Kilo | Page 9

of but one book in this entire community. Sister Dawson has a copy of Bunyan's sublime work, 'Pilgrim's Progress.' It was an heirloom. Be seated," he said, and Eliph' Hewlitt seated himself Turk-fashion, on the sod.
The minister took the book carefully on his knees. Even to feel a new book was a pleasure he did not often have, and his fingers itched upon it.
In three minutes Eliph' Hewlitt knew the entire story of Mrs. Smith and Susan, so far as it was known to the minister, and he leaned over and tapped with his forefinger the book on the minister's knee.
"Open it," he said.
The minister removed the wrapper.
"Page 6, Index," said Eliph' Hewlitt, turning the pages. He ran his finger down the page, and up and down page 7, stopped at a line on page 8, and hastily turned over the pages of the book. At page 974 he laid the book open, and the minister adjusted his spectacles and read where the book agent pointed. Then he pushed his spectacles up on his forehead and looked carefully at the picnickers. He singled out Mrs. Tarbro-Smith, and waved her toward him with his hand. She came and stood before him.
The minister wiped his spectacles on his handkerchief, readjusted them on his nose, and bent over the book.
"What is your brother's name?" he asked kindly, but with solemnity.
"Marriott Nolan Tarbro," she answered.
He traced the lines carefully with his finger.
"Born?" he asked.
"June 4, 1864, at Tarrytown-on-the-Hudson."
"And he is married?"
"Married Amanda Rogers Long, at Newport, Rhode Island, June 14, 1895."
"Where is he living now?" he asked.
"Last year he was living in New York--I am a widow, as you know--but last fall he went to Algiers."
"The book says Algiers. What-er-clubs is he a member of?"
"Oh, yes," said Mrs. Smith; "The Authors and The Century."
"I have no doubt," said the minister, "from what the book says, and what you say, that you are indeed the sister of this--ah--celebrated"--he looked at the book--"celebrated novelist, who is a man of such standing that he received--ah-- several more lines in this work than the average, more, in fact, than Talmage, more than Beecher, and more than the present governor of the State of Iowa. I think I may safely advise Mrs. Bell to let Susan go with you."
"One!" said Eliph' Hewlitt quickly. "That's just ONE question that came up flaring, and was mashed flat by Jarby's Encyclopedia of Knowledge and Compendium of Literature, Science and Art, a book in which are ten thousand and one subjects, fully treated by the best minds of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. One subject for every day in the year for twenty-seven years, and some left over. Religion, politics, literature, every subject under the sun, gathered in one grand colossal encyclopedia with an index so simple that a child can understand it. See page 768, 'Texts, Biblical; Hints for Sermons; The Art of Pulpit Eloquence.' No minister should be without it. See page 1046, 'Pulpit Orators--Golden Words of the Greatest, comprising selections from Spurgeon, Robertson, Talmage, Beecher, Parkhurst,' et cetery. A book that should be in every home. Look at 'P': Poets, Great. Poison, Antidotes for. Poker, Rules of. Poland, History and Geography of, with Map. Pomeroy, Brick. Pomatum, How to Make. Ponce de Leon, Voyages and Life of. Pop, Ginger,' et cetery, et cetery. The whole for the small sum of five dollars, bound in cloth, one dollar down and one dollar a month until paid."
The minister turned the pages slowly.
"It seems a worthy book," he said hesitatingly.
Eliph' Hewlitt looked at Mrs. Smith, with a question in his eyes.
She nodded.
"Ah!" he said. "Mrs. Smith, sister of the well-known novelist, Marriott Nolan Tarbro, takes two copies of Jarby's Encyclopedia of Knowledge and Compendium of Literature, Science and Art, bound in full morocco, one of which she begs to present to the worthy pastor of this happy flock, with her compliments and good wishes."
"I can't thank you," stammered the minister; "it is so kind. I have so few books, and so few opportunities of securing them."
Eliph' Hewlitt held out his hand for the sample volume.
"When you have this book," he declared, "you NEED no others. It makes a Carnegie library of the humblest home."
The entire picnic had gradually gathered around him.
"Ladies and gents," he said, "I have come to bring knowledge and power where ignorance and darkness have lurked. This volume----"
He stopped and handed his sample to the minister.
"Introduce me to the lady in the blue dress," he said to Mrs. Smith, and she stepped forward and made them acquainted.
"Miss Briggs, this is Mr----"
"Hewlitt," he said quickly, "Eliph' Hewlitt."
"Mr. Hewlitt," said Mrs. Smith. "Miss Sally Briggs of Kilo."
"I'm glad to know you, Miss Briggs," said Eliph' Hewlitt. "I hope we may become well acquainted. As I was sayin' to Mrs. Smith, I'm a