She could hear its clear impassioned
accents, saying, "The children of this world marry; but the children of the
resurrection do not marry, for they are as the angels." The solemn tones grew
fainter and fainter as Hetty's steps led her farther and farther away from the
quiet Shaker village and its drab-clad Sisters, and at last they almost died
into silence, because Nathan's voice was nearer and Nathan's voice was dearer.
VIII
Concerning Backsliders
There was no work in the herb-garden now, but there was never a moment from
dawn till long after dusk when the busy fingers of the Shaker Sisters were
still. When all else failed there was the knitting: socks for the Brothers and
stockings for the Sisters and socks and stockings of every size for the
children. One of the quaint sights of the Settlement to Susanna was the clump
of young Sisters on the porch of the girls' building, knitting, knitting, in
the afternoon sun. Even little Shaker Jane and Mary, Maria and Lucinda, had
their socks in hand, and plied their short knitting-needles soberly and not
unskillfully. The sight of their industry incited the impetuous Sue to effort,
and under the patient tutelage of Sister Martha she mastered the gentle art.
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