nicely rested. Isn't
this a lovely yard? And the children will be so happy to have this
delicious big porch. Oh, I just adore Mount Mark already."

"This is a fine chance for us to get acquainted," said the good woman
with eagerness.

Now if the truth must be told, there had been some ill feeling in the
Ladies' Aid Society concerning the reception of Prudence. After the
session of Conference, when the Reverend Mr. Starr was assigned to
Mount Mark, the Ladies of the church had felt great interest in the man
and his family. They inquired on every hand, and learned several
interesting items. The mother had been taken from the family five
years before, after a long illness, and Prudence, the eldest daughter,
had taken charge of the household. There were five children. So much
was known, and being women, they looked forward with eager curiosity to
the coming of Prudence, the young mistress of the parsonage.

Mr. Starr had arrived at Mount Mark a week ahead of his family. The
furniture had been shipped from his previous charge, and he, with the
assistance of a strong and willing negro, had "placed it" according to
the written instructions of Prudence, who had conscientiously outlined
just what should go in every room. She and the other children had
spent the week visiting at the home of their aunt, and Prudence had
come on a day in advance of the others to "wind everything up," as she
had expressed it.

But to return to the Ladies,--the parsonage girls always capitalized
the Ladies of their father's church, and indeed italicized them, as
well. And the irrepressible Carol had been heard to remark, "I often
feel like exclamation-pointing them, I promise you." But to return
once more.

"One of us should go and help the dear child," said Mrs. Scott, the
president of the Aids, when they assembled for their business meeting,
"help her, and welcome her, and advise her."

"I was thinking of going over," said one, and another, and several
others.

"Oh, that will not do at all," said the president; "she would be
excited meeting so many strangers, and could not properly attend to her
work. That will never do, never, never! But one of us must go, of
course."

"I move that the president appoint a committee of one to help Miss
Prudence get settled, and welcome her to our midst," said Mrs. Barnaby,
secretly hoping that in respect for her making this suggestion honoring
the president, the president would have apprec