The Calling of Emily Evans Read Online Free PDF

calling.”
    Again the superintendent nodded.
    “And you, Mr. Beckett?”
    But Lacey Beckett could not readily answer. He was still weeping with the enormity of his conviction that he was called to serve.
    Rev. Witt passed on. Emily felt a quiver go all through her body. She was next.
    “What about you, Miss Evans?”
    “God has called me to—to serve Him—somewhere—in some—some new church. I—I don’t know where,” Emily responded.
    “God will show us where,” the good man said with confidence, and the tears streamed down Emily’s face again. She had been accepted. As simply as that, she had been accepted to minister for the Lord, to preach.
    The superintendent heard testimony from each of the other students. Occasionally he stopped to praise God or to wipe his eyes with his handkerchief before continuing on.
    Emily was filled with emotion at the intensity of this time. Surely great things would happen as a result of the day’s chapel service. Eight more servants! Eight more to serve her God!
    And then the service was dismissed and Emily was free to embrace her roommate and share in the excitement of being called.

    All that week Emily walked on air. She was actually going to serve God in a new work—somewhere. Even now she was preparing herself for that service. She would prepare herself well. She needed to thoroughly know the Word. She would be sharing that Word with hungry people Sunday after Sunday.
    And then, unbidden, a new thought came to Emily. She remembered the late nights—the stolen minutes after lights out and the jumping into bed under false pretenses to fool the preceptress. Surely God could not honor such actions. She was smitten with conviction, and tears stung her eyes. She had to make things right before she could go one step farther. She had to confess her sin and ask for forgiveness. Maybe they will refuse me an assignment someplace when they know how deceitful I’ve been , she thought, her heart constricting with fear.
    Reluctantly Emily placed one heavy foot before the other as she made her way to the office of Miss Herrington. She dreaded the stern look she no doubt would encounter in those sharp gray eyes. She could picture the pointed nose lifting slightly, and the lips pursed in a thin, tight line, expressing displeasure. Miss Herrington was a kind, godly woman, but Emily knew the preceptress did not have much patience with disobedience. Timidly Emily knocked at the door and was told to enter.
    “Miss Herrington?” she addressed her dean hesitantly.
    “Miss Evans,” the woman responded, smiling pleasantly.“Come in. Do come in.”
    Emily closed the door behind her.
    “You can’t imagine how pleased we all are that you have presented yourself for service,” the woman went on, beaming at Emily.
    Emily’s smile was shaky in return.
    “Well, yes, I—”
    “Have you had the opportunity to share your good news with your family?”
    “No-o,” Emily admitted and again remembered the discussion with her father. She wondered if her father would deem the “call” good news.
    “You haven’t written?”
    “Well, no-o. I’m to go home this weekend. I thought that I’d rather—rather tell them firsthand.”
    The preceptress smiled.“Of course,” she said.“It is always nicer to share those things in person.”
    The woman looked searchingly at Emily and seemed to sense that something was troubling her.
    “Can I be of help in some way?” she asked solicitously.
    Tears gathered in Emily’s eyes.
    “I—I have a confession,” she admitted.
    The smile left but the eyes still held softness.
    “Go on,” the woman urged.
    “I—I haven’t always been to bed on time. I—I mean I have studied after—after lights out. I—I’m rather slow—I mean in my studies. I need to spend much longer studying than Ruth, and so I—I—”
    Then Emily finished lamely, “I broke the rules.”
    “But your light was always out when I came around for bed check,” the woman