Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1855-05-17
,PARSON SURLEY's EXPERIMENT.
BY A. c. BERWICK.

- BY A. c. BERWICK.
The small parish of FalIowdale had been
for come time without pastor. The men,
bers were al farmers, and they had no,
mach money to bes,ow upon the support
OF q clergyman; yet they were oil willing
to psy for ny'hlng ,hs. could promise them
any 7sine return Of good In course Of time
j. hsp2ened ha, Rev. Abrshsm Surely vsi.
ted Fallowdale, and as sabbath passed dur
ing his sojourn, he held meeting in the
small church. The people were pleased
WITH his preaching, and some Of them pro-
posed inviting him TO remain with them and
,ake charge Of their spiritual welfare.
Upon the merits of this proposition there
vase long discussion. Parson Surely had
signi6ed his willingness 10 take perms men,
residence at Fa!lowdale, but the members
nfflhe parish could no. so readily agree 10
hire him.
sEdpa,. see any use of hiring psrson,'
said Mr. Sharp, an old farmer Of the place.
"Ha.can d" Us no good. II we've got any
mcley TO spare, we'd better lay j, up for
something else. A .psrson can't learn me
anything"
To this was answered that stated religi-
Gus meetings would be of grea, benefit TO
The younger people and a source of real, So
cia1 good to all.
~ don't know about that" said Sharp, Of
ter he had heard The argument sgains, him.
Sharp was one Of the wealhies. men in the
parish and consequently one Of the most in
.fusniak five heard tell" he continued,
"of sparson ,ha. could pray for rain, and
haze j. come al any time. Now if we could
hit upon such parson as that, would GO
for,hiring him."
This opened new idea TO the unsopbis-
,icsied minds Of Fsllnwdale. The farmers
often suffered from long drough,s. and after
arguing awhile longer they agreed to hire
Psfson Surely upon condition ,ha, he should
give them rain whenever they wished for it.
and, on The other hand, that he would slso
give them fair weather when required
Deacbns Smith and Townsend were depu-
Ted TO make this arrangement known TO the
pstsnn, and the people remained in the
church while their messengers wen, upon
:r errsnd.
3 scthmpanIe0 mem. tie sTnTTeu s1TS-r1rrrT1-
ed the church and with a graceful bow he
saIu,rd the people, there assembled.
swell, my friends" he said, as be ascen-
ded the platform, in from, of the desk, 81
have heard your request 10 me, end strange
as i. NAV appear have come TO accept your
proposal; hu, can do it only on one con-
di,ion; that is that your request for change
Of weather must be unanimous.
This appeared very reasonable, since eve
~ member Of The parish had deep interest
in the farming business, snd ere long il was
arranged ,ha, Mr.. Surely should become
pastor Of Fallowdale, and that he should
give The people rain whenever they asked
for it.
When Mr. Surely returned TO his lodg ings
his wife was utterly astonished upon learn
ing the nature of lhe contract her husband
had entered inio but The pastor only smil-
ed and bade her wal, for the result.
Time flew on; a, length The hot midsum'
mer days were a, hand. For three weeks
i, had no, rained and the young corn was
beginning to curl up benes.h She effects o
the drought. Ia this extremity the people
be,hought themselves of the promise of ,hei
pastor, and some Of them fastened to hi,
dwelling.
"Come," said Sharp, whose hilly farm
was suffering severely, we want some rain
You remember your PROMISE"
"CeriaInlv." reioined Mr.. Surely. 81
you will cell meeting of the members o
the parish, will be with you this evening.
With this the applicants were perfecll.
satisfied, and forth with they hssened to cal
The flock together.
The hour for the meeting csme round
and Parson Surely met his people at .h
church they were ell there, most of then
anxious and the remsinder curious.
Nov, my friends" said the pastor, aris
ing upon the platform, 81 have come 10 hea
your request. Wha, is i, ?"
1--WE want rsin," blun,ly spoke farme
Sharp: sand you know you promised {.
give il to us.''
"Aye-rain, rsin," repeated half doze
voices.
"Very we'll. Now when will you hav
liz"
"This very night. Let it rain all nigh
long" said Mr.. Sharp, to which several 9th
ers Immediately assen'ed.
"No. no, no, io.nighl," cried Deacon
Smith. 81 have six or seven tons of wei
made hay in the field, and " ould no. hav
i. we, for any thing" ...--... F..
$50 have hay out" added Mr.. Peck
"We won, have i, rain tonight"
"Then let it rain Tomorrow"
"It will take me all day Tomorrow to &c
my hay in said Smith.
Thus objections came up for two sue
ceeding DAYS and at length, by way of com
promise, Mr.. Sharp proposed ,hs. the
should have rain 10 jus, four days. For,
said he, s.by ,hs. lime all the hay lha.
ou, can be got in and we need no. cut any i.
"slop, s.op;" uttered Mrs. Sharp, pulliu