Muscatine journal. [volume] (Bloomington, Iowa) 1849-185?, 1854-01-27
~ p. .LlsIka t3n1IaiEp6 915WGtlet 81
hAHIN & CL EMENS. COW
-na ParsOAs sSarcly.s Experiment So
~ sKEICH FOR WEATHER GRUMBLERs.
BY AUSTIN o. BUlDlck.

-@G AFBAIat F5H Ia-- --Fa .Tgf f5ar see q 80,
nesi4re4 r, ny AUSTIN O. su.Dlck I, r,.
The small parish Of Failowdale had bee
Ter some time without a pastor. The mem
bsrs were nearly all farmers, and they ha
not much money to bestow upon the sup
port Of a clergyman yet they were willin
to pay for anything that could promis
them any due return Of good. In course
time, it happened that the Rev. Abraham
Surely visited Fallowdale, and as Sabbatl
passed during his sojourn, he held meet
ing in 'he small church. The people wer
pleased with his preaching, and some o
them proposed inviting him to remain will
them, and take charge of their spiritual wei
fsre. af
Upon the merits of this proposition ther,
was long discussion. Parson Surely had
signifed his Willingness to take permanent
residence at Fallowdale, but the members oil
the parish could not so readily agree to hir,
him.
IL don't see the use of hiring parson, y
'said Mr.. Sharp, an old farmer of the place.
"Hs can do us no good. If we've got any
money to spare, we'd better lay it up for
something else. A parson cant learn me
anything"
To this it was answered that stated reli
Eious meetings wsuld be of great benefit to
The younger people, and also source of
real, social good to ALL"
"I don't know bout that" said SHARP,
after he had heard the arguments against
him. Sharp WAS enc of the wcalthest men
IN the parish, and consequently one of the
most influential. g I've hearn tell" he
continued, "of a parson who could pray for
rain, and have it come at any time. Now
II We ceuld hit upon such a parson rs that,
/ would go in for hiring him.,
This orened new idea to the unsophis-
Hcared minds If Fallowdale. The farmers
often suffer cd from long droughts, and tier
arguing awhile longer, they agreed to hire
Parson Surely upon the condition that he
should give them rain whenever they wished
Tor it, and, on the other hand, that he would
Aiso give them fair weather when required.
Deaoons Smith and Townsend were depu-
tised to make this arrangement known to
the parson, and the people remained in the
church while their messengers went upon
their errand. ht ~. m
When the deacons returned Mr.. Surely
accompanied them. He smiled, as he en-
tsfsd the church, and with graceful bow
10 salutsd the people there assembled.
"Well, my friends," he said, as he as
eendsd the platform in front Of the desk,
"I hare heard your request to me, and,
strange as it may appear, have come to
accept your proposal; but can do it only
On one condition; and that is, that your
request for q change Of Weather must be
unanimous saa
This appeared very reasonable, since
every member of the parish had deep inter
est in tho farming business, and ere long it
was arranged that sIr. Surely shoiild he
ceme the prstor of Failowdale, and that he
sheuld give the people rain whenever they
asked for it. aal
When Mr.. Surely returned to his lodgings
his Wits was utterly astounded npon learn
ing the n,ture of the contract her husband
Had entered into but the pastor only
smiled, and bsde her wait for the result.
s'But you know you cannot make it rain"
persisted Mrs. Surely Sand you know, too,
that the farmers here will be wanting rain
very often when there is none fer them.
You will be disgraccd.'' tiaa .35sl Il
issI will learn them lesson,' quietly
returned the pastor. sta4aaf .47ft1
cay that you cannot he 80 good as your
word and when you have learned it to
them they will turn you OFF,
a"ws shall see," was Mr.. Surely's reply,
As he took up book and commenced read
jng. fi ri aa9 aeiss. ftFt 3
This was . signal for the wife to desist
from further conversation on the subject,
and she at once obeyed. a ssass rs
Time few on, and at length the hot days
sf midsummer were at hand. For three
weeks II had not rain.d, and the young corn
was beginning to curl up beneath the effects
Of the drought. In this extremity the peo-
pie bethought themselves of the promise of
their pastor, and some of them FASTENED to
his dwelling. s@l9A fla RfOS s5i'
"Come," said Sharp, whose hilly farm
was suffering severely, eve want some rain.
You remember your promise. ~ =
"Certainly," returned Mr.. Surely. off
you win call for meeting Of the members
u the parish, will be with ysu this evs-
ming" sa 81 s7'2s ssotsitm te
With this the applicants were perfectly
satisfied, and forthwith they hastsned to cali
the flo TX together.
s"Now you'll see the hour of your dis
grace" said Mrs. Surely, after the visitors
had gone. CSC, Il am very sorry you ever
undertook to deceive them so.'' -,
81 did not deceive them.'
s61ssYes, yen. surely did" "ssss,is .a rrssR
awe shall BEE, responded the pastor. T
a $50 We shall see" added the lady,. ~.
Tho hour for the meeting came AROUND,
and Parson Surely met his people at the
sAareh. They were all there - most Of them
anxious, and the remainder curious.
s s.Now, my friends said the pastor, aris-