Keziah Coffin

ting room when the Rev. John Ellery made his appearance. But the fates were against Didama that day and it was months afte

young man with a brand-new ministerial dignity to sustain, refrained from boasting of the sensation he had caused. He thought of it very often, usually at mo

f Mr. Ellery ain't the most sympathetic man. I was readin' out loud to him the poem my cousin Huldy B.-her that married Hannibal El

billows cra

l craft is t

iner thinks not

st schooner e

e was the minister lookin' out of the window and his face was just as red, and he kept scowlin'

d not seen him, but for the moment he was back in that disgusting study, making a fren

he house "up street" and have supper. She said she was glad to meet Mr. Ellery. The young minister affirmed his delight in meeting her. Then she disappeared in the misty twilight and

as been kind of unexpected for all hands, ain't it? If I'd known you was comin' to-day, I'd have done my best to have things ready, but Cap'n Elkanah said not before day af

smiled rather

et at my work. So I started on the morning train. Then the stage broke down and I began to think I was stranded at Bayport. But this kind-hearted chap from Wellmouth-I believe that's where he lived-happened to pull up to

here's no Birds that I know of in Wellmo

as it-S

. Run consider'ble to whisk

s for tongue-well, he was convers

ust have had an earache for the last six. Did he ask a question

lery l

o, between time

rprise. Did you tel

xious to find out, that-well, I dodged. I think

ouble. They'd have all I wanted to proclaim spread from one end of the county to the other in less'n a day, and a peck or two of extrys pitched in for good measure. I'm awful glad you didn't tell Emulo

ud of it. Still, some one

fog is as thick as Injun-me

ation, "the young lady

's all right. She won't t

oesn't sound like

wned off Hatteras. Eben was saved just by the skin of his teeth and got a broken hip and religion while it happened. His hip's better except that he's some lame; but his religion's been more and more feverish ever since. He's one of the head Come-Outers, and built their chapel with his own money. You mu

me-Outers? S

They're folks who used to go to our church, the Regular, but left because the services was too worldly, with

from the theological school still fresh, a trial sermon is a weighty matter, and the preaching of it weightier still. He had rehearsed it over and over in private, had delivered it almost through clinched teeth, and had returned to his room in the Boston boarding house with the conviction that it was an utter failure. Captain Elkanah and the gracious Miss Annab

orne?" he asked. "I

offin

n't be anything else and live with

s denomination with disapproval, had seen him for the first time under most humiliating circumstances. And he should never have the opportun

mmond no children of

swer was sh

she sai

other d

. They expect him to make port most any time, I believe. Now, Mr. Ellery, I s'pose we've got to ar

still interested in t

ed. "You don't seem enthusiastic

so was short,

eziah. "He's

soliloquy concerning her

be late home. They can keep you overnight, too, for it's a big house with lots of rooms. Then, after breakfast to-morrow you come right here. I'll have things somewhere near shipshape by then, I guess, though the cleanin'l

ome, but Keziah assured him that his unexpected coming would cause no trouble. So he entered

re or less together-or at least I guess as much from what you say-would you mind if

short on her

h a irregular sort of way, that I never once thought of introducin' anybody; and I'm sure Grace didn't. I'm Kezia

e former arrangement by which Lurania

you," she concluded. Add

y that?" asked

like me. You may be p

can run t

not like you. You see, I'm pretty par

red girl. It was an indication of the family's social position that they kept "

n, extending his hand. "Good ni

Good n

d 'fore she come back here to live. Guess he did

tating on the threshold. "I meant to tell her not to attempt any cl

l conviction, "nobody but a born fool would clean house in the night, 'specially

rn illuminated the rooms of the parsonage as Keziah scrubbed and swept and washed, giving to the musty place the "lick

er life. Then her trunks were loaded on the tailboards of the wagons, to be left at the parsonage, and with a sigh and a quick brush of her hand across her eyes, she locked the door for the last time and walked briskly down the road. Soon afterwards John Ellery, under the eminently respectable escort of Captain Elkanah and Miss Annabel, emerged

flew in clouds for the first day or two, but it flew out of windows and doors and was not allowed to settle within. The old black walnut furniture glistened with oil. The mirrors and the crockery sparkled from baths of hot water and soap. Even St. Stephen, in the engravings on the dining-room wall, was forced to a martyrdom of the fullest publicity, because the spots and smears on the glass cove

icularly in the ways which Trumet expected its clergymen to travel. On the morning following his first nigh

eakfast table, "if I was you I wouldn't take too long a one. You'd b

mething of the village and, perhaps, if she could give him the names of a

ico on, they'd never forgive you in this world. Wait till afternoon; they'll be expectin' you then and they'll be rigged out in their best bibs and tuckers. S'pose you found Annabel Daniels with he

for the advice. Then I'll simply take

ugh. Folks'll begin call

sn't the rule w

dama Rogers and Laviny Pepper and their kind'll wait any longer'n

een me when I preached

w they may pick him to pieces afterwards. But here they can ask you questions; about how you came to come here and what you think of it far's you've got, and what your views are o

asant prospect for me, I must say. Am I supposed

e that every mother's son-and, for that matter, every daughter and children's child unto the third and fourth generation-feel that, so long as they pay pew rent or put a

bsently played

you're a cyn

d this is your first church. So you must start right. I'm no cynic, bless you. I've got trust in human nature left-most kinds of human nature. If I hadn't, I'd have more money, I s'pose. Perhaps you've noticed that those who trust a good deal are usually poor.

ion. Didama was seldom beaten. Mr. Ellery's catechism began. Before it was over Keziah opened the door to admit Miss Pepper and her brother. "Kyan" was nervous and embarrassed in the housekeeper's pres

eparted. The catechized came to the table w

ziah calmly. "I think I can satisfy you. Honest a

more troubled than b

in!" he cried.

gh, he'd have moved without bein' pushed if they'd have made signs they wanted to use the keg. And if I was out in the next lot I'd have known what you was listenin' to in that sittin' room. They hinted that they were real sorry for you, but 'twasn't any of THEIR doin's. The parish committee,

y attention to their remarks-of that kind, I mea

see anything that I'm goin' wrong in, I wish you'd tell me. And I'll do the same by you, if that's agreeable. You'll hear a lot of things said about me, but if they're very bad I give you my word they ain't tr

he difficult waters which he must navigate as skipper of the Regular church in Trumet. Also, he began to realize that, as such a skipper, he was most inexperienced. And

that sermon to Keziah on Saturday evening and she approved

nd like that, why don't you change it to a good safe anchorage, where the soul can ride forever without fear of breakers or no'theasters or the dangers besettin' the mariner on a

be at nine o'clock, instead of se

some other parts, I'm afraid. Six days shalt thou labor and wear comfort'ble clothes; and on the seventh you must be lazy and dress up. Likewise y

inutes later he began on the second and final call. Mr. Ellery was ready-and nervous-before the first bell had finished ringing. But Keziah, entering the

ll know 'em because they always drive down to meetin' in one carryall with a white horse. Gaius is as punctual as a boardin'-house dinner. The old parson used to wait until the last Winslow had toddled up the meetin'-house steps and then he'd come out of this side door with his sermon

nslows. They arrived at last, and were not hard to recognize, for ten individuals packed into one carriage are hard to overlook anywhere. As Gaius, with the youngest in his arms, passed in at the church door, John Ellery passed out of the parsonage gate. The last bell clanged its

s perched along the top of the breakwater. And seated on one of the hard benches of the little Come-Outer chapel, Grace Van Horne heard her "Uncle Eben," who, as usual, was conducting the mee

the center of interest for his own congregation, the people among whom he had been called to

o be greatly influenced by first impressions, but she had been favorably impressed by this young fellow, and had already begun to feel that

on was a