The Story of a Country Town

ry. The hard work of the people paid, and they gradually became well-to-do, although they seemed

y ahead, and were regarded by those who came later as of a very old and aristocratic stock. Strangest of all, it was announced that a new minister had been engaged, and that he would arrive with his family, consisting of a wife and one child, in a few days. My father made the announcement at the close of his preaching one spring morning. He had preached to them, he said, becau

the occasion were a funeral, and one by one the people went forward to shake him by the hand, which I thought surprised him, not being certain but that they were glad to get rid of him, while Brother Winter wheeled vigorously about, calling upon everybody to praise the Lord. It was a very unusual occasion, and those who had lounged outside to read the inscriptions

s name was the Rev. Goode Shepherd, and that he would be there for the next service a week from that day; that a house had been secured for him in the eastern part of the settlement, and that as he was a minister, he w

.

a scarcity of such in our direction. Although he had some vague ideas on the subject of growing up with the country, he probably

ould have become convinced finally that the Lord had said it, instead of a friend, and quietly returned to the place from which he had come; f

vidence to him that he was accepted of the Master who had sent him, rather than that his life had been a failure; and the work expected of him he performed cheerfully and with enthusiasm. He had no desire to do anything which was not religious; and the higher walks of his profe

trusted to only a very few, because, unless coupled with the most pronounced piety, it was very dangerous. The Rev. Goode Shepherd believed that a religious life was most easily lived, and that a merciful Providence had ordered it that way because the children of men are weak; my father, that the easy road to travel was the broad one which led to torment, and that the other was narrow and difficult, but ending very pleasantly as a recompense for travelling it, and that it was ordered th

s advancement after the coming of Mr. Shepherd was

oo well off themselves, and that he went directly from college to the pulpit. I don't know what made me think it, but I always believed a widowed mother-aided, perhaps, by an older sister or two engaged in teaching-had provided for his education by th

ervice without looking around, perhaps because they thought it was not likely they would see much if they should commit that impropriety. His first preaching impressed everyone favorably, though his side whiskers were against him, as was also the tall hat standing on the pulpit beside him. His presence, however, chilled the usual experience meeting following, for only the men talked, and it was shor

ext presented, and then came all the congregation in the order of their importance, except the younger ones, who stood near the door looking on, and who crowded out hurriedly when Mr. Shepherd came toward them, followed by his wife and daughter. Although they desired acquaintance with the new minister and his family above all other things, they were so awkward and uncertain in their politeness that they hoped the new minister would somehow gradually become acquainted with them without an introduction, and never discover that they did not know how to be comf

d out to the gate, when they were preparing to start for home. I could not hear from where I stood what was said, but I believed the invitation had been given and accepted, and when he began to look around the yard, I was so certain that I was wanted to drive them home that I put myself in his way, as the wagon road led through lanes and gates,

The grease on my rough boots contrasted sharply with the polish of Mr. Shepherd's patent leathers, and my great red hands were larger than his, which were very white, and shaped like a woman

looking after the horses, but they said nothing except that there was a great number present, which wa

renter on our farm. "He wasn't at church to-day; he has pro

. I had secretly been longing to look at her, so I turned partly around, and replied that the woods were full of them. She was a very pretty girl, dressed more ex

aid to them, finding that the

ut the minister's wife was so stately and dignified that

on which we were ploughing, while he rested, we would hitch to the wagon and go after it. I felt so pleased about it that I finished the work, and when I was through, he looked at the sun, and said we might as well eat supper before starting, and that I had better take the harness off the horses while the

ention that he knew of more turkey roosts than old Lee, and that we would visit one of them soon, and return by their house with a fat turkey. They thanked me, and Mr. Shepherd even said h

fter we stopped at the house, where my father came out and took them in. When Jo appeared to help me with the horses, I foun

ed him by saying that I had talked so much about him on the way over that she had asked me

say then?" he

uaintance, and that she was certai

I did not regret it, seei

did you say

onversation then became general, and that Mr. Shepherd had said he wo

d found time to prepare. As I sat down on the sill of the open door with a view of being handy in case I was wanted, I regretted that Agnes was not there t

"The young man that drove us over. I su

self, so I replied that I knew something about them, but I was sorry he had chosen that

said, "but I intend to learn. I bought mine at the stati

n, as he was a very good judge. I returned presently, and said Jo thought they would do very

n in. I should like

up near the door, which stood open, to listen to what was b

nquired, after I had sat down again, leaving J

ought to introduce them, but not knowing how to

, and I thought he reached him just in time

the hand. "This is my wife, and this my daughter," pointing to one, and then to th

e afterwards that he was just getting ready to bolt out of the roo

for when I went out presently I heard them laughing merrily at what he said. At dinner Mr. Shepherd observed that since becoming acquainted with Mr. Erring he f

occasion he displayed it to such advantage that I glowed with pride. While the others were talking of graver matters he gave an account of the Fairview revivals, which amused Mateel so much that she asked to be excused for laughing. I had never seen

very pleasantly, more so than any other Sunday afternoon ever passed in that house; for my father seemed to think that if Mr. Shepherd, with all his learning, could afford to throw aside his Sunday gloom, he would risk it. I had never seen

very dark, tying a horse behind the wagon on which to ride back; and it followed that he drove them to the c