband We ought
TO belong. for you never can tel what
might happen. Often and often l wake
up at night and see the sweet little viii @
face and wonder If there could be such
a thing as that innocent lamb lost for
ever, just because her parents didn't
have her baptized. Excuse me, doctor;
can't help cr-crying whenever I think
OF It"
The gentleman had tried two or three
times to say something but Mrs Mum
ford was fun OF her subject, and there
had been few people whom she could
talk TO. SO she went on until overcome
by grief Then he got a chance, and,
standing up, he said:
Madame. I see there has been a mis-
take. I am not s preacher. I tried 20
tell you my name but 1 guess you didn't
hear it. I am selling q medical work
that l think you would find a valuable
thing TO have in the house. Still, I shan
not ask you to allow me 10 explain it II
You ars not
The look which had spread over Mrs.
Mumford's features apparently convinced
him that q further explanation was IN
necessary. and bidding her good morning
hs backed cut OF the house.
She watched him from behind the cur
tsins and saw that he hurried around
the nearest corner without stopping a.
any OF the other houses on the street
Chicago Times Herald.
Jokes Ofthe Day.
You say the colonel was In the latest
batter