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THE REASON WHY

PART FIRST

THE BOYHOOD AND YOUTH OF PAUL GRANGER

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Prove all things; hold fast that which is good."

-I THESSALONIANS, V: 21

"Who never doubted, never half believed."

-BAILEY, Festus

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until doubt began, progress was impossible.

"To examine the notions in which we have been educated, and to turn aside from those which will not bear the test, is a task so painful, that they who shrink from the suffering should pause before they reproach those by whom the suffering is undergone."

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- BUCKLE

CHAPTER 1

SUGAR HILL IN THE EARLY 'SIXTIES

"THE congregation will probably be small to-night, Brother Willett?" remarked the Rev. Jason Gurley inquiringly, when the first bustle of "passin' the victuals" at the supper-table had subsided.

"Bein' yer fus' visit, Brother Gurley, I don't wonder at yer axin' thet quest'n," replied Deacon Willett; "but I guess ye'll fin' nigh onto ever'body 'n the deestric'll be on han', an' a good many f'm out'n it."

"Hailstones's big 's goose eggs wouldn't keep 'em 'way f'm the school'ouse t'-night, say nothin' 'bout a leetle rain 'n' slosh like this," put in Aunt Sue, the Deacon's wife, as usual reënforcing and embellishing her husband's plain prose with a flourish of rhetoric.

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Do the people of this community generally turn out well to meeting in such inclement weather?" pursued Mr. Gurley.

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"The congregations here are always exceptionally large for a thinly settled farming district," said the Rev. Joseph Shore, taking it upon himself to reply, in order to speak a word of praise for this part of his flock. During the two years and a half of my ministry at The Forks I have preached at the Sugar Hill schoolhouse regularly once a month, on Sunday evening, and not once in that time have I failed to find the schoolhouse well filled with attentive listeners, a large proportion of them church members in good standing. On more than one occasion I have had a larger congregation here at night than at the Sunday morning, service at the church; while in manifestation of spiritual life and zeal the prayer- and class-meetings and love-feasts at The Forks compare most unfavorably with those on Sugar Hill. And besides, the people here are now well warmed up by the revival. The annual revival in the Sugar Hill district comes as regularly as the seasons, and always effects

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