Not going to church! I--I--scarcely understand. Worship is such a
sacred duty--"

"You and Jane certainly have a right to go to church, and since it is
your wish, I'll take you down to Lemuel Weeks' and you can go with
them."

"I don't want to go to Cousin Lemuel's, nor to church, nuther," Jane
protested.

"Why, Mr. Holcroft," began the widow sweetly, "after you've once
harnessed up it will take but a little longer to keep on to the meeting
house. It would appear so seemly for us to drive thither, as a matter
of course. It would be what the communerty expects of us. This is not
our day, that we should spend it carnally. We should be
spiritually-minded. We should put away things of earth. Thoughts of
business and any unnecessary toil should be abhorrent. I have often
thought that there was too much milking done on Sunday among farmers.
I know they say it is essential, but they all seem so prone to forget
that but one thing is needful. I feel it borne in upon my mind, Mr.
Holcroft, that I should plead with you to attend divine worship and
seek an uplifting of your thoughts. You have no idea how differently
the day may end, or what emotions may be aroused if you place yourself
under the droppings of the sanctuary."

"I'm like Jane, I don't wish to go," said Mr. Holcroft nervously.

"But my dear Mr. Holcroft,"--the farmer fidgeted under this
address,--"the very essence of true religion is to do what we don't
wish to do. We are to mortify the flesh and thwart the carnal mind.
The more thorny the path of self-denial is, the more certain it's the
right path. I've already entered upon it," she continued, turning a
momentary glare upon Mrs. Wiggins. "Never before was a respecterble
woman so harrowed and outraged; but I am calm; I am endeavoring to
maintain a frame of mind suiterble to worship, and I feel it my bounden
duty to impress upon you that worship is a necessity to every human
being. My conscience would not acquit me if I did not use all my
influence--"

"Very well, Mrs. Mumpson, you and your conscience are quits. You have
used all your influence. I will do as I said--take you to Lemuel
Weeks'--and you can go to church with his family," and he rose from the
table.

"But Cousin Lemuel is also painfully blind to his spiritual interests--"

Holcroft did not stay to listen and was soon engaged in the morning
milking. Jane flatly declared that she would not go to Cousin Lemuel's
or to church. "It don