bram jest laughed in our
sleeves and paid no attention to 'em; for there never was but one way
for us, anyhow, and that wasn't Abram's way nor my way; it was jest
_our_ way. There's lots of married folks, honey, and one of 'em's here
and one of 'em's gone over yonder, and there's a long, deep grave
between 'em; but they're a heap nearer to each other than two livin'
people that stay in the same house, and eat at the same table, and
sleep in the same bed, and all the time there's two great thick church
walls between 'em and growin' thicker and higher every day. Sam Amos
used to say that if religion made folks act like Marthy and Amos did,
he believed he'd ruther have less religion or none at all. But, honey,
when you see married folks quarrelin' over their churches, it ain't
too much religion that's the cause o' the trouble, it's too little
love. Jest ricollect that; if folks love each other right, religion
ain't goin' to come between 'em.

"Well, as soon as cold weather set in they started up a big revival at
Goshen church. After the meetin' had been goin' on for three or four
weeks, Parson Page give out one Sunday that the session would meet on
the follerin' Thursday to examine all that had experienced a change o'
heart and wanted to unite with the church. I never said a word to
Abram, but Thursday evenin' while he was out on the farm mendin' some
fences that the cattle had broke down, I harnessed old Nell to the
buggy and drove out to Goshen. All the converts was there, and the
session was questionin' and examinin' when I got in. When it come my
turn, Parson Page begun askin' me if I'd made my callin' and election
sure, and I come right out, and says I, 'I don't know much about
callin' and election, Brother Page; I reckon I'm a Christian,' says I,
'for I've been tryin' to do right by everybody ever since I was old
enough to know the difference betwixt right and wrong; but, if the
plain truth was told, I'm j'inin' this church jest because it's
Abram's church, and I want to please him. And that's all the testimony
I've got to give.' And Parson Page put his hand over his mouth to keep
from laughin'--he was a young man then and hadn't been married long
himself--and says he, 'That'll do, Sister Parrish; brethren, we'll
pass on to the next candidate.' I left 'em examinin' Sam Crawford
about his callin' and election, and I got home before Abram come to
the house, and the next day when I walked up with the rest of 'em
Abram