the most beautiful child I had ever seenwith eyes
like Italian skies and yellow hair in tight curls over
his adorable little head； but he was covered with
filthy rags。 I borrowed him； took him home with me；
and fed and bathed him； and the next day fitted him
out with new clothes。 Every hour I had him
tightened his hold on my heart…strings。 I went to
his mother and begged her to let me keep him； but
she refused； and after a great deal of argument and
entreaty I had to return him to her。 When I went
to see him a few days later I found him again in his
horrible rags。 His mother had pawned his new
clothes for drink； and she was deeply under its in…
fluence。 But no pressure I could exert then or later
would make her part with Patsy。 Finally； for my
own peace of mind； I had to give up hope of getting
himbut I have never ceased to regret the little
adopted son I might have had。
VII
THE GREAT CAUSE
There is a theory that every seven years each
human being undergoes a complete physical
reconstruction； with corresponding changes in his
mental and spiritual make…up。 Possibly it was due
to this reconstruction that； at the end of seven years
on Cape Cod； my soul sent forth a sudden call to
arms。 I was； it reminded me； taking life too easily；
I was in danger of settling into an agreeable routine。
The work of my two churches made little drain on
my superabundant vitality； and not even the win…
ning of a medical degree and the increasing demands
of my activities on the lecture platform wholly eased
my conscience。 I was happy； for I loved my people
and they seemed to love me。 It would have been
pleasant to go on almost indefinitely； living the life
of a country minister and telling myself that what
I could give to my flock made such a life worth while。
But all the time； deep in my heart； I realized the
needs of the outside world； and heard its prayer for
workers。 My theological and medical courses in
Boston； with the experiences that accompanied them；
had greatly widened my horizon。 Moreover； at my
invitation； many of the noble women of the day were
coming to East Dennis to lecture； bringing with them
the stirring atmosphere of the conflicts they were
waging。 One of the first of these was my friend
Mary A。 Livermore； and after her came Julia Ward
Howe； Anna Garlin Spencer； Lucy Stone； Mary F。
Eastman； and many others； each charged with in…
spiration for my people and with a special message
for me； which she sent forth unknowingly and which I
alone heard。 They were fighting great battles； these
womenfor suffrage； for temperance； for social
purityand in every word they uttered I heard a
rallying…cry。 So it was that； in 1885； I suddenly
pulled myself up to a radical decision and sent my
resignation to the trustees of the two churches
whose pastor I had been since 1878。
The action caused a demonstration of regret
which made it hard to keep to my resolution and
leave these men and women whose friendship was
among the dearest of my possessions。 But when we
had all talked things over； many of them saw the
situation as I did。 No doubt there were those； too；
who felt that a change of ministry would be good
for the churches。 During the weeks that followed
my resignation I received many odd tributes； and
of these one of the most amusing came from a
young girl in the parish； who broke into loud protests
when she heard that I was going away。 To com…
fort her I predicted that she would now have a man
ministerdoubtless a very nice man。 But the young
person continued to sniffle disconsolately。
‘‘I don't want a man；'' she wailed。 ‘‘I don't like to
see men in pulpits。 They look so awkward。'' Her
grief culminated in a final outburst。 ‘‘They're all
arms and legs！'' she sobbed。
When my resignation was finally accepted； and
the time of my departure drew near； the men of the
community spent much of their leisure in discussing
it and me。 The social center of East Dennis was
a certain grocery； to which almost every man in
town regularly wended his way； and from which all
the gossip of the town emanated。 Here the men sat
for hours； tilted back in their chairs； whittling the
rungs until they nearly cut the chairs from under
them； and telling one another all they knew or had
heard about their fellow…townsmen。 Then； after
each session； they would return home and repeat the
gossip to their wives。 I used to say that I would
give a dollar to any woman in East Dennis who
could quote a bit of gossip which did not come from
the men at that grocery。 Even my old friend Cap…
tain Doane； fine and high…minded citizen though he
was； was not above enjoying the mild diversion of
these social gatherings； and on one occasion at least
he furnished the best part of the entertainment。
The departing minister was； it seemed； the topic
of the day's discussion； and； to tease Captain Doane
one young man who knew the strength of his friend…
ship for me suddenly began to speak； then pursed
up his lips and looked eloquently mysterious。 As he
had expected； Captain Doane immediately pounced
on him。
‘‘What's the matter with you？'' demanded the
old man。 ‘‘Hev you got anything agin Miss
Shaw？''
The young man sighed and murmured that if he
wished he could repeat a charge never before made
against a Cape Cod minister； butand he shut his
lips more obviously。 The other men； who were in
the plot； grinned； and this added the last touch to
Captain Doane's indignation。 He sprang to his
feet。 One of his peculiarities was a constant mis…
use of words； and now； in his excitement； he outdid
himself。
‘‘You've made an incineration against Miss Shaw；''
he shouted。 ‘‘Do you hearAN INCINERATION！ Take
it back or take a lickin'！''
The young man decided that the joke had gone
far enough； so he answered； mildly： ‘‘Well； it is said
that all the women in town are in love with Miss
Shaw。 Has that been charged against any other
minister here？''
The men roared with laughter； and Captain
Doane sat down； looking sheepish。
‘‘All I got to say is this；'' he muttered： ‘‘That gal
has been in this community for seven years； and she
'ain't done a thing during the hull seven years that
any one kin lay a finger on！''
The men shouted again at this back…handed trib…
ute； and the old fellow left the grocery in a huff。
Later I was told of the ‘‘incineration'' and his elo…
quent defense of me； and I thanked him for it。 But
I added：
‘‘I hear you said I haven't done a thing in seven
years that any one can lay a finger on？''
‘‘I said it；'' declared the Captain； ‘‘and I'll stand
by it。''
‘‘Haven't I done any good？'' I asked。
‘‘Sartin you have；'' he assured me； heartily。
‘‘Lots of good。''
‘‘Well；'' I said； ‘‘can't you put your finger on
that？''
The Captain looked startled。 ‘‘Whywhy
Sister Shaw；'' he stammered； ‘‘you know I didn't
mean THAT！ What I meant；'' he repeated； slowly and
solemnly； ‘‘was that the hull time you been here
you ain't done nothin' anybody could put a finger
on！''
Captain Doane apparently shared my girl parish…
ioner's prejudice against men in the pulpit； for long
afterward； on one of my visits to Cape Cod； he ad…
mitted that he now went to church very rarely。
‘‘When I heard you preach；'' he explained； ‘‘I
gen'ally followed you through and I knowed where
you was a…comin' out。 But these young fellers that
come from the theological schoolwhy； Sister Shaw；
the Lord Himself don't know where they're comin'
out！''
For a moment he pondered。 Then he uttered a
valedictory which I have always been glad to recall
as his last message； for I never saw him again。
‘‘When you fust come to us；'' he said； ‘‘you had
a lot of crooked places； an' we had a lot of crooked
places； and we kind of run into each other； all of
us。 But before you left； Sister Shaw； why； all the
crooked places was wore off and everything was as
smooth as silk。''
‘‘Yes；'' I agreed； ‘‘and that was the time to leave
when everything was running smoothly。''
All is changed on Cape Cod since those days； thirty
years ago。 The old families have died or moved
away； and those who replaced them were of a dif…
ferent type。 I am happy in having known and loved
the Cape as it was； and in having gathered there a
store of delightful memories。 In later strenuous
years it has rested me merely to think of the place；
and long afterward I showed my continued love of
it by building a home there； which I still possess。
But I had little time to rest in this or in my Moylan
home； of which I shall write later； for now I was
back in Boston； living my new life； and each crowded
hour brought me more to do。
We were entering upon a deeply significant period。
For the first time women were going into industrial
competition with men； and already men were in…
tensely resenting their presence。 Around me I saw
women overworked and underpaid； doing men's
work at half men's wages； not because their work
was inferior； but because they were women。 Again；
too； I studied the obtrusive problems of the poor and
of the women of the streets； and； looking at the
whole social situation from every angle； I could find
but one solution for womenthe removal of the
stigma of disfranchisement。 As man's equal before
the law； woman could demand her rights； asking
favors from no one。 With all my heart I joined in
the crusade of the men and women who were fight…
ing for her。 My real work had begun。
Naturally； at this period； I frequently met the
members of Boston's most inspiring groupthe
Emersons and John Greenleaf Whittier； James Free…
man Clark； Reverend Minot Savage； Bronson Alcott
and his daughter Louisa； Wendell Phillips； William
Lloyd Garrison； Stephen Foster； The