The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-02-03

chureh-the true church of Christ! Liz
zies brain reeed as she heard him.
'They come to reason with me and
give me warnn' I'd be set back If +
didn't show l cared more fur the Lord
than what l did fur my child, because
they all seen how in Meein', when Betty
gets sleepy still, l hold her on my lap
and leave her sleep and how l mebbe
smooth her hair still, or mebbe oncet
twicet kiss her yet. It was disrespect-
full 10 Almighty Gawd, they sayed, to
set such affection on my child They
sayed when my child was with me the
Lord wasn't paid much attention to, and
if | didn't mind to myself better He'd
mebbe take my baby from me, they
sayed. And l up and tole EN- they was a
pack of fools. Then they spoke the
scriptures to me how you can read, Call
no man fool lest we be in danger of
hell they says. Then they went. And
here the next week they come and rea-
soned with me again, and wanted to
/ know did, repent of my intemP' rate
language? And | sayed / was willin to
| take half the blame if they'd take the
other half fur speakin' such nonsense to
| a man like what they speaked to me
! which 1t amt to be surprised If it made
| n body mad. But no, they wanted me to
| take the whole blame. my half and
their'n, too, yet! And that there" Dan
/
not dol Half the blame I'd take. But the
other half | wouldn't take. Then here
this afternoon they come to the shop and
| tOle me | was set back till ] become con-
scious to myself I'd done wrong. l tole
| en- l didn't do nothin TO repent. They
/ sayed my department in life testifies
! live earnal Them was their words.
80 I was that put out with 'em, got
rid of EN- as soon as l otherwise could
! And now Lizzie, to be sure since I'm SET
| back you'll have to come out of meetin,
too. Don't wait till they set you back
/ Just you up and leave 'em know open,
that you amt no more one of EN-. /
i didn't tell you none of this before, but
now since I'm set back, to be sure you
! had to know Don't leave it bother you
any. 1t don't bother me any. l was
anyhow gettn' to feel that these here
| New Mennonites didn't suit me so very
good with their claiming they're the only
| true church. There's good in all churches,
! l say"
But o Danl' walled Lizzie. "the Luth-
eran religion or the Presbyterians or any
of them churches which belongs to the
/ world, thems no religions to die by, Danl
/ Think what it'll mean to me If you don't
hold out in your profession"
Dan had no time to express his surprise
at this unwonted opposition to him and
/ lack of loyalty to his side, for at this
moment small Betty appeared at the step
| of the porch bearing an armfull of long
stemmed August lilies.
! Betty pick 'em fur 90, DAN" she
overwhelmingly lisped gazing up confidng-
! " into the nonpussed face of her father.
| "Pitty pothieth fur 'ool'
! Dan turned pale. and the determination
in the set of his lips became Bismarekish
as he rose from his chair.
Dan" family cried Lizzie as she
caught that look on his face, what are
! you goin' TO do to herr"
! "I'll have to learn her, Lizzie" Dams
! big, firm voice responded. She S old
| enough to get learnt now and she amt
that dumb Stupid but what she under
! stood me when | toe her she hadn't the
| dare to touch them lilies"
Lizzie sank back in her chair, as usual
acquiescing helplessly.
Dan took the flowers from the child's
| arms, his face growing a bit paler as
she sweetly told him, Betty picked
'em for 90, Dan. Pity pothieth!'
But Dan told you you hadn't the dare,
Betty. You mustn't do what Dan tells
you you haven't the dare to do. I'll have
! to learn you that
lie picked her up and carried her into
the house and Lizzie, in dread of what
was to take place, did not follow.
A great heaviness weighed upon her
heart at the thought of how "set' Dan
was. Would he ever humble his thigh
mind" to the point of giving himself
| I'M" once more to the authority of the
Meeting? She would fervently pray
that the Spirit might soften him-but
oh he was that wonderful set! And
what If he continued obdurate, must be
her course? Her flesh turned cold as she
realized with prophetic certainty the i'm
possibility of her yielding in this matter
to her husband.
BY the rules of the Mennonite faith a
wife can hold no communication with
her husband while he remains either
backslider or an eXcommunicant. She
must assist the church in discipining
him by cutting herself off from all inter-
course with him except what Is unaVold-
able in the fact that they live under
the same roof She cannot sit at table
with him or share his room. one is pro-
hbited even from speaking to him eX-
cept when it is absolutely necessary.
TO Lizzie the tragedy of being obliged
to take this course with her devoted hus-
band the realization of the terrible strain
her naturally yielding mind must bear in
withstandlng his strong will, made her
very soul sick.
Had his own souls salvation been the
only thing at stake she would readily
have sacrificed it and burned in hell for
ever for the sake of her earthly happi-
ness with Dan. But it was his eternal
salvation, also, that was in jeopardy.
Poor Lizzie covered her face with her
hands and prayed passionately for
strength to hold out"
IL.
The next day was Sunday and Lizzie
dressed herself as usual for meeting. On
this Sunday for the first time since their
marriage she would go to meeting with
out Dan.
Dan came into the bed chamber just as
she was putting on her black sunbonnet
over the white cap.
lie started in surprise as he saw Liz
zie dressed for meeting. He was not
prepared for her opposition Indeed he
had not conceived of the possibility of it..
She had shared his room the night be-
fore and had sat at breakfast with him
this morning.
"Where you goin', Lizzie
ITO meetin', DAN"