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。
VI
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。
