d," he said, "and bless you, too, my daughter, faw yo'
glad tidin's. I'll see Mary and Martha Salter and Doctor Grace right
off, and get ready to ketch the blessed shower. May the very first
droppin's fall on you, my beautiful child. I've heard what a wise an'
blessed help you've been to yo' father since yo'--here lately. Ain't you
a-goin' to give yo' heart to Jesus, daughter?"

She met his longing look with the same face as before; not blankly, yet
denying, asking, confessing nothing. Truth there, but no fact.

"Well, good-by," said the old man, "I believe you're nearer the kingdom
now than you know." His awkward kindness brought her nearer still.

Thus the revival began at Rosemont. The two congregations joined
counsel, and decided to hold the meetings in Parson Tombs's church.

"I'm proud, Brother Tombs--or, rather, I'm grateful," said Garnet. "I
look on this as a divine vindication against the missionary solicitude
of an alien institution's ambitious zeal. My brethren, it's a heavenly
proof of the superior vitality of Southern Christianity."

But they decided not to begin at once. Mary Salter thought they should,
and so did the unmarried pastor of the other church, who, they said, was
"sweet on her."

"All we need is faith!" said Miss Mary.

"No, it's not," was Miss Martha's calm response, "we need a little
common sense." She said the two pastors ought to preach at least two
Sunday sermons, each "pointed toward the projected--that is to say
expected--showers of blessing."

"Sort o' take the people's temperature," put in Doctor Grace, but she
ignored him. By that time, she said, it would be too near Christmas to
start anything of the kind before----

"Why, Christmas, Sister Martha, think what Christmas is? It ought to be
just the time!"

"Yes, but it isn't."

"I think Miss Martha's right," said Parson Tombs, very sweetly to Mary;
"and I think," turning as affectionately to Martha, "that Miss Mary's
right, too. We need faith _and_ wisdom. The Lord promises both, and so
we must use all we can _uv_ both. Now, if we can begin a couple of days
before New Year, so's to have things agoin' by New Year's eve, I _think_
we'll find that wisdom and faith have kissed each other."

Miss Martha and Sister Tombs smiled softly at the startling figure. Miss
Mary and the unmarried pastor dropped their eyes. But when Doctor Grace
said, fervently, "That sounds good!" all admitted the excellence of
Parson Tombs's suggestion.