Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1901-03-01
:" NJ MoCanIslo- Iwhlspered to ME.

Hewett -i49
BY the time they had reached their
seat the singing had stopped. There was
the usual buzz of whispering and gen
eral rustic of people getting seated, and
then the minister began to pray. 1t was
a long PRAYER and Mrs. Hewett with
her bowed head resting on the desk in
'front.' of her, wondered what her husband
was dong at that minute-if he had
guessed why she had not returned. She
remembered the one time she had spoken
TO him of the irrengious life she felt they
led, and asked him to take her regularly
to church. Before that time they had
ocCaslohly gone TO morning service, but
this was the first time since that talk
that she had been to a service of any
kind; Her cheeks burned, and her heart
No one could understand how bitterly
ne would be opposed to her being there.
she planned guilty TO keep from him the
knowledge of her having been at the
meeting.
The prayer ended abruptly. and the
minister began singing. Not many knew
the piece. Three or four women sang
with their frightened voices through the
first verse and then stopped. The minis
ter sang on through the remaining verses
OF the hymn. lie was seated behind the
teachers desk on the platform. and when
ne mad finished singing he put down the
book and stood up. lie was an old man
ana very tall His gray hair was rather
long, and hung loosely on his head. His
face was clean-shaVen, with heavy cheek
bones, and large. weak mouth. His
eyes were gray and limpid. After looking
over his audience for minute, he began
speaking, in earnest, half-sobbing tones,
OF the CruCitiNiOn.
In few minutes women We're crying
softly all over the room. They suffered
physically, SO WILDLY had been pictured
To them ,he anguish and suffering of the
scene.
Mrs. Hewett sobbed aloud. hiding her
face in her handkerchief Mrs. Mccall
lister with the tears rolling down her
al listened hFa "a sol
And Yet his blood flowed for you, my
SHINING friend. Oh, let the blood of the
cross be upon your hearts! Let its mark
be upon the doors OF your homes. Get
behind the blood; nothing else will save
you! And now, while We sing the three
hundreds and-forty- ninth hymn, let every
cleansing. come forward. This is the
pace, this is the time when you are
gong to leave all for Christ ,,cor
whispered TO Mrs. Hewett.
"Oh, l don't know"
Come. III go with you. Don't you
feel a call? Don't you want to go?'
Yes. Oh, / dom know If l do or not A."
Come on III go with you
Inc TWO women We're sitting near the
front of the room; and before Mrs. Hew-
EFT could speak again, she felt herself
draWn forward, and fell on her knees
with the rest around the platform.
Some one came in and partly closed the
door in the back of the room. The peo-
pie who were in their seats turned to see
VINO II was, ana there were whispered
comments. The man who had come in
stood with his back against the wall his
broad felt hat still on his head. He had
a run beard. His brown eyes looked in
qulrlngly around the room. There was
an indifference in his attitude and glance
that changed suddenly into one of intense
interest lie took off hls hat and went
quickly down the aisle toward the front
of the room.
There's John Hewett going forward, "
some one whispered.
An old man looked up from the bench
where he was kneeling, and shouted
The lost is found! Brother Hewett' s
coming to the Lord"
There We're loud amens all over the
room.
John Hewett made his way among the
kneelng people to his wife's side. lie
knelt down beside her and whispered
something in her ear, then stood up and
walked slowly back to the door. Mrs.
Hewett followed him. The room grew
suddenly quiet. The old man, who had
been praying loudly, stopped with an inn
patient grOan.
When they We're outside in the school
yard John Hewett turned and looked at
his wife.
Just wait n minute, Lucy, and III
bring the wagon around"
She made no reply. lie drove around
where she was and helped her in, and
they rode silently away.
~ never saw the moon any brighter
than it is tonight. / believe you could
see to read paper he said.
They We're nearly home. She gave q
half-sob and turned her head away.
Don't feel bad, Lucy. l shouldn't
have thought you'd have done 1t. didn't
suppose you was so weak but l dom
a row they made when they saw me com
ing forward! Caught this time says
theyl'
"oh, John how ca4 you?"