Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-22


preaching black and the finely tucked white
shirt of Lucy's stitching time to eat the roast
wild goose and dry the willowware for Lucy.
Then deputation waited Childres Parker
Hodges. Barton of the golden beard Killings
worth, meager, pinched barking as he step
ped in:
We're solid against your church, Parker.
Everyb0dys bone-tired. Not an extra lick of
work is to be got out Of soul this Winter"
Now, Killingsworth, one day a weeks work
never hurt any man yet. Be- seated, gentle
men,"
THEY dropped into the rude chairs. Childres
Parker remained standing. He could fight
better standing.
There's rails to split" Killingsworth began
"There'n be rails to split for a good many
years in Oregon, KiIlingsworth.'
Hodges grinned Barton laughed into his
beard. Kilingsworth was netted.
Now. Parker, we're committee appointed
by the congregation. I'm chairman of course.
There is feeling that eventually we must have
a church. Nothing precipitate. Nothing inn
mediate But eventually A small church for
a small community"
Not small, Killingswcrth Another wagon
train is coming This settlement will be
doubled next year"
There you are. Wait" the lawyer held up
an admonishing hand; 1.-The more settlers the
sooner built. Your church can wait"
1T can't wait KillingSwoIth, when men are
sheltered, well fed and idle. BY the end of
idle Winter most of these claims would be in
the hands of one or two men"
"Ahem! Ahem!" Killingsworth coughed,
Squirmed, looked to his committee for support.
None came. KiIlingsworth had won a span Of
his neighbours oxen at poker on the plains "If
we were to have church built this Winter,
which do not admit" nimbly he found his
tongue again. that bells too big. We're all
agreed that bells too big"
1T must be heard the length and breadth of
the valley"
Jasper Black doesn't need to hear it,"
Hodges snickered Black was a solitary
miner, a known renegade from justice, who
lived south of them three days hard riding by
fast cayuse.
why a whale of bell when the whole set
Element knows the hour for service?" Killings
worth shifted.
1T may be necessary to call an extra meet
ing"
"A gathering of the entire community an
election, say" KillingSworth pondered, such
contingency might arise. Yes, big bell. But
nothing so expensive. bell of cheaper mate
rial, Parker"
THE carrying tone would not be there"
There's no economy in a cheap bell" unex-
pectedly Barton wedged in a word
mo-" Hodges agreed, mo there amt. Kind
of thin sound to EN-"
Childres Parker had his way about the bell
Now you plan to order this bell by the fast
est clipper round the Horn?" Killingsworth re-
bone. whats the hurry, Parker?"
"The church should be finished when that
clipper reaches Oregon. Here I've drawn
working plan" and he laid the drawing before
them.
They crowded around it, Killingsworth began
TO rail, Striding up and down.
"A person would think you'd be glad to hurry
into any shelter from under that oak But no.
No church but big church. Too big! Every
thing too big!' He paused to shake a vindictive
forehnger.
1--WE chosen the very trees already" Childres
Parker said
And who'll fell emp" Killingsworth's voice
was a thin scream Who'll split out all those
timberS?"
"I can if no else will"
"And who'll build it,"
IT can if no one else will This is a mas
sive structure, agree When we have time and
energy we can't insult the Almighty by putting
up shack. We should build to endure for
time citadel unto the Lord"
Lucy, in the kitchen, heard that speech and
clapped her hands softly
I'm with you, Elder" Barton said.
And Hodges, "Ill help-some"
And Killingsworth flercely, as he made for the
door, mot a hands turn will you get out of
me, Parker. Not a hands turn" He gesticu-
lated his way down the path.
That was only the beginning. From the first
ring OF the circuit riders ak in the forest to
the first ring of the bell in the completed church
ChildreS Parker built his church against con-
tinual encouragement
Full two-thirds of the trees he felled himself
His heart rang with every rhythmic stroke
Dusk sent him homeward, spent his big frame
sagging his calloused hands hanging heavy
with fatigue. He dropped asleep over the late
supper. At dawn he was back again In the for
est. Day after day undaunted.
He rode his circuit while the logs seasoned,
fRNovh hafr