The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1913-01-24
CHAPTER ".
In Which the Parson Cruises In
Strange Waters.

III WHiCH tnt FdTSOn STuiSCS III
Strange Waters.
The Come-Outer chapel was as bare
inside, almost, as it was without. Bare
wooden walls, a beamed ceiling, a
raised platform at one end with a
table and chairs and the melodeon
upon 1t, rows Of wooden settees for
the congregation-tha was all. AS
the minister entered, the worshipers
were standing up to sing. Three or
four suffering oil lamps but dimly
illumined the place and made recogni-
ton uncertain.
The second verse of the hymn was
just beginning as Ellery came in. Most
of the forty or more grown people in
the chapel were too busy wrestling
with the tune to turn and look at him.
child here and there in the back
row twisted curious neck but twist
ed back again as parental fingers
tugged at its ear. The minister tip
toed to dark corner and took his
stand in front of vacant settee.
The man whom Ellery had decided
must be Captain Eben Hammond was
standing on the low platform beside
the table. A quaint figure, patriarchal
with Its flowing white hair and beard.
puritanical with its set, smooth shaver
lips and tufted brows. Captain Eben
held an open hymn book back in one
hand and beat time with the other.
He wore brass-bowed spectacles we'll
down toward the tip Of his nose.
Swinging a heavy, stubby finger and
singing in a high, quavering voice Of
no particular register, he led off the
third verse:
"oh. who shall weep when the roll is
called
And who shall shout for JoyT'
The singing over, the worshipers
sat down. Captain Eben took a fig
ured handkerchief from his pocket
and wiped his forehead. The thin,
near-sighted young woman who had
been bumped over the keyboard Of the
Strengthened up. The wor-
shippers relaxed a little and began to
look about.
Then the captain adjusted his spec
tacles and opened Bible, which he
took from the table beside him. Clear.
ing his throat, he announced that he
would read from the Word, tenth
chapter of jeremiah:
"'Thus saith the Lord. Learn not
the way of the heather, and be not
at the signs of heaven; for
the heather are dismayed at them"
"A-men!"
The shout came from the second |
bench from the front, where Ezekiel |
clam digger and fervent re-
ligionist, was always to be found on
nights. Ezekiel was the ia
Their of Susannah B. Bassett, "Suksy
B." for short, who played the melo-
deon. He had been, by successive |
seizures, a Seventh Day Baptist, a |
Second Adventist, Millerite, Regu- |
lar, and was now the most energetic |
Of Come-Outers. Later he was to be- |
come a Spiritualist and preside at |
seances.
Ezekiel's amen was so sudden and |
emphatic that It startled the reader
into looking up. Instead of the faces |
Of his congregation, he found himself |
treated to a view Of their back hair
Nearly every head was turned toward |
the rear corner Of the room, there was
a buzz of whispering and. in front,
many men and women were standing
up to look.
Ezekiel Bassett stepped forward |
and whispered in his ear. The cap
.aln's expression Of righteous indigna-
lion changed to one of blank aston
shment. He, too. gazed at the dark
corner. Then his lips frightened and
he raped smartly on the table.
MY friends" he said, let US bow
N prayer"
John Ellery could have repeated that
prayer, almost word for word. years
after that night The captain prayed
or the few here gathered together:
Let them be steadfast Let them be
constant IN the way. The path they
mara fnoadlno miRhf ha narrou ana h.