Prudence of the Parsonage | Page 9

over the fence, and on to the "field." There they closed
ranks, with their arms recklessly around whoever was nearest, and
made a thorough tour of the bit of pasture-land. For some moments
they leaned upon the dividing fence and gazed admiringly into the rich
orchard and vineyard of the Avery estate. But soon they were skipping

back to the parsonage again, and the kitchen door banged behind them.
Then the eldest Miss Avery closed the window overlooking the
parsonage and confronted her sisters.
"We must just make the best of it," she said quietly.
But next door, the gray old ugly parsonage was full to overflowing with
satisfaction and happiness and love.
The Starrs had never had an appointment like this before. They had just
come from the village of Exminster, of five hundred inhabitants. There
the Reverend Mr. Starr had filled the pulpits of three small Methodist
churches, scattered at random throughout the country,--consideration,
five hundred dollars. But here,--why, Mount Mark had a population of
fully three thousand, and a business academy, and the Presbyterian
College,--small, to be sure, but the name had a grand and inspiring
sound. And Mr. Starr had to fill only one pulpit! It was heavenly, that's
what it was. To be sure, many of his people lived out in the country,
necessitating the upkeep of a horse for the sake of his pastoral work,
but that was only an advantage. Also to be sure, the Methodists in
Mount Mark were in a minority, and an inferiority,--Mount Mark being
a Presbyterian stronghold due to the homing there of the trim and
orderly little college. But what of that? The salary was six hundred and
fifty dollars and the parsonage was adorable! The parsonage family
could see nothing at all wrong with the world that day, and the future
was rainbow-tinted.
Every one has experienced the ecstatic creepy sensation of sleeping in a
brand-new home. The parsonage girls reveled in the memory of that
first night for many days. "It may be haunted for all we know," cried
Carol deliciously. "Just think, Connie, there may be seven ghosts
camped on the head of your bed, waiting----"
"Carol!"
When the family gathered for worship on that first Sabbath morning,
Mr. Starr said, as he turned the leaves of his well-worn Bible, "I think it

would be well for you girls to help with the morning worship now. You
need practise in praying aloud, and--so we will begin to-day. Connie
and I will make the prayers this morning, Prudence and Carol
to-morrow, and Fairy and Lark the next day. We will keep that system
up for a while, anyhow. When I finish reading the chapter, Connie, you
will make the first prayer. Just pray for whatever you wish as you do at
night for yourself. I will follow you."
Connie's eyes were wide with responsibility during the reading of the
chapter, but when she began to speak her voice did not falter. Connie
had nine years of good Methodist experience back of her!
"Our Father, who art in Heaven, we bow ourselves before Thy footstool
in humility and reverence. Thou art our God, our Creator, our Saviour.
Bless us this day, and cause Thy face to shine upon us. Blot out our
transgressions, pardon our trespasses. Wash us, that we may be whiter
than snow. Hide not Thy face from the eyes of Thy children, turn not
upon us in wrath. Pity us, Lord, as we kneel here prostrate before Thy
majesty and glory. Let the words of our mouths and the meditations of
our hearts, be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, our strength and our
Redeemer. And finally save us, an unbroken family around Thy throne
in Heaven, for Jesus' sake. Amen."
This was followed by an electric silence. Prudence was biting her lips
painfully, and counting by tens as fast as she could. Fairy was mentally
going over the prayer, sentence by sentence, and attributing each
petition to the individual member in the old church at Exminster to
whom it belonged. The twins were a little amazed, and quite proud.
Connie was an honor to the parsonage,--but they were concerned lest
they themselves should do not quite so well when their days came.
But in less than a moment the minister-father began his prayer. His
voice was a little subdued, and he prayed with less fervor and abandon
than usual, but otherwise things went off quite nicely. When he said,
"Amen," Prudence was on her feet and half-way up-stairs before the
others were fairly risen. Fairy stood gazing intently out of the window
for a moment, and then went out to the barn to see if the horse was
through eating. Mr. Starr walked gravely and soberly out the front door,

and around the house. He ran