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't do me no good, nor you, nuther," she sullenly declared to her
mother.

Mrs. Mumpson now resolved upon a different line of tactics. Assuming a lofty,
spiritual air, she commanded Jane to light a fire in the parlor, and retired