"
"Backsliders could n't be angels, I s'pose?"
"Not while they were backsliders; but perhaps they'd begin to climb again, and
then in time they might grow to be angels."
"I should n't think likely," remarked Sue, decisively, clicking her needles as
one who could settle most spiritual problems in a jiffy. "I think the sliding
kind is diff'rent from the climbing kind, and they don't make easy angels."
A long pause followed this expression of opinion, this simple division of the
human race, at the start, into sheep and goats. Then presently the untiring
voice broke the stillness again.
"Nathan and Hetty slid back when they went away from here. Did we backslide
when we left Fardie and Jack?"
"I'm not sure but that we did," said poor Susanna.
"There's children-Shakers, and brother-and-sister Shakers, but no father-and-
mother Shakers?"
"No; they think they can do just as much good in the world without being
mothers and fathers."
"Do you think so?"
"Ye-es, I believe I do."
"Well, are you a truly Shaker, or can't you be till you wear a cap?"
"I'm not a Shaker yet, Sue."
"You're just only a mother?"
"Yes, that's about all."
"Maybe we'd better go back to where there's not so many Sisters and more
mothers, so you 'll have somebody to climb togedder with?"
"I could climb here, Sue, and so could you.
Pages:
272
273
274
275
276
277
278
279
280
281
282
283
284
285
286
287
288
289
290
291
292
293
294
295
296