Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-07-06
PRUDENCE
OF THE PARSONAGE
THE FAMOUS STORY OFAHAPPY FAMILY
y. BY Ezbe/Aeesfo1z @
THE FAMOUS STORY OF HAPPY E


I should have remembered that young
people read ton Of meaning into q
pound Of words. OF course, am not
guilty, Miss Starr. Professor Duke
and Miss Adams can swear to that.
They call me Goody-goody. They say
I am an old fashioned apostle and
they accuse me OF wanting to burn
them both at the stake! Now, sit down
and let me explain"
Prudence sat down. She was glad,
so glad, that this sweet faced, bright
eyed woman was an Ordinary Chris
tan" and not priest and a Levite!"
About the allegory business, it is
very simple. What said was this
The bible is full Of allegory.' did
not say, The bible IL IN allegory.' I
said the bible is fun Of allegory, and
so 1t Is. The parallels, for instance
what are they? Do you see the diff
ference? But 1t is really more serious
about poor little Hattie Simpson. As
the twins told you, her parents are
atheists. Her father Is a loud voiced,
Dragging boastful, coarse hearted fel
low. Hattie herself does not know
what her parents believe, and what
they do not She simply follows
blindly after them. She thinks she Is
an eyesore in Mount Mark because
Of 1t. She resents it bitterly, but she
feels the only decent thing for her to
do is to stand by her folks. Let me
tell you about our conversation.
tried to make friends with her. for
truly pity her. She has no friends. she
sinks about as though constantly
ashamed of herself. She trusts no
one, herself least of ALL tried to
draw her out and with partial success.
She told me how she feels about 1t
all. said, Hattie, won't you let some
one-some minister, who knows how
tell you about Christianity and ex-
plain to you what Christians really
believer No. she said passionately,
I'll stand by my folks Then I saw
she was not ready yet. I said, We'll,
perhaps 1t Is just as well for the pres
ent, for you are too young now to
take any definite stand for yourself.
It is true told her, that many
church members are not Christians,
and are bad immoral people-as your
father says. They are not Christians.
And it is true that many outside of
but they are not Christians, either
And then I said, Don't worry your
head just now about whether people
are Catholics or Jews or Christians,
or what they are. Just try to love
everybody, and try to grow up to be
such sweet, kind, loving woman that
you will be a blessing. to the world.
And what is more, I said. do not
puzzle your head now about why
some believe the bible, and some do
not. Just wait. When you are older.
you shall go into things for yourself
and make your own decision
Prudence nodded. IL think you
we're very sweet about it," she said.
II wanted to win her confidence in
the hope that some time, a little later,
myself may show her what Christ
is to US and why we love the bible.
But I did fight shy of the real point,
for fear might anger her and put
barrier between US. I just tried to
win her confidence and her love, to
pave the way for what may be able
to do later on. Do you see? have
had several talks with her, but she Is
not ready. She Is just child, stub.
bornly determined to stand with her
folks, right or wrong. l am trying
now to cultivate the ground. I say
nothing to make her dislike or dis
trust me. I did not think of her tell
ing 1t to others-and telling it wrong!
Surely no one but the twins could
have read so much into it,"
We'll" and Prudence smiled. you
know we are parsonage people! We
have to stick up for the bible, as Car
oil says"
ooh, and about the bible reading"
said Miss Allen suddenly, II have
nothing to do with that. AS you know.
there are Jews and catholics and
Christian Scientists and every branch
Of Protestant represented in opr little
school. The Jews and Christian Sci
entists are in minority. The Jews
have always objected to bible read