Four Girls at Chautauqua | Page 5

pass through an accident, and not many of the doctor's patrons were
of just the same stamp. This family never went to the Erskine
entertainments, never were invited to go to the other entertainments
starting from the same circle, yet they had their friends and many of
them. The Shipleys were free-and-easy, cordial, social, friendly people,
who bought many books and pictures, and were prominent in fairs and
festivals, and were popular everywhere, but were not, after all, of the
Erskine stamp. Finally came Marion, alone, no position any where,
save as she ruled in the most difficult room in the most difficult ward in
the city. A worker, known to be such; a manager, recognized as one
who could make incongruous elements meet and marshal into working
order. In that capacity she found her place even in the First Church, for
they had fairs and festivals, and oyster suppers, and other trials even in
the First Church; and there was much work to be done, and Marion
Wilbur could work.
And these four girls were going to Chautauqua--were to start on
Monday morning, August 2, 1875.
CHAPTER II.
THE QUESTION DISCUSSED.
Rev. Dr. Dennis and Rev. Mr. Harrison met just at the corner of
Howard and Clinton Streets, and stopped for a chat. Dr. Dennis was
pastor of the First Church, and Mr. Harrison was pastor of the Fourth,
and some of the sheep belonging to these respective flocks supposed
the two churches to be rivals, but the pastors thereof never thought of
such a thing. On the contrary, they were always getting up excuses for
coming in contact with each other; and woe to the work that was
waiting for each when they chanced to meet of a morning on some
shady corner.
"You are to be represented, I hear, at the coming assembly," said Mr.
Harrison, as they shook hands in that hearty way which says, as plainly
as words, "How very glad I am to see you!"
Dr. Dennis shrugged his shoulders.

"Such a representation!" he said. "If the entire congregation had been
canvassed, it would have been impossible to have made more curious
selections. I do wish we could have some real workers from the
different churches."
"Miss Erskine isn't a member of the church, is she?"
"None of them are members, nor Christians; nor have they an atom of
interest in any such matters. They are going for pure fun, and nothing
else."
"Now perhaps they will happily disappoint you by coming back with a
wholesome interest aroused in Sunday-school work, and will really go
into the work for themselves."
"I don't want them," Dr. Dennis said, stoutly. "I wouldn't give a dime
for a hundred such workers; they are an injury to the cause. I want
Sunday-school workers who have a personal, vital sense of the worth of
souls, and a consuming desire to see them converted. All other
Sunday-school teaching is aimless."
Mr. Harrison looked thoughtful.
"We haven't many such, I am afraid," he said, gravely; but I agree with
you in thinking that they should at least be Christians. Still, I suppose
that it is not impossible that some one of these ladies may be
converted."
"Not at Chautauqua," Dr. Dennis said, as one who had looked into the
matter and knew all about it. "I am not entirely in sympathy with that
meeting, anyway; or, that is, I am and I am not, all at once. I think it
would be a grand place for you and me. I haven't the least doubt but
that we would be refreshed, bodily and mentally, and, for that matter,
spiritually. If the whole world were converted I should vote for
Chautauqua with a loud voice; but I am more than fearful as to the
influence of such meetings on the masses--the unconverted world. They
will go there for recreation. Their whole aim will be to have a glorious
frolic away from the restraints of ordinary home-life. They will have no

interest in the meetings, no sympathy with the central thought that has
drawn the workers together, and the tendency will be to frolic through
it all.
"The truth is, there will be such a mixing of things that I actually fear
the effect will be wholesale demoralization. At the same time I am
interested in the idea, and am watching it with anxiety. Since I have
heard of the delegation from my own church I have been more
convinced still of the evil influences. It makes me gloomy to think of
the fruitful field such a place will be for the fertile brain of that little
Eurie Mitchell. She is too wild now for civilized life The four walls of
the church and the sacred associations connected with the building
serve to keep her only