“An’ she was dreadful handy to talk religion to other folks, but I’ve come to a realizin’ sense that religion is somethin’ besides opinions.  She an’ Elder French has been mostly of one mind, but I don’t know’s they’ve got hold of all the religion there is.”

“Why, why, Sarah Ellen!” exclaimed Mrs. Crane, but there was still something in her tone that urged the speaker to further expression of her feelings.  The good creature was much excited, her face was clouded with disapproval.

“I ain’t forgettin’ nothin’ about their good points either,” she went on in a more subdued tone, and suddenly stopped.

“Preachin’ ‘ll be done away with soon or late,—­preachin’ o’ Elder French’s kind,” announced Mercy Crane, after waiting to see if her guest did not mean to say anything more.  “I should like to read ’em out that verse another fashion:  ‘Be ye doers o’ the word, not preachers only,’ would hit it about right; but there, it’s easy for all of us to talk.  In my early days I used to like to get out to meetin’ regular, because sure as I didn’t I had bad luck all the week.  I didn’t feel pacified ’less I’d been half a day, but I was out all day the Sabbath before Mr. Barlow died as he did.  So you mean to say that Sister Barsett’s really gone?”

Mrs. Crane’s tone changed to one of real concern, and her manner indicated that she had put the preceding conversation behind her with decision.

“She was herself to the last,” instantly responded Miss Dow.  “I see her put out a thumb an’ finger from under the spread an’ pinch up a fold of her sister Deckett’s dress, to try an’ see if ’twas all wool.  I thought ‘twa’n’t all wool, myself, an’ I know it now by the way she looked.  She was a very knowin’ person about materials; we shall miss poor Mis’ Barsett in many ways, she was always the one to consult with about matters o’ dress.”

“She passed away easy at the last, I hope?” asked Mrs. Crane with interest.

“Why, I wa’n’t there, if you’ll believe it!” exclaimed Sarah Ellen, flushing, and looking at her friend for sympathy.  “Sister Barsett revived up the first o’ the afternoon, an’ they sent for Elder French.  She took notice of him, and he exhorted quite a spell, an’ then he spoke o’ there being need of air in the room, Mis’ Deckett havin’ closed every window, an’ she asked me of all folks if I hadn’t better step out; but Elder French come too, an’ he was very reasonable, an’ had a word with me about Mis’ Deckett an’ Mis’ Peak an’ the way they was workin’ things.  I told him right out how they never come near when the rest of us was havin’ it so hard with her along in the spring, but now they thought she was re’lly goin’ to die, they come settlin’ down like a pair o’ old crows in a field to pick for what they could get.  I just made up my mind they should have all the care if they wanted it.  It didn’t seem as if there was anything more I could do for Sister Barsett, an’ I set there in the kitchen within call an’ waited,