The Story of an African Farm

第8章

testovermyordinationtookplaceattheMethodistProtestantConferenceinTarrytown，NewYork；

andforthreedaysIwasastorm—centeraroundwhichalargenumberoftrulygoodandwhollysinceremenfoughtthefightoftheirreligiouslives。Manyofthemstronglybelievedthatwomenwereoutofplaceintheministry。Ididnotblamethemforthisconviction。ButIwasintheministry，andI

wasgreatlyhandicappedbythefactthat，althoughIwasalicensedpreacherandagraduateoftheBostonTheologicalSchool，Icouldnot，untilIhadbeenregularlyordained，meetallthefunctionsofmyoffice。Icouldperformthemarriageservice，butIcouldnotbaptize。Icouldburythedead，butIcouldnottakemembersintomychurch。Thathadtobedonebythepresidingelderorbysomeotherminister。Icouldnotadministerthesacraments。

SoattheNewEnglandSpringConferenceoftheMethodistEpiscopalChurch，heldinBostonin1880，Iformallyappliedforordination。Atthesametimeapplicationwasmadebyanotherwoman——

MissAnnaOliver——andasapreliminarystepwewerebothexaminedbytheConferenceboard，andwereformallyreportedbythatboardasfittedforordination。OurnameswerethereforepresentedattheConference，overwhichBishopAndrewspre—

sided，andheimmediatelyrefusedtoacceptthem。

MissOliverandIweresittingtogetherinthegal—

leryofthechurchwhenthebishopannouncedhisdecision，and，whileitstaggeredus，itdidnotreallysurpriseus。Wehadbeenwarnedofthisgentle—

man’sdeep—seatedprejudiceagainstwomenintheministry。

AftertheserviceswereoverMissOliverandI

calledonhimandaskedhimwhatweshoulddo。

HetolduscalmlythattherewasnothingforustodobuttogetoutoftheChurch。Weremindedhimofouryearsofstudyandprobation，andthatIhadbeenfortwoyearsinchargeoftwochurches。Hesethisthinlipsandrepliedthattherewasnoplaceforwomenintheministry，and，ashethenevidentlyconsideredtheinterviewended，welefthimwithheavyhearts。Whilewewerewalkingslowlyaway，MissOliverconfidedtomethatshedidnotintendtoleavetheChurch。Instead，shetoldme，shewouldstayinandfightthematterofherordinationtoafinish。I，however，feltdifferently。Ihaddoneconsiderablefightingduringthepasttwoyears，andmyheartandsoulwereweary。Isaid：``Ishallgetout，Iamnobetterandnostrongerthanaman，anditisallamancandotofighttheworld，theflesh，andthedevil，withoutfightinghisChurchaswell。IdonotintendtofightmyChurch。ButI

amcalledtopreachthegospel；andifIcannotpreachitinmyownChurch，IwillcertainlypreachitinsomeotherChurch！’’

Asifinresponsetothisoutburst，ayoungmin—

isternamedMarkTraftonsooncalledtoseeme。

HehadbeenpresentatourConference，hehadseenmyChurchrefusetoordainme，andhehadcometosuggestthatIapplyforordinationinhisChurch——

theMethodistProtestant。ToleavemyChurch，eventhoughurgedtodosobyitsappointedspokes—

man，seemedaradicalstep。BeforetakingthisI

appealedfromthedecisionoftheConferencetotheGeneralConferenceoftheMethodistEpiscopalChurch，whichhelditssessionthatyearinCin—

cinnati，Ohio。MissOliveralsoappealed，andagainwewerebothrefusedordination，theGeneralCon—

ferencevotingtosustainBishopAndrewsinhisdecision。Notcontentwiththisachievement，theConferenceeventookabackwardstep。Itdeprivedusoftherighttobelicensedaslocalpreachers。

AfterthisblowIrecalledwithgratitudetheReverendMarkTrafton’sexcellentadvice，andIimmediatelyappliedforordinationintheMethodistProtestantChurch。MynamewaspresentedattheConferenceheldinTarrytowninOctober，1880，andthefightwason。

DuringtheseConferencesitiscustomaryforeachcandidatetoretirewhilethediscussionofhisin—

dividualfitnessforordinationisinprogress。WhenmynamecameupIwasasked，asmypredecessorshadbeen，toleavetheroomforafewmoments。I

wentintoananteroomandwaited——ahalf—hour，anhour，allafternoon，allevening，andstillthebattleraged。Ivariedthemonotonyofsittingintheante—

roombystrollsaroundTarrytown，andIthinkI

learnedtoknowitseverystoneandturn。Thenextdaypassedinthesameway。Atlast，lateonSaturdaynight，itwassuddenlyannouncedbymyopponentsthatIwasnotevenamemberoftheChurchinwhichIhadappliedforordination。Thestatementcreatedconsternationamongmyfriends。Noneofushadthoughtofthat！Thebomb，timedtoex—

plodeattheveryendofthesession，threatenedtodestroyallmyhopes。Ofcourse，myopponentshadreasoned，itwouldbetoolateformetodoanything，andmynamewouldbedropped。

Butitwasnottoolate。Dr。LymanDavis，thepastoroftheMethodistProtestantChurchinTarry—

town，wasveryfriendlytowardmeandmyordina—

tion，andheprovedhisfriendshipinasingularlypromptandefficientfashion。Lateasitwas，heimmediatelycalledtogetherthetrusteesofhischurch，andtheyresponded。TothemImademyapplicationforchurchmembership，whichtheyac—

ceptedwithinfiveminutes。IwasnowamemberoftheChurch，butitwastoolatetoobtainanyfurtheractionfromtheConference。Thenextday，Sunday，allthemenwhohadappliedforordinationwereordained，andIwasleftout。

OnMondaymorning，however，whentheCon—

ferencemetinitsfinalbusinesssession，mycasewasreopened，andIwaseventuallycalledbeforethememberstoanswerquestions。Someofthesewereextremelyinteresting，andseveraloftheepisodesthatoccurredwereveryamusing。Oneoldgentle—

manIcanseeasIwrite。Hewasgreatlyexcited，andheledtheoppositionbyracingupanddowntheaisles，quotingfromtheScripturestoprovehiscaseagainstwomenministers。Asheranabouthehadatrickofputtinghisarmsunderthebackofhiscoat，makinghiscoat—tailsstandoutlikewingsandincidentallyrevealingtwolongwhitetape—

stringsbelongingtoaflannelundergarment。EveninthepainfulstressofthosehoursIobservedwithinteresthowbeautifullythosetape—stringswereironed！

Iwastheretoansweranyquestionsthatwereaskedofme，andthequestionscamelikehail—

stonesinasuddensummerstorm。

``Paulsaid，`Wives，obeyyourhusbands，’’’shoutedmyoldmanofthecoat—tails。``Supposeyourhus—

bandshouldrefusetoallowyoutopreach？Whatthen？’’

``Inthefirstplace，’’Ianswered，``Pauldidnotsayso，accordingtotheScriptures。Butevenifhedid，itwouldnotconcernme，forIamaspinster。’’

Theoldmanlookedmeover。``Youmightmarrysomeday，’’hepredicted，cautiously。

``Possibly，’’Iadmitted。``WiserwomenthanI

amhavemarried。ButitisequallypossiblethatI

mightmarryamanwhowouldcommandmetopreach；andinthatcaseIwanttobeallreadytoobeyhim。’’

Atthisanotherman，abachelor，alsobegantodrawfromtheScriptures。``Anelder，’’hequoted，``shallbethehusbandofonewife。’’Andhede—

manded，triumphantly，``Howisitpossibleforyoutobethehusbandofawife？’’

InresponsetothatIquotedabitmyself。``Paulsaid，`AnathemauntohimwhoaddethtoortakethfromtheScriptures，’’’Iremindedthisgentleman；

andaddedthatatwistedinterpretationoftheScriptureswasasbadasaddingtoortakingfromthem，andthatnoonedoubtedthatPaulwaswarningtheeldersagainstpolygamy。ThenIwentabitfurther，forbythistimetheabsurdcharacterofthequestionswasgettingonmynerves。

``Evenifmygoodbrother’sinterpretationiscor—

rect，’’Isaid，``hehasoverlookedtwoimportantpoints。Thoughheisanelder，heisalsoabachelor；

soIamasmuchofahusbandasheis！’’

Agooddealofthatsortofthingwenton。Themostsatisfactoryepisodeofthesession，tome，wasthedownfallofthreepertyoungmenwhointurntriedtomakeitappearthatasthedutyoftheCon—

ferencewastoprovidechurchesforallitspastors，ImightbecomeaburdentotheChurchifitprovedimpossibletoprovideapastorateforme。Atthat，oneofmyfriendsinthecouncilrosetohisfeet。

``IhavehadofficialoccasiontoexamineintothematterofMissShaw’sparishandsalary，’’hesaid，``andIknowwhatsalariesthelastthreespeakersaredrawing。ItmayinteresttheConferencetoknowthatMissShaw’spresentsalaryequalsthecombinedsalariesofthethreeyoungmenwhoaresoafraidshewillbeaburdentotheChurch。If，beforebeingordained，shecanearnthreetimesasmuchastheynowearnafterbeingordained，itseemsfairlyclearthattheywillneverhavetosupporther。

Wecanonlyhopethatshewillneverhavetosup—

portthem。’’

Thethreeyoungministerssubsidedintotheirseatswithpainfulabruptness，andfromthattimemyopponentsweremorecarefulintheirremarks。

Still，manyunpleasantthingsweresaid，andtoomuchwarmthwasshownbybothsides。Wegainedgroundthroughtheday，however，andattheendofthesessiontheConference，byalargemajority，votedtoordainme。

Theordinationservicewasfixedforthefollowingevening，andeventhegentlemenwhohadmostvigorouslyopposedmewerenotaversetomakingtheoccasionaprofitableone。ThecontentionhadalreadyenormouslyadvertisedtheConference，andthemembersnowhelpedthegoodworkalongbysendingforthwidespreadannouncementsoftheresult。Theyalsodecidedthat，astheattendanceattheservicewouldbeverylarge，theywouldtakeupacollectionforthesupportofsuperannuatedministers。ThethreeyoungmenwhohadfearedI

wouldbecomeaburdenwereespeciallyactiveinthematterofthiscollection；and，astheyhadnosenseofhumor，itdidnotseemincongruoustothemtousemyordinationasameansofraisingmoneyformenwhohadalreadybecomeburdenstotheChurch。

Whenthegreatnightcame（onOctober12，1880），theexpectedcrowdcamealso。AndtothecreditofmyopponentsImustaddthat，havinglosttheirfight，theytooktheirdefeatingoodpartandgrace—

fullyassistedintheservices。SittinginoneofthefrontpewswasMrs。Stiles，thewifeofDr。Stiles，whowassuperintendentoftheConference。Shewasadearlittleoldladyofseventy，withabig，maternalheart；andwhenshesawmerisetowalkuptheaislealone，sheimmediatelyrose，too，cametomyside，offeredmeherarm，andledmetothealtar。

Theordinationservicewasveryimpressiveandbeautiful。Itspeaceanddignity，followingthebattlethathadragedfordays，movedmesodeep—

lythatIwasnearlyovercome。Indeed，IwasonthevergeofabreakdownwhenIwasmercifullysavedbytheclauseinthedisciplinecallingforthepledgeallministershadtomake——thatIwouldnotindulgeintheuseoftobacco。Whenthisvowfellfrommylipsaperceptiblerippleranoverthecongregation。

IwashomesickformyCapeCodparish，andI

returnedtoEastDennisimmediatelyaftermyordination，arrivingthereonSaturdaynight。I

knewbythesuppressedexcitementofmyfriendsthatsomesurpriseawaitedme，butIdidnotlearnwhatitwasuntilIenteredmydearlittlechurchthefollowingmorning。ThereIfoundthecom—

munion—tablesetforthwithabeautifulnewcom—

munion—service。Thishadbeenpurchasedduringmyabsence，thatImightdedicateitthatdayandforthefirsttimeadministerthesacramenttomypeople。

CAPECODMEMORIES

Lookingbacknowuponthosedays，IseemyCapeCodfriendsasclearlyasiftheinterven—

ingyearshadbeenwipedoutandwewereagainto—

gether。AmongthoseImostlovedweretwowidelydifferingtypes——CaptainDoane，aretiredsea—cap—

tain，andReliefPaine，aninvalidchainedtohercouch，butwhosebeautifulinfluencepermeatedthecommunitylikeanatmosphere。CaptainDoanewasoneofthefinestmenIhaveeverknown——high—

minded，tolerant，sympathetic，andfullofunder—

standing，Hewasnotonlymyfriend，butmychurchbarometer。Heoccupiedafrontpew，closetothepulpit；andwhenIwaspreachingwithoutmakingmuchappealhesatlookingmestraightintheface，listeningcourteously，butwithoutinterest。

WhenIgotintomysubject，hewouldleanforward——theangleatwhichhesatindicatingthedegreeofattentionIhadaroused——andwhenIwasstronglyholdingmycongregationBrotherDoanewouldbendtowardme，followingeverywordIutteredwithcorrespondingmotionsofhislips。WhenIresignedwepartedwithdeepregret，butitwasnotuntilI

visitedthechurchseveralyearsafterwardthatheovercamehisreserveenoughtotellmehowmuchhehadfeltmygoing。

``Oh，didyou？’’Iasked，greatlytouched。``You’renotsayingthatmerelytopleaseme？’’

Theoldman’shandfellonmyshoulder。``Imissyou，’’hesaid，simply。``Imissyouallthetime。

Yousee，Iloveyou。’’Then，withprecipitateself—

consciousness，heclosedthedoorofhisNewEnglandheart，andfromsomeremotecornerofitsentouthiscautiousafter—thought。``Iloveyou，’’here—

peated，primly，``asasisterintheLord。’’

ReliefPainelivedinBrewster。Hernameseemedprophetic，andsheoncetoldmethatshehadalwaysconsidereditso。Herbrother—in—lawwasmySun—

day—schoolsuperintendent，andherfamilybelongedtomychurch。VerysoonaftermyarrivalinEastDennisIwenttoseeher，andfoundher，assheal—

wayswas，dressedinwhiteandlyingonatinywhitebedcoveredwithpansies，inaroomwhosewindowsoverlookedthesea。Ishallneverforgetthepictureshemade。Overhershoulderswasanexquisitewhitelaceshawlbroughtfromtheothersideoftheworldbysomeseafaringfriend，andagainstherwhitepillowherhairseemedtheblackestIhadeverseen。WhenIenteredsheturnedandlookedtowardmewithwonderfuldarkeyesthatwerequiteblind，andasshetalkedherhandsplayedwiththepansiesaroundher。Shelovedpansiesasshelovedfewhumanbeings，andsheknewtheircolorsbytouchingthem。Shewasthenalittlemorethanthirtyyearsofage。Atsixteenshehadfallendown—

stairsinthedark，receivinganinjurythatparalyzedher，andforfifteenyearsshehadlainononeside，perfectlystill，theStellaMarisoftheCape。Allwhocametoher，andtheyweremany，wentawaythebetterforthevisit，andthemerementionofhernamealongthecoastsoftenedeyesthathadlookedtoobitterlyonlife。

ReliefandIbecameclosefriends。Iwasgreatlydrawntoher，anddeeplymovedbythetragedyofhersituation，aswellasbythebeautifulspiritwithwhichsheboreit。DuringmyfirstvisitIregaledherwithstoriesofthecommunityandofmyownexperiences，andwhenIwasleavingitoccurredtomethatpossiblyIhadbeenratherfrivolous。SoIsaid：

``Iamcomingtoseeyouoften，andwhenIcomeIwanttodowhateverwillinterestyoumost。ShallIbringsomebooksandreadtoyou？’’

Reliefsmiled——thegay，mischievouslittlesmileIwassoontoknowsowell，butwhichatfirstseemedoutofplaceonthetragicmaskofherface。

``No，don’treadtome，’’shedecided。``Thereareenoughreadytodothat。Talktome。Tellmeaboutourlifeandourpeoplehere，astheystrikeyou。’’Andsheadded，slowly：``Youareaqueerminister。Youhavenotofferedtopraywithme！’’

``Ifeel，’’Itoldher，``morelikeaskingyoutoprayforme。’’

Reliefcontinuedheranalysis。``YouhavenottoldmethatmyafflictionwasavisitationfromGod，’’

sheadded；``thatitwasdisciplineandwellformeIhadit。’’

``Idon’tbelieveitwasfromGod，’’Isaid。``I

don’tbelieveGodhadanythingtodowithit。AndIrejoicethatyouhavenotletitwreckyourlife。’’

Shepressedmyhand。``Thankyouforsayingthat，’’shemurmured。``IfIthoughtGoddiditIcouldnotloveHim，andifIdidnotloveHimI

couldnotlive。PleasecomeandseemeVERYoften——

andtellmestories！’’

AfterthatIcollectedstoriesforRelief。Oneofthosewhichmostamusedher，Iremember，wasaboutmyhorse，andthisencouragesmetorepeatithere。

InmylifeinEastDennisIdidnotoccupythelonelylittleparsonageconnectedwithmychurch，butin—

steadboardedwithafriend——awidownamedCro—

well。（ThereseemedonlytwonamesinCapeCod：

SearsandCrowell。）Tokeepintouchwithmytwochurches，whichwerealmostthreemilesapart，itbecamenecessarytohaveahorse。AsMrs。Crowellneededone，too，wedecidedtobuytheanimalinpartnership，andMissCrowell，thedaughterofthewidow，whoknewnomoreabouthorsesthanIdid，undertooktolendmethesupportofherpresenceandadviceduringthepurchase。Wedidnotcaretohavetheentirecommunitytakeapassionatein—

terestinthematter，asitwouldcertainlyhavedoneifithadheardofourintention；somyfriendandI

departedsomewhatstealthilyforaneighboringtown，where，wehadheard，averygoodhorsewasofferedforsale。Wesawtheanimalandlikedit；

butbeforeclosingthebargainwecannilyaskedtheownerifthehorsewasperfectlysound，andifitwasgentlewithwomen。Heassuredusthatitwasbothsoundandgentlewithwomen，andtoprovethelatterpointhehadhiswifeharnessittothebuggyanddriveitaroundthestable—yard。Theanimalbehavedbeautifully。Afterithadgonethroughitspaces，MissCrowellandIleanedconfidinglyagainstitsside，pattingitandpraisingitsbeauty，andthehorseseemedtoenjoyourattentions。

Weboughtitthenandthere，droveithome，andputitinourbarn；andthenextmorningwehiredamanintheneighborhoodtocomeoverandtakecareofit。

Hearrived。Fiveminuteslaterafrightfulracketbrokeoutinthebarn——soundsofstamping，kicking，andplunging，mingledwithloudshouts。Werantothesceneofthetrouble，andfoundour``hiredman’’rushingbreathlesslytowardthehouse。Whenhewasabletospeakheinformedusthatwehad``adevilinthere，’’pointingbacktothebarn，andthatthenewhorse’slegswereintheair，allfourofthematonce，theminutehewentnearher。Weinsistedthathemusthavefrightenedorhurther，but，sol—

emnlyandwithanxiouslooksbehind，heprotestedthathehadnot。FinallyMissCrowellandIwentintothebarn，andreceivedadignifiedwelcomefromthenewhorse，whichseemedpleasedbyourvisit。

Togetherweharnessedherand，withouttheleastdifficulty，droveheroutintotheyard。Assoonasourmantookthereins，however，shereared，kicked，andsmashedourbrand—newbuggy。Wechangedthemanandhadthebuggyrepaired，butbytheendoftheweektheanimalhadsmashedthebuggyagain。Then，withsomenaturalresentment，wemadeasecondvisittothemanfromwhomwehadboughther，andaskedhimwhyhehadsoldussuchahorse。

Hesaidhehadtoldustheexacttruth。ThehorseWASsoundandsheWASextremelygentlewithwomen，but——andthispointhehadseennoreasontomen—

tion，aswehadnotaskedaboutit——shewouldnotletamancomenearher。Hefirmlyrefusedtotakeherback，andwehadtomakethebestofthebar—

gain。Asitwasimpossibletotakecareofherour—

selves，Igavesomethoughttotheproblemshepre—

sented，andfinallydevisedaplanwhichworkedverywell。Ihiredaneighborwhowasasmall，slightmantotakecareofher，andmadehimwearhiswife’ssunbonnetandwaterproofcloakwheneverheap—

proachedthehorse。ThepicturehepresentedinthesegarmentsstillstandsoutpleasantlyagainstthebackgroundofmyCapeCodmemories。Thehorse，however，didnotshareourappreciationofit。Shewassuspicious，andforatimesheshiedwheneverthemanandhissunbonnetandcloakappeared；

butwestoodbyuntilshegrewaccustomedtothemandhim；andashewasbothpatientandgentle，shefinallyallowedhimtoharnessandunharnessher。Butnomancoulddriveher，andwhenI

drovetochurchIwasforcedtohitchandun—

hitchhermyself。Nooneelsecoulddoit，thoughmanyagallantandsubsequentlyresentfulmanat—

temptedthefeat。

OnoneoccasionamanIgreatlydisliked，andwhoI

hadreasontoknowdislikedme，insistedthathecouldunhitchher，andstartedtodoso，notwithstandingmyprotestsandexplanations。Athisapproachsheroseonherhind—legs，andwhenhegraspedherbridlesheliftedhimoffhisfeet。Hisexpressionashehunginmid—airwasanextraordinarymixtureofsurpriseandregret。ThemomentItouchedher，however，shequieteddown，andwhenIgotintothebuggyandgatheredupthereinsshewalkedofflikealamb，leavingthemanstaringafterherwithhiseyesstartingfromhishead。

ThepreviousownerhadcalledthehorseDaisy，andweneverchangedthename，thoughitalwaysseemedsadlyinappropriate。Timeproved，however，thattherewereadvantagesintheownershipofDaisy。Nomanwouldallowhiswifeordaughtertodrivebehindher，andnoonewantedtoborrowher。Ifshehadbeenadifferentkindofanimalshewouldhavebeenusedbythewholecommunity，WekeptDaisyforsevenyears，andouracquaintanceripenedintoapleasantfriendship。

AnotherCapeCodresidenttowhosememoryI

mustoffertributeinthesepageswasPollyAnnSears——oneofthedearestandbestofmyparish—

ioners。Shehadsixsons，andwhenfivehadgonetoseasheinsistedthatthesixthmustremainathome。Invaintheboybeggedhertolethimfollowhisbrothers。Shestoodfirm。Thesea，shesaid，shouldnotswallowallherboys；shehadgivenitfive——shemustkeepone。

Asithappened，thesonshekeptathomewastheonlyonewhowasdrowned。Hewascaughtinafish—netanddraggedunderthewatersofthebaynearhishome；andwhenIwenttoseehismothertooffersuchcomfortasIcould，sheshowedthatshehadlearnedthebiglessonoftheexperience。

``ItriedtobeaspecialProvidence，’’shemoaned，``andtheoneboyIkepthomewastheonlyboyIlost。Iain’ta—goin’tobeaProvidencenomore。’’

ThenumberoffuneralsonCapeCodwastragi—

callylarge。Iwasingreatdemandontheseocca—

sions，andwentallovertheCape，conductingfune—

ralservices——whichseemedtobetheonethingpeoplethoughtIcoulddo——andpreachingfuneralsermons。

Besidesthevictimsofthesea，manyoftheresi—

dentswhohaddriftedawaywerebroughtbacktosleeptheirlastsleepwithinsoundofthewaves。

OnceIaskedanoldsea—captainwhysomanyCapeCodmenandwomenwhohadbeengoneforyearsaskedtobeburiedneartheiroldhomes，andhisreplystilllingersinmymemory。Hepokedhistoeinthesandforamomentandthensaid，slowly：

``Wal，Ireckonit’sbecausetheCapehassuchwarm，comfortablesandtoliedownin。’’

MyfriendMrs。AddylayintheCrowellfamilylot，andduringmypastorateatEastDennisI

preachedthefuneralsermonofherfather，andlaterofhermother。LongafterIhadleftCapeCodI

wasfrequentlycalledbacktosaythelastwordsoverthecoffinsofmyoldfriends，andthesaddestofthosejourneyswastheoneImadeinresponsetoatelegramfromthemotherofReliefPaine。WhenIhadarrivedandwestoodtogetherbesidetheex—

quisitefigurethatseemedhardlymorequietindeaththaninlife，Mrs。Painevoicedinherfewwordsthefeelingofthewholecommunity——``Whereshallwegetourcomfortandourinspiration，nowthatReliefisgone？’’

Thefuneralwhichtookallmycouragefromme，however，wasthatofmysisterMary。Initssudden—

ness，Mary’sdeath，in1883，wasasathunderboltfromtheblue；forshehadbeeninperfecthealththreedaysbeforeshepassedaway。IwasstillinchargeofmytwoparishesinCapeCod，but，asitmercifullyhappened，beforeshewasstrickenIhadstartedWesttovisitMaryinherhomeatBigRapids。WhenIarrivedontheseconddayofherillness，knowingnothingofituntilIreachedher，Ifoundheralreadypasthope。Herdiseasewaspneumonia，butshewasconscioustotheend，andhergreatestdesireseemedtobetoseemechristenherlittledaughterandherhusbandbeforesheleftthem。Thiscouldnotberealized，formybrother—

in—lawwasabsentonbusiness，andwithallhishasteinreturningdidnotreachhiswife’ssideuntilafterherdeath。Ashisonethoughtthenwastocarryoutherlastwishes，Ichristenedhimandhislittlegirljustbeforethefuneral；andduringtheceremonyweallexperiencedadeepconvictionthatMaryknewandwascontent。

Shehadbecomeapowerinhercommunity，andwassodearlylovedthatonthedayherbodywasbornetoitslastresting—placeallthebusinesshousesinBigRapidswereclosed，andthestreetswerefilledwithmenwhostoodwithbent，uncoveredheadsasthefuneralprocessionwentby。Myfatherandmother，also，towhomshehadgivenahomeaftertheyleftthelog—cabinwheretheyhadlivedsolong，hadmademanyfriendsintheirnewenvironmentandwereaffectionatelyknownthroughoutthewholeregionas``GrandmaandGrandpaShaw。’’

WhenIreturnedtoEastDennisIbroughtmymotherandMary’sthreechildrenwithme，andtheyremainedthroughoutthespringandsummer。