led. "I don't like to see men in pulpits.
They look so awkward." Her grief culminated in a final outburst.
"They're all arms and legs!" she sobbed.

When my resignation was finally accepted, and the time of my departure
drew near, the men of the community spent much of their leisure in
discussing it and me. The social center of East Dennis was a certain
grocery, to which almost every man in town regularly wended his way,
and from which all the gossip of the town emanated. Here the men sat
for hours, tilted back in their chairs, whittling the rungs until they
nearly cut the chairs from under them, and telling one another all they
knew or had heard about their fellow-townsmen. Then, after each session,
they would return home and repeat the gossip to their wives. I used to
say that I would give a dollar to any woman in East Dennis who could
quote a bit of gossip which did not come from the men at that grocery.
Even my old friend Captain Doane, fine and high-minded citizen though
he was, was not above enjoying the mild diversion of these social
gatherings, and on one occasion at least he furnished the best part of
the entertainment. The departing minister was, it seemed, the topic of
the day's discussion, and, to tease Captain Doane one young man who
knew the strength of his friendship for me suddenly began to speak, then
pursed up his lips and looked eloquently mysterious. As he had expected,
Captain Doane immediately pounced on him.

"What's the matter with you?" demanded the old man. "Hev you got
anything agin Miss Shaw?"

The young man sighed and murmured that if he wished he could repeat a
charge never before made against a Cape Cod minister, but--and he shut
his lips more obviously. The other men, who were in the plot, grinned,
and this added the last touch to Captain Doane's indignation. He sprang
to his feet. One of his peculiarities was a constant misuse of words,
and now, in his excitement, he outdid himself.

"You've made an incineration against Miss Shaw," he shouted. "Do you
hear--AN INCINERATION! Take it back or take a lickin'!"

The young man decided that the joke had gone far enough, so he answered,
mildly: "Well, it is said that all the women in town are in love with
Miss Shaw. Has that been charged against any other minister here?"

The men roared with laughter, and Captain Doane sat down, looking
sheepish.

"All I got to say is this," he muttered: "That gal has been in this
community for seven yea