Story of Chester Lawrence: Being the Completed Account of One who Played an Important Part in "Piney Ridge Cottage"Anderson, Nephi
General
Story of Chester Lawrence: Being the Completed Account of One who Played an Important Part in "Piney Ridge Cottage"
Anderson, Nephi
Christian fiction; Latter Day Saints -- Fiction
Elder Malby received them warmly, provided easy seats for Lucy and her
father, and took hats and wraps under protestations that they were not
going to stay. A number of missionaries came in and they were
introduced. Lucy beamed with delight, her father unreservedly told the
young men they were from America,--and western America at that; but
Uncle Gilbert was not quite at his ease among the new company. He knew,
of course, that these people were "Mormons," and his knowledge of
"Mormons" and their ways, although somewhat vague, was not reassuring.
When the good-natured English housekeeper announced that supper was
ready, it seemed impossible to do otherwise than to follow her and Elder
Malby down to the large basement room. In fact, Lucy, without any ifs or
ands took her father's arm and led him along. Uncle Gilbert thought he
had never seen her in such a bold frame of mind.
Certainly, Chester, Elder Malby, and the housekeeper must have plotted
to bring about that little supper party. The dining room was severely
bare, but scrupulously clean. That evening the threadbare table cloth
had been replaced by a new one. The usual menu of bread, milk, and jam
was augmented by slices of cold meat, a dish of fruit, and a cake. Two
small bouquets adorned the ends of the long table.
"Visitors," whispered one of the elders to another.
"Extraordinary visitors," replied the other. "Just like home when Uncle
John came to see us."
The housekeeper even furnished tea for the Rev. Mr. Strong and his
brother. Lucy said she liked milk better, so she filled her glass along
with Chester's and the other "Mormons." She chatted freely with the
young elder near her, learned that he was from Idaho, that he had been
away six months, that he had not been home-sick, and that he was not
married. The elders were to hold street meetings that evening after
supper.
"I should like to go with you," she said; but Chester, overhearing the
conversation, told her that for various reasons, such a course would not
be wise.
Afterwards, there was some singing in the office-parlor, then Chester
went with the party to their hotel.
"I believe papa is being favorably impressed," said Lucy to Chester
before they parted. "I wish he could see as I do."
"That would indeed be something to be thankful for," agreed Chester.
The following afternoon the continental party took the train to Harwich,
then boat for the Hook of Holland, where they arrived next morning. A
short ride by rail brought them to Rotterdam.
Uncle Gilbert had seen the city before, but the quaint town interested
the others for the first time. "Everything is clean in Holland but the
canals," some one has said. In Rotterdam, the ancient windmills, with
huge spreading arms, stand in the midst of modern shops, and the
contrast is strange.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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