Beverly banner. [volume] (Beverly, N.J.) 1877-1964, 1925-10-23

to the depth of this interest, she
pressed him further. Jerrold admitted
at last that as far as he was con-
cerned, he considered it no church at
all, no real worship, no divine service.
Prudence was shocked into speechless-
ness. But Jerrold, hard driven, stuck
to his ground. He said the way the
Methodists dubbed about the door and
chatted and laughed was his idea of
rank irreverence. And for a preacher
to get down on his knees IL the pulpit
and talk in that offhand and familiar
fashion to the Divine Being instead of
reading respectfully from book-he
called 1t sacrilege. He was willing to
go, to please Prudence, he was willing
to shake hands, and discuss his wife's
health and the state fair and the corn
crop at tie door-to please her-he
was willing to follow through count
less intimate paragraphs of extern
poraneous prayer-but he did not call
it church. and 1t was not his idea of
worship.
Prudence wrote to her father. And
her father wrote back. with that gentle
and forbearing patience which seems
more rare and more divine in the min
istry than anywhere else, that Pru-
dence must go with her husband. 1--WE
have learned" he wrote. that there
are lessons in stones and sermons in
running brooks. So If Jerrold finds
no religion in our church, it is up to
you to find it in his"
Prudence swallowed hard, but she
did 1t.
Ii was not, as Jerrold frankly ad-
mitted. that he cared particularly about
attending any church with a painful
degree of assiduity, but when he had
church. he wanted church. and not
Sunday morning reception without re-
freShmentS.
OF course Prudence had had to learn
to dance Having become an Eplsco-
palian she could not plead the Meth
odist Discipline in rebuttal, and thus
unexpectedly torn adrift from her
spiritual backbone, she agreed with
Jerrold, rather family. that it would
be shame for her to go through life
sitting out every enticing waltz and
Turing one-step. She must certainly
learn to dance.
She encountered difficulties from the
start. A professional instructor was
brought in to teach her. And after
many painful, painstaking lessons, she
managed to get around very nicely.
But when Prudence, in fear and trem-
bling. got on the floor with any other
than the instructor, she had trouble.
at isn't that don't try" she told
her husband despairingly, but eager in
her own defense in the face Of his
derision. II do try! l put my whole
mind on It, know exactly what + am
supposed to do, count every step. and
never listen to a word my partner
says, and l keep both eyes shut so
won't be afraid of running into the
wall But l can't keep off his feet. nor
from under them. You needn't laugh.
either, for | can't help it."
When Jerry had come of an age to
take personal interest in her moth
ers social life, and to feel a personal
responsibility for her public appear
ance. she shared this burden with her
father And at regular intervals, per-
haps twice year. the entire household
was thrown into a tumultuous state of
excitement with teaching Prudence to
dance.
why can't you dancer Why can't
your" demanded Jerry earnestly.
Aunt Fairy dances beautifully, Aunt
Connie dances, both the Twin Aunties
adore it. Haven't they as much Meth
odist blood as you have? Why can't
you learn?"
81 don't know" acknowledged her
mother unhappily. 81 certainly work
hard enough to learn anything
just can't, and that's all there is to IT,
When Prudence, therefore, of her
own voitlon and without coercion from
anyone. voluntarily proffered herself
as willing sacrifice to learn to dance
again, she was driven to desperation.
To her surprise, to her great concern
as WELL Jerry only laughed, and would
not accept such martyrdom at her
hands.
Nonsense, mother, you can't dance,
and you don't want to. Why bother?
You'd better just stick to Wesley and
eschew the devil and all his works"
Bridge, them" pleaded Prudence
hopefully you really ought to teach
me something. you know"
Jerry consented to add few final
touches to a course in cards which had
already extended futilely over period
of twenty years, but she warned her
mother to let no one lnveigle her into
playing for points.
For do your level best, mother, you
can still lose the family fortune great
deal faster than father can earn it. If
you so in for points, the way you
play it,"
And so March clustered away, and
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