Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1851-08-28

Of Laracor, but numbers Of people had
come from the neighborhood, either Gu
rious to see Swiff's first sermon, or ho-
ping TO witness an uproar. y
Whatever the cause may have been,
the aspect of the congregation was calm
and decorous. Swift began to read the
prayers, and was listened to with. edify-
ing attention. He could not help smiling
when he thought of the fears of his
young colleague and he congratu' ated
himself on not having needed them
But no sooner had he ended the prayers,
and turned his steps towards 1he pulpit,
than his hearers left their seats:
He ascended the steps, wondering
within himself what they were about 10
do. But no sooner was he in the pulpit,
than his doubtings were resolved; the
congregation we're going away. su
This, then, was The plot contrived
against him; it certainly was ingenious.
Conspiracies usually Jailed, owing to the
cowardice of their members. They
promise their support, and at the deci-
sive moment they run away. But in
this case the victory could. only be OBJ
tanned by flight, and failure, therefore,
seemed impossible. a .9l
What could he dol They were all
walking out without hurry or disorder,
with an air of pious abstraction, as if
they had no idea that any onewas going
to preach, and as if when the prayers
were over they had nothing to do
but each man TO return home. How
was he to oppose this silent storm7
On the other hand TO leave the.
pulpit was to acknowledge himself
beaten. q" .
Meanwhile the crowd slowly dis
persed. 1t was evident that the
church would soon be empty, and
Swift's situation had become very
awkward
In the reading desk beneath him
was Coke, looking up at him with a
roguish air. ~
How was he to get out of the
scrapei ;a.
A thought struck him. He opened
the Bible, and read, in firm, sono-
rous voice. slo Gsa
"And the Lord said: II / find in So
dom fifty righteous within the city,
then will spare all :he place for
their sakes." -.ss .sea |
The congregation turned THEN
heads to hear what be could be say
ing. The tide of departure was
stopped, and only those went out
who were on the very Threshold,
and too far off to hear his voice. M |
Swift continued reading: srs |
"And Abraham answered and |
said: Behold, now, | have taken up
OF me TO speak unto The Lord, which
am but dust and ashes:
"Peradventure there shall lack five
of the fifty righteous; wilt thou des-
troy all the city for lack of fvel And
he said: If find there forty and five,
| will moi destroy it."
The Vicar was reading the Bible,
no doubt to make God party to the
insult offered 10 himself, and'in hope
of thus retaining his congregation.
But the link was easily seen through,
and at sign from Coke they moved
on again. .s4s s.qrr 7YT
Swift was not discouraged, O. "a
"And he spake unto him yet again,
and said: Peradventure there shall
he forty found therei And he said,
l will not do it for forty's sake"
There was about that number that
remained. Eridently these texts
were not read by chance; they con-
tanned an illusion that was con;icaIly
appropriate. There was a moments
hesitation, but Coke was inexorable.
He waved his hand, and the retreat
continued, though more slowly.
The text Swift had chosen con-
tanned lesson Of perseverance. He
read on: '' 2
sand he said unto him: o let not
the Lord be angry, and | will speak.
Peradventure there shall by thirty
found therei And he said, l will not
do it If | find thirty there"
A laugh, more OF amusement than
hostility, was heard among the crowd.
But this time there was no hesita-.
ton. The people advanced towards
the door, and with an even step.
Coke surveyed them with, an air Of
proud satisfaction. 80" go
Any one but Swift would have
given up the game. but he still kept
pace, by reading the text with the de-
crease in the number Of his congre-
CATION. ia e -a as7'iz.
"And he said: Behold, now, | have
taken upon me TO speak unto the
Lord. Peradveniure there shall be
but twenty found therel And he
said, will not destroy it for twentv's
sake. ~ - aia1
Sand he said: o, let not the Lord be
angry, and l will speak yet but this
once. Peradventure ten shall be
found ihere7 And he said: | will no,
destroy II for tens sake" '
M mara fhan fen ranaa;nad xvbof