Read The Calling of Emily Evans for Free Online

better in the summertime.
    If I go home with a bounce to my step and a healthy glow on my cheeks, Father won’t be quite so hard to convince, she had reasoned to herself on the train ride home.
    But even with those positive thoughts, Emily wondered.
    Just how would her father accept the news of her “calling”? Besides his feeling regarding women preachers, he had inferred that Emily needed a hardy, solid man to care for her, to protect her from the strains that life often imposed. That probably was why he considered Will Pearson a good candidate. It was true that Emily’s shoulders were not broad, nor her frame strong. But God has other strengths He gives His servants, Emily reasoned.
    Emily’s father greeted her at the station. She could feel his eyes scan her quickly. I’m glad I had my coat properly buttoned, she thought to herself. Then her glance followed his to her feet. She had neglected to wear her overshoes again.
    “The streets were quite clear in Regis,” she said defensively.“I didn’t even think to wear my—”
    He just nodded, his face solemn, as he reached for the small valise she carried. Emily knew he was not pleased with her carelessness.
    She circled a spring puddle and had to run a few steps to catch up to her father, who had splashed directly through with his farm boots. She sought for something to say, but she couldn’t think of anything except, “How are Ina and Annabelle?”
    “They’re doing good. Ina’s fixin’ supper and Annabelle wasn’t home from school yet, so I came by myself.” They lapsed again into silence.
    When they reached the team and wagon, her father nodded for her to get in while he placed the valise on the floor boards. Emily climbed stiffly over the wheel and settled herself for the ride.
    They were almost home before her father said, “How’s school?”
    “Fine,” responded Emily, continuing to watch a distant V of returning Canada geese.
    There was a moment of silence, and then her father spoke again.
    “How’s school?”
    Emily jerked to attention. Her father had always used this device with his children. If they answered absent-mindedly, he simply repeated the question until they gave it proper consideration.
    Emily’s heart began to pound. Is now the time to tell Father about my call? She took a deep breath and decided to get it over with. Perhaps then they would have the rest of the weekend to sort it through—work it out.
    “We had a wonderful chapel service recently,” Emily began with a deep breath.“The Witts were there, and Rev. Witt spoke about the need for church workers. Then he gave an altar call. He asked those who felt God was calling them to serve Him to step out and come forward.”
    Emily stopped for breath—and courage.“Eight students went forward.”
    She hesitated again.
    Her father had been watching her face as she spoke, and Emily turned to him now. She saw his eyes were alight and he answered almost under his breath, “Praise God.”
    Emily was pleased with his response. She knew her father was deeply interested in enlarging their mission of reaching local communities, particularly ones that had no church.
    Emily took another deep breath and then blurted out hurriedly before the gleam left her father’s eyes, “I was one of them.”
    A startled look passed over his face. Emily waited for the lecture to begin. There was nothing. Only silence. His eyes shifted back to the team he was driving. One foot stirred restlessly on the wooden boards of the wagon. Emily could see his hands tighten on the reins.
    Still he did not speak. He had just thanked God that young people had been called to preach. And now he had to face the giving of his own flesh and blood—and one not too strong at that.
    At length he nodded—just nodded his head in acknowledgment. He could hardly take back his expression of praise to God. But Emily could see the uncertainty in his eyes.
    “Where?” was his simple response.
    Emily shrugged her slim