A score of men and women were chatting in Sister Renfro's bedroom when the preacher peeped in at the door and paused long enough to say: "Come out to 'sifting meeting' to-night. Spread the news." "Will Jiles be there with his lantern?" asked Neal Grafton, a friend of Jiles. "Never mind about that," answered Sister Renfro. "Say what you please about him, but he's a preaching man." Sister Renfro's guests soon began to spread the news. Neal Grafton was the most active of all. He stood where he could command four corners. "Sister Polly," he called to a rather corpulent woman who was passing with a heavy bundle of clothes on her head, "stop a minute--'sifting meeting' to-night!" "What you say, Brother Grafton? Come here! You knows I can't hear like I used to. I caught cold from shouting at the big meeting five years ago. Who could have kept sober feet? _That_ was a preaching man." "I say, Sister Polly----" "Now, stop, son. Let me get in hearing order." After wiping her face with her apron, she said: "Now go on, son." "Sister Polly, there will be a 'sifting meeting'----" "Hold, son! The bundle comes down over my ears. Raise it a little. A 'sifting meeting'? Where? Oh! at the church? Raise up the bundle again, son. Now hold it there. Now tell me about it." "That's all, Sister Polly." "No! No! It's been five years since we had one. You heard your mother tell about it, didn't you?" "Yes, but----" "I know you did; she was there. Sister Renfro was there. I was there. It was a glorious time." "Yes, Sister Polly, but----" "My head's just beginning to rest, son. Well, the negroes lied and lied, but one told the truth." "May I put the bundle on the ground?" "The clothes are clean, son. I'll head them again soon. That sister told the truth and her head fell. Hold a little longer." "Oh, my arms, Sister Polly!" "Hold till I raise up that woman's head. I'll listen afterward." "After I take the bundle?" "No, son. Hand it here. 'Sifting meeting' at the church? I'll be there." Sister Polly went on humming, and left Grafton rubbing his arms. He notified a number of others, at a distance. Polly delivered the clothes and mentioned the "sifting meeting." "What is such a meeting, Polly?" asked her employer. "It's a meeting where you tell what you don't know and where people know what you don't tell. If you want more light, come to the meeting. Good-by, I'm in a hurry," answered Polly. Her employer was content to hear from the meeting. An hour before meeting time Sisters Polly and Renfro were ready. They had spent considerable time arranging their hair. Polly's hair was rolled around a saucer that belonged to her employer. Sister Renfro's was put into the same shape by means of the flounce of an old black dress.