Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1912-08-22
ing gulls perchea along the ton Of the

outer chapel, Grace Van Horne heard
her Uncle Eben." who, as usual, was
conducting the meeting. speak Of
them who, in purple and fine linen,
with organs and trumpets and vain
shows, are gathered elsewhere in this
community to hear hired priest
make mock Of the gospel" (A-men!)
! But John Ellery. the hired priest, I"
knew nothing Of this. He did know,
however. that he was the center Of
interest for his own congregation, the
people among whom he had been
called to labor. Their praise or criti-
cism meant everything to him; there
fore he preached for dear life.
The sermon was a success.
On Monday afternoon the minister
made few calls. Keziah made out
a short list for him to follow, sort
OF chart Of the main channel" she
called it, with the safe ports marked
and the shoals and risky places Ia
beled dangerous"
You see," she said, "Trumet amt
a course you can navigate with your
eyes shut. We divide ourselves into
about four sets-aristocrats, poor re
lations, town folks, and scum. The
aristocrats are the big bugs like Cap'n
Elkanah and the other well-off sea
captains afloat and ashore. They
most all go to the Regular church
and the parish committee is steered
by EN-. The poor relations are mainly
widows and such, whose husbands
died or were lost at sea Most of
them are Regulars. The town folks
are those that stay ashore and keep
store or run salt works or somethin'.
And the scum work around on odd
jobs or go fishin'. So, If you really
want to be safe, you must call on the
aristocrats first, after that on the poor
relations, and so on down You won't
be bothered with scum much; they're
mainly Come uters.''
| Ellery took the list from her hand
and looked it over.
Hunt" he said musingly. "Am I
| supposed to recognize these-er-
class distinctions? But you're not Sc
riously advising me to treat rich
man differently from poor one?"
Not openly different-no. But If
you want to steer a perfectly safe
course. one that'll keep the deep water
under your keel the whole voyage,
why. there's your chart"
Mr.. Ellery promptly tore the chart"
into small pieces.
I'm going OUT, he said. II shall
be back by supper time"
Mrs. Coffin eyed him grimly.
Coin to run it blindfolded, are
you?" she asked.
Eyes, am"
Her grimness disappeared and she
smiled.
I'll have your supper ready for
| you,' she said. Bring back good ap.
| petite"
| AS a matter of fact, the minister's
| calls were in the nature of compro
| mise, although an unintentional one
He dropped in on Zebedee Mayo, own
er OF the big house on the slope Of
the hill Captain Zeb took him up into
what he called his "cupoler," the OBJ
seryatory on the top of the house, and
showed him Trumet spread out like a
map. Ellery decided that he should
like Captain Zeb. although it was evi.
dent that the old whaler had decided
opinions of his own which he did not
hesitate to express He judged that
the Mayos were of the so-called aris-
tocracy, but undoubtedly unique speci.
mems. He visited four more house
holds that afternoon. The last call
was at Mrs. Thankful Payne's, and
While there. listening to the wonderful
poem" he saw Miss Van Horne pass
the window. He came home to a Cape
Cod supper Of scalloped clans, hot
biscuits, and baked Indian pudding,
and keziah' greeted him with CHEEKY
smile which made him feel that 1t was
nome. His summary disposal Of the
chart" had evidently raised him in
his housekeeper's estimation. She did
not ask a single question as to where
he had been.
Next day he had taste of Tru.
NETS real aristocracy, the genuine ar
ticle. Captain Elkanah Daniels and
his daughter made their first formal
call. The captain was majestic In
high hat, fur-collared cape. tailed coat,
and carrying gold-headed cane. Miss
Annabel wore her newest gown and
bonnet and rustled ais she walked
They entered the sitting room and the
lady glanced superciliously about the
apartment.
"Hum-ha!" barked Captain Elka-
nah. ''Ahem! Mr.. Ellery, trust
you're being made comfortable. The
parish committee are-hum-ah-
anxious that you should be. Yes?"s
The minister said that he was very
comfortable indeed.
1T isn't what you've been used to,
we know" observed Miss Annabel.
Mr.. Langley, our former pastor, was
sweet old gentleman, but he was
old-fashioned and his tastes were
queer. especially in art. Have you
noticed that fruit piece In the dining
room? Isn't it too ridiculous?"
Then she changed the subject to
I church and aEish affairs They smoke