The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1907-04-04
Easier :
OF Spruce
BY n 0o00
FRANK Fl. I6OllIl
SWEET.
BY
FRANK II.
SWEET.
Copyright. 1906, BY Frank II. Sweet.
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n NEW minister had come 10
IN slow moving out of the way
Io\ Spruce Hill, and with his COM
ing had appeared a spirit of
change and improvement
lie was fresh from his theological
course and eager with youth and love
for the work and with advanced ideas
about music and active cooperation of
the young people. Hitherto the church
had been to them place of solemnity,
only to be visited at required intervals
and as a scarcely to be avoided duty.
Now, under the ministrations of this
young zealot, it gradually came to them
that duty could be approached from
many directions and that not all of
them were necessarily thorny and mar
row. A choir was formed and Il sing
ing class started to stimulate and en-
courage greater proficiency; then came
Bible class, in which the lessons were
presented in Il way to encourage inter
est, and a Christian Endeavor society
that brought ont the young people. At
Christmas there was an entertainment
with much singing, and during the
winter there were praise services and
social gatherings. ANA in June a ser
mon especially for the children, and
through the summer and fall picnics
and outings that brought all the people
together and kept their interest in the
church undiminiShed
Among the other innovations were
the Easter sermon and church decora-
ton. The new minister made the an
nouncement one Thursday evening aft
er prayer meeting and added that he
hoped all would be present and that
the ladies of the church would arrange
for tasteful and appropriate decora-
ton
After service the women stood about
irresolutely, looking at each other with
blank, questioning eyes Spruce Hill
was undeniably on the road toward
prosperity, but its people had not yet
IooSened their grasp on the labor that
was bearing them there Every wo.
man and girl of the community. from
the eight year mite who washed dishes
and 'chored' to the white haired
grandmother knitting in the corner.
had duties for each hour of the day. 1t
was the natural condition of the hard,
unSocial life which had taught them f.
value the practical and substantial and
remain ignorant Of much that was
beautiful and sweet. They had little
time for flowers and, besides the lila"
bushes and ''popcornS" in their yards
and few such perennials as lilies and
phloX and daffodils and perhaps ge-
ranium or Gala in their kitchen win
dows, had literally nothing for even an
outdoor summer display, much less for
a church decoration at Easter. And
even had there been a profusion of
flowers they would have been scarcely
less dismayed. The mere thought Of
decorating church would have ap-
palled them.
81 guess you'll have to excuse me,
Mr.. Kent" one of them said at last
bluntly. Il haven't any flowers except
one geranium which don't bloom. an.
besides, | don't know anything about
decoratin' an amt got no time either"
Nor me-" Nor me-" Nor me-"
came in rapid succession and with evil
dent relief from the other women.
ooh, come, come; this will never do.
expostulated the minister decidedly
Surely each of you can spare a little
time from work. | will help with thu