thinks Mis' 'Liphalet Hodges."

"Well, what on airth is she goin' to make out of him, then?"

"Please pass me that sugar: thank you. You know Mr. Daniels offered him
a place as clerk in the same store where Sophy Davis is. It was mighty
kind o' Mr. Daniels, I think, to offer him the job."

"Well, did n't he take it?"

"Well, partly he did an' partly he did n't, ef you can understand that."

"Sally Martin, what do you mean? A body has to fairly pick a thing out
o' you."

"I mean that she told Mr. Daniels he might work fur him half of every
day."

"Half a day! An' what 's he goin' to do the other half?"

"He 's a-goin' to the Bible Seminary the other half-day. She 's a-goin'
to make a preacher out o' him."

Mrs. Martin had slowly and tortuously worked up to her climax, and she
shot forth the last sentence with a jubilant ring. She had well
calculated its effects. Sitting back in her chair, she supped her tea
complacently as she contemplated her companion's astonishment. Mrs.
Smith had completely collapsed into her seat, folded her arms, and
closed her eyes. "Laws a massy!" she exclaimed. "What next? Old Tom,
drunken Tom, swearin' an' ravin' Tom Brent's boy a preacher!" Then
suddenly she opened her eyes and sat up very erect and alert as she
broke forth, "Sally Martin, what air you a-tellin' me? It ain't
possible. It 's ag'in' nature. A panther's cub ain't a-goin' to be a
lamb. It 's downright wicked, that 's what I say."

"An' so says I to Mis' Murphy, them same identical words; says I, 'Mis'
Murphy, it 's downright wicked. It 's a-shamin' of the Lord's holy
callin' o' the ministry.'"

"An' does the young scamp pertend to 'a' had a call?"

"No, indeed: he was mighty opposed to it, and so was her husband; but
that woman was so set she would n't agree to nothin' else. He don't
pertend to 'a' heerd no call, 'ceptin' Miss Hester's, an' that was a
command. I know it 's all true, fur Mis' Murphy, while she was n't jest
a-listenin', lives next door and heerd it all."

And so the two women fell to discussing the question, as they had heard
it, pro and con. It was all true, as these gossips had it, that Miss
Hester had put into execution her half-expressed determination to make
a preacher of Fred. He had heard nothing of it until the day when he
rushed in elated over the kindly offer of a place in Mr. Daniels's
store. Then his guardian had firmly told him of her plan, and there was
a scene.

"You kin jest tell M