here upon me that
what we need is the learning of the world, otherwise called the wisdom
of the serpent. I never was a great hand to learn, and father he didn't
make me, so it comes harder now; but I'll see to it that the young ones
of our folks shall take to learning mighty early; and what we want is to
be faithful in small things, and not stumble in our faith if now and
then a man do rise into the air."

She felt his blue eyes, mild but shrewd, meeting hers as he came to this
last item.

"Sister, 'twas given to me to know the first time as I saw you that
there was a great work for you to do in comforting and establishing the
elect, and it comes to me now that you'd better be getting some more
education, for although I suffer not a woman to teach, yet she may
establish that which is already taught."

Inclined to put some question that would bring out more definite
instruction as to her own special function in the Church, she did not
notice two men who were approaching from the other side in a gig until
they were close upon them.

One of these was a well-to-do farmer, the brother of a woman who had
recently been converted at one of Smith's meetings. Now he was breathing
out revenge. He sprang to the ground, striking at Smith with a heavy
whip. Susannah saw the mildness of the prophet's eye turn into a sharp
glitter. She realised that he was not afraid, although when the other
man also sprang upon him there was not the least doubt but that he must
be worsted in such an assault.

In the minute that Smith was wrestling with the farmer for the
possession of the whip, Susannah wrung her hands in an agony and ran
forward toward the hotel, screaming aloud for help; then, afraid of what
might befall in her absence, she ran back. By this time the two men had
thrown Smith down. Even then he showed his strength, for they struggled
hard to get the whip, which he had seized from them.

In her storm of feeling Susannah for the first time came out from the
habits of girlish timidity. Hardly knowing what she said, what she was
about to say, she heard the words of her own fierce indignation ring out
on the air of the mild autumn morning. The scene--the bare road, the
sere weeds and grasses, the prostrate prophet, the flushed faces of the
two burly countrymen upturned to hers as they stooped, crushing him
down--all was photographed on her mind by excitement.

By the intensity of her upbraiding she arrested the attention of Smith'