The Measure of a Heart Read Online Free PDF Page B

another. Anna’s active mind, often busy with her own thoughts, tried to concentrate so she might follow the conversation.
    “That young minister isn’t coming back this summer. Mrs. Angus told me. I guess that means Nettie won’t get another chance at him. Mrs. Angus is slower than ever on that poor leg. Guess she won’t get time off this summer though. Expect she doesn’t have a granddaughter getting married this year. Too bad. The poor soul looks like she could use another rest. She works too hard. I told Mrs. Shehan that it isn’t right for the church to expect so much of her. We should have a younger pastor’s wife. ’Course that would mean a younger pastor. Wonder what his plans are when he finishes his seminary.”
    Anna soon realized that her mother had gone full circle.
    “You know his plans?” Mrs. Trent asked Anna abruptly.
    Anna shook her head.
    “He doesn’t mention them in his letters.”
    “No,” said Anna.
    “What does he write?”
    “He tells about his studies. We—discuss the books. The teachings. What we think about certain ideas,” explained Anna truthfully.
    Mrs. Trent seemed to dismiss the comment as either too deep to be understood or too boring to consider.
    “This is his last year?”
    Anna agreed that it was.
    “Then he must plan on taking a pastorate next spring.”
    “I would expect so,” said Anna, then continued. “He hasn’t said.”
    “Wonder if he’d consider coming back here,” pondered Mrs. Trent. “He was a good preacher. Suppose he’ll be lookin’
for a big city church. Or they’ll be lookin’ for him. Even boys listened. Didn’t squirm nearly as much. Poor Pastor Angus. He is a dear, dear man of God—but he loses his train of thought every now and then.”
    Anna’s thoughts returned to her mother’s earlier statement. It was true—some of her brothers had sat and listened to Austin Barker.
    “Well, it would be worth looking into,” continued Mrs. Trent. “One never knows unless one tries. Why don’t you just sorta ask him what his plans are in one of your letters?”
    But Anna could never feel free to probe into the plans of the young minister. If he wished to share his thoughts regarding his future, he’d do so in his own time, she reasoned.

    The second spring since Anna finished school drew near. Life continued on in the same way that it had, full of work that changed only with the season.
    Anna still delivered the milk to the parsonage, taking full advantage of those enjoyable visits with the elderly parson and his wife.
    And then one day she was surprised and confused by a turn in their conversation.
    “We are going to the graduation ceremonies,” Mrs. Angus told her. “Mr. Barker has asked if it would be possible for us to take you with us.”
    “Me?” exclaimed Anna incredulously.
    “He said that you have a real interest in learning and might find it interesting to see a graduation ceremony. Would you like to go?”
    “Well, I—I—I’ll have to ask Papa and Mama!” exclaimed Anna.
    She was excited and scared at the same time. It would be wonderful to see a real graduation ceremony. It would be wonderful to visit a seminary—even for a few hours. It would be wonderful to see another small part of the great big world. But she wouldn’t fit. She really had no business going. She didn’t know how to conduct herself in such circumstances. She didn’t know what to say or how to say it. What to do. What to wear. Why, she likely didn’t have one thing in her closet that would be fitting.
    “I . . . I don’t suppose—” she began.
    “Mr. Barker will be writing a letter to your father and mother asking for their permission,” the kind woman continued.
    Oh no, thought Anna. Mama would be just likely to say yes. She—she thinks that—that I—that I would just jump at the chance. But—Anna looked down at her faded cotton. She hadn’t done much growing over the last few years, but her dress was definitely too short—and too