Then the eldest Miss Avery closed the window overlooking the parsonage and confronted her sisters.

“We must just make the best of it,” she said quietly.

But next door, the gray old ugly parsonage was full to overflowing with satisfaction and happiness and love.

The Starrs had never had an appointment like this before.  They had just come from the village of Exminster, of five hundred inhabitants.  There the Reverend Mr. Starr had filled the pulpits of three small Methodist churches, scattered at random throughout the country,—­consideration, five hundred dollars.  But here,—­why, Mount Mark had a population of fully three thousand, and a business academy, and the Presbyterian College,—­small, to be sure, but the name had a grand and inspiring sound.  And Mr. Starr had to fill only one pulpit!  It was heavenly, that’s what it was.  To be sure, many of his people lived out in the country, necessitating the upkeep of a horse for the sake of his pastoral work, but that was only an advantage.  Also to be sure, the Methodists in Mount Mark were in a minority, and an inferiority,—­Mount Mark being a Presbyterian stronghold due to the homing there of the trim and orderly little college.  But what of that?  The salary was six hundred and fifty dollars and the parsonage was adorable!  The parsonage family could see nothing at all wrong with the world that day, and the future was rainbow-tinted.

Every one has experienced the ecstatic creepy sensation of sleeping in a brand-new home.  The parsonage girls reveled in the memory of that first night for many days.  “It may be haunted for all we know,” cried Carol deliciously.  “Just think, Connie, there may be seven ghosts camped on the head of your bed, waiting——­”

“Carol!”

When the family gathered for worship on that first Sabbath morning, Mr. Starr said, as he turned the leaves of his well-worn Bible, “I think it would be well for you girls to help with the morning worship now.  You need practise in praying aloud, and—­so we will begin to-day.  Connie and I will make the prayers this morning, Prudence and Carol to-morrow, and Fairy and Lark the next day.  We will keep that system up for a while, anyhow.  When I finish reading the chapter, Connie, you will make the first prayer.  Just pray for whatever you wish as you do at night for yourself.  I will follow you.”

Connie’s eyes were wide with responsibility during the reading of the chapter, but when she began to speak her voice did not falter.  Connie had nine years of good Methodist experience back of her!

“Our Father, who art in Heaven, we bow ourselves before Thy footstool in humility and reverence.  Thou art our God, our Creator, our Saviour.  Bless us this day, and cause Thy face to shine upon us.  Blot out our transgressions, pardon our trespasses.  Wash us, that we may be whiter than snow.  Hide not Thy face from the eyes of Thy children, turn not upon us in wrath.  Pity us, Lord, as we kneel here prostrate before Thy majesty and glory.  Let the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts, be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, our strength and our Redeemer.  And finally save us, an unbroken family around Thy throne in Heaven, for Jesus’ sake.  Amen.”