human
I suppose they think, Miss Jane went on, with asperity,
gpt
I don't suppose, said the invalid sister rather timidly, from her couch,
human
No, I don't, retorted Miss Jane, very positively.
gpt
And I don't see how you can think it, Deborah. You know perfectly well it was Maria Hill that started the whole thing--and then talked about me as if I was the one. How that woman did talk--and talks yet! Don't get me thinking about it. It's Christmas Day, and I want to keep my mind off such disgraceful things as church quarrels--if the Fernald family'll let me. A pretty bold thing to do, I call it--open up that church on their own responsibility, and expect folks to come, and forget the past. --Debby, I wish you could see Oliver's wife, in those furs of hers. She holds her head as high as ever--but she's the only one of 'em that does it disagreeably--I'll say that for 'em, if they _are_ all city folks now. And of course she isn't a Fernald. --Here comes Nancy and her husband. That girl don't look a minute older'n when she was married, five years ago. My, but she's got a lot of style! I must say her skirts don't hang like any North Estabrook dressmaker can make 'em. They're walking--hurrying up to catch the rest. Sam Burnett's a good-looking man, but he's getting a little stout.
human
Jane, said the invalid sister, wistfully,
gpt
I wish I could go to-night.
human
Well, I wish you could. That is--if I go. I haven't just made up my mind. I wonder if folks'll sit in their old pews. You know the Hills' is just in front of ours. But as to your going, Deborah, of course that's out of the question. I suppose I shall go. I shouldn't like to offend the Fernalds, and they do say Guy's wife's brother is worth hearing. There's to be music, too.
gpt
I wish I could go, sighed poor Deborah, under her breath.
human
To be able to go--and to wonder whether you will! --_O Lord_-- she closed her patient eyes and whispered it--
gpt
The problem is-- said the Reverend William Sewall, standing at the back of the church with his sister Margaret, and Guy Fernald, her husband, and Nan and Sam Burnett--the four who had, as yet, no children, and so could best take time, on Christmas afternoon, to make the final arrangements for the evening--
human
I should say, observed his brother-in-law, Guy, his face full of affection and esteem for the very admirable figure of a young man who stood before him,
gpt
Somehow this strikes me as the bigger one, said he.
human
The wisest of my old professors used to say that the further you got into the country the less it mattered about your clothes but the more about your sermon. I've been wondering, all the way up, if I knew enough to preach that sermon. Isn't there any minister in town, not even a visiting one?
gpt
Not a one. You can't get out of it, Billy Sewall, if you have got an attack of stage-fright--which we don't believe.
human
There _is_ one minister, Nan admitted.
gpt
But I'd forgotten all about him, till Father mentioned him last night. But he doesn't really count at all. He's old--very old--and infirm.
human
Superannuated, they call it, added Sam Burnett.
gpt
Poor old chap. I've seen him--I met him at the post-office this morning. He has a peaceful face. He's a good man. He must have been a strong one--in his time.
human
Had he anything to do with the church trouble?
gpt
Old 'Elder Blake'?--not except as he was on his knees, alone at home, praying for the fighters--both sides, was Guy's explanation.
human
So Father says, and nobody knows better what side people were on.
gpt
If I can get hold of a man whose part in the quarrel was praying for both sides, I'm off to find him, said Sewall, decidedly. He picked up his hat as he spoke.
human
Tell me where he lives, please.
gpt
Billy! His sister Margaret's voice was anxious.
human
Are you sure you'd better? Perhaps it would be kind to ask him to make a prayer. But you won't----
gpt
You won't ask him to preach the sermon, Billy Sewall--promise us that, cried Guy.
human
An old man in his dotage!
gpt
You've got me up here, said he,
human
Keep cool, advised Sam Burnett.
gpt
He wants the old man's advice--that's all. I don't blame him. He wants to understand the situation thoroughly. Nothing like putting your head into a thing before you put your foot in. It saves complications. Sewall's head's level--trust him.
human
Billy! His sister Margaret's voice was anxious.
gpt
Are you sure you'd better?
human
I can't-- said a very old man with a peaceful face--now wearing a somewhat startled expression--
gpt
I can't quite believe you are serious, Mr. Sewall. The people are all expecting you--they will come out to hear you. I have not preached for-- he hesitated--
human
If I were half as fit, answered Sewall, gently,
gpt
I should be very proud. But I'm--why, I'm barely seasoned, yet. I'm liable to warp, if I'm exposed to the weather. But you--with all the benefit of your long experience--you're the sort of timber that needs to be built into this strange Christmas service. I hadn't thought much about it, Mr. Blake, till I was on my way here. I accepted the invitation too readily. But when I did begin to think, I felt the need of help. I believe you can give it. It's a critical situation. You know these people, root and branch. I may say the wrong thing. You will know how to say the right one.
human
If I should consent, the other man said, after a silence during which, with bent white head, he studied the matter,
gpt
he glanced at the clerical dress of his caller--
human
No, Mr. Blake, said he.
gpt
It wouldn't be possible, and it wouldn't be--suitable. This is a community which would probably prefer any other service, and it should have its preference respected. A simple form, as nearly as possible like what it has been used to, will be best--don't you think so? I believe there is to be considerable music. I will read the Story of the Birth, and will try to make a prayer. The rest I will leave to you.
human
And Him,
gpt
And Him, agreed the young man, reverently. Then a bright smile broke over his face, and he held out his hand.
human
I'm no end grateful to you, sir, he said, a certain attractive boyishness of manner suddenly coming uppermost and putting to flight the dignity which was at times a heavier weight than he could carry.
gpt
No end. Don't you remember how it used to be, when you first went into the work, and tackled a job now and then that seemed too big for you? Then you caught sight of a pair of shoulders that looked to you broader than yours--the muscles developed by years of exercise--and you were pretty thankful to shift the load on to them? You didn't want to shirk--Heaven forbid!--but you just felt you didn't know enough to deal with the situation. Don't you remember?
human
You speak metaphorically, my dear lad, he said quaintly, with a kindly twinkle in his faded blue eyes. He laid his left hand on the firm young arm whose hand held his shrunken right.
gpt
But I do remember--yes, yes--I remember plainly enough. And though it seems to me now as if the strength were all with the young and vigorous in body, it may be that I should be glad of the years that have brought me experience.
human
And tolerance,
gpt
And love, yet added the other.
human
Love. That's the great thing--that's the great thing. I do love this community--these dear people. They are good people at heart--only misled as to what is worth standing out for. I would see them at peace. Maybe I can speak to them. God knows--I will try.
gpt
The Fernald family alone will fill the church, observed the bachelor son of the house, Ralph. He leaned out from his place at the tail of the procession to look ahead down the line, where the dark figures showed clearly against the snow. By either hand he held a child--his sister Carolyn's oldest, his brother Edson's youngest.
human
So it won't matter much if nobody else comes out. We're all here--'some in rags, and some in tags, and some in velvet gowns'.
gpt
I can discern the velvet gowns, conceded Edson, from his place just in front, where his substantial figure supported his mother's frail one.
human
But I fail to make out any rags. Take us by and large, we seem to put up rather a prosperous front. I never noticed it quite so decidedly as this year.
gpt
There's nothing at all ostentatious about the girls' dressing, dear, said his mother's voice in his ear.
human
And I noticed they all put on their simplest clothes for to-night--as they should.
gpt
Oh, yes, Edson chuckled.
human
That's precisely why they look so prosperous. That elegant simplicity--gad!--you should see the bills that come in for it. Jess isn't an extravagant dresser, as women go--not by a long shot--_but!_ He whistled a bar or two of ragtime.
gpt
I can see myself now, as a lad, sitting on that fence over there-- he indicated a line of rails, half buried in snow, which outlined the borders of an old apple orchard--
human
A box of the cigars you smoke now, interjected Ralph unexpectedly, from behind.
gpt
Hullo--there's the church! Jolly, but the old building looks bright, doesn't it? I didn't know oil lamps could put up such an illumination. --And see the folks going in!
human
See them coming--from all directions. Nan, farther down the line, clutched Sam Burnett's arm.
gpt
Oh, I knew they'd come out--I knew they would!
human
Of course they'll come out. This was Mrs. Oliver.
gpt
Locks and bars couldn't keep a country community at home, when there is anything going on. But as to the _feeling_--that is a different matter. --Oliver, do take my muff. I want to take off my veil. There will be no chance once I am inside the door. Nan is walking twice as fast now as when we started. She will have us all up the aisle before----
human
Where's Billy Sewall bolting to?