Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1918-02-05
Tongue OF
Fame
By Elizabeth Cherry Waltz

After supper was over, young Cid
con Sennett changed his rough cloth
ing for a little better suit, then set to
walk up the road towards the Alstet
ter homestead.
He had worked hard In the bayfield,
all day. His back ached, his arms
were sore but this was Wednesday
night. On the white wooden steps OF
the church q mile away, Flavilla
Lingerel would wait for him. They
could sit there quietly until he was
rested.
Flavilla was there. He saw her
from afar, her pink calico gown max
ing q bright spot against the white
ness of the steps. 1t was just after
sunset when he started, there were
rosy clouds still in the west. Flavilla
was not q pretty girl, but she had
smile that meant volumes. 1t was
worth a very long walk to see.
These two devoted young people
were shy and awkward in the express
sion~of deep feeling between them.
Their very loneliness while boy ana
girl at school had drawn them to each
other. He was an orphan and her
father had long since married wom-
an who resented her existence.
Neither Gideon or Flavilla had any
but grudged life up to the time each
was able to work. Then came days
of toll with little to enliven them or
breed aspiration.
Stranger things have happened than
that bot. should be absurdly ambi-
tlous. In Gideon's family, two genera
lions back, there had been preacher.
He was a devout man, well educated
for his time, and not without power
in oratory. His son, Gideon's father,
had been not only stupid, but ne'er-
do-well. In his grandson, Gideon re-
vived the devotion, the ambition, the
gift Of speech, the sturdy industry.
Flavilla wanted a home different
from what her home had been. She
dreamed of peaceful days, Of thrifty
management, Of love, Of being kind to
those about her. She entered en-
Enthusiastically into Gideon's ideas, she
stimulated him from his boyhood to
daring dreams Of success.
For seven years they worked, toiled,
dreamed. Tonight, as they sat on the
steps of the church where the grand
father had lifted up his voice, they
seemed little nearer to the fulfllment
of their hopes than before. Physically
weary, Gideon's spirits wavered.
Flavilla was year the older. That
counts great deal at 10 and 20. Be
sides, in her burned more enthusi-
astic and steady fire.
IT don't see how it can be done this
fall, Flavie. I've got the money for
the college course, but how am I go
Ing to lve?"
"Twouldn't take much to keep u.s."
"Us! O, Flavie"
you're never going without me,
Gideon, I've got some money, you
know"
"Ir might be. When hayin's over.
I'll 60 up and see"
This Is the reason why meeting Of
the faculty Of q certain college and
theological seminary was interrupted
one day by a stalwart country lad. he
came asking impetuously for entrance
into college, with little money and no
church influence to back him.
%o1l ,tyit n
his grandfather seemed In him. He
told of his dreams for years, his toll
and Flavilla's interest and encourage
ment. How well he expressed him
self at that time he never knew, but
as the old president walked from Re
citation Hall to the library afterwards
with the professor Of Greek, he said
gently.
"It is long time since felt that a
lad had such a clear call. ! had been
wondering If there was to be no more
inspiration"
They promised Gideon shelter in
part of a house on the campus. He
went back to Flavilla triumphant.
Now was Gideon the very sword Of
the Lord.
In the quiet country neighborhood
his return, the projected wedding, such
projects for q lad of no property
caused the widest excitement. Fla
villa, from scarce more than drudge,
ut once became the most envied girl
in the township. Her setting-out was
discussed far and near. She had many
presents from women who thought
that by helping her, they gave directly
to the Lord. Meetings were held to
help her sew and it was from these
grew that idea that afterwards caused
such a sensation at the college.
The neighborhood religion had been
for years a dead letter. The small
country church with its pulpit reached
by winding stair, Its benches black
with age, had not been opened for
many years. Now sentiment grew
to open 1t one Sunday during the sum-
mer and Gideon was asked to conduct
q service by a committee of grave
men.
II am but entering college," he
cried, this lad who had plowed from
sunrise, II know nothing yet of what
I expect to learn. Men, it will be
seven years before I am fit to teach
the word of the Lord"
'The Lord will tell you what to
say" said very old man who remem-
bered his grandfather, "and we have
no other to speak to US, Gideon"
He promised to give them an answer
on the morrow and went to see
Flavilla. There was no happier woni.
an than she those days. She was sit
ting at her sewing when Gideon came
In, humming a quaint country ditty.
He thought her changed woman.
Surely, she had never seemed so hand.
some in the olden days Of toll and
anxiety. He told her what the people
asked. Its full meaning dawned upon
her.
"You must do this thing, Gideon
she said, after silence, ut will helr
both you and the people"
"But sermon"
Flavilla struggled with the thought |
To her mind a sermon meant deep