Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1855-02-15

to his gaze and presented Tor lis adoption,
for It Is our minds which assimilate US to
| God. s74
PARsoN suRELSss ExPERIs1nSr.
D. i his EIcz.
The small parish Of FalIowdale laa been
for some time without pastor. The mem
bers were all farmers, and they had not
smueh money to bestow upon the support of
clergyman yet they were willing to pay
/ for anything that could promise them any
/ due return of good Ia course Of time it
happened that Rev Abraham Surely visit.
ed Fallowlale and as Sabbath passed dur
ing his sojeurn, he held 70 meeting in~the
small church The people were pleased
with bis preaehihgs aud some Of them pros
posed inviting him to relnain with them
and take charge of their spiritual welfare,
U1on the merits Of thisEproposition there
/ was a long discussion. Parson Surely had
| signi6sd his willingnt s. "a take permanent.
residence at FaIlowdale, but the members
| Of the parish could not 50 readily agree to
1 hire him
! don't sac any use of4hiring a parson,'
said Min Sharp an old farmer Of the place,
i ne odn uD Us uO gOOus Ill we K3 gVb tny
money to spare, we'd better lay itsup for
something else a parson can't learn me
! anything
| 10 this was answered that stated religi.
Gus meetings would Be of great benefit 10
theIyeunger people and sIea Of real, So
eial good 10 AL vi
/ q don't know ,sBo6t that said Shayp, af-
ter he had heard tie argument against him.
i Sharp was one Of the wealthiest men In the
| parish aud consequently bne of the mbst in
lueatiGl I've heard tell ke continued,
4 of pgrson that could pray for rain and
have iteome at any time, Now if weeould
\ hit upon So b parsonas that, | would 50
for hiring him.
+ This opened . new idea to thb unsophis-
tieated miadsAof FaIIewdale The farmers
/ often suffered from lodg dreuths, and after
arguing while longer they agreed ID hire
! Parsen Surely, upon condition thathe Should
give them rain wheneygr they wished for it,
and, on the other hand that he would alse
/ give them fair weather when required =
4 Deacons Smith and Towasend we're deputed
1 to make this arrangement known to the par
son and the psople remained 81 the church
| while their messengers vent upon their err
I railg IVA. sslg sueacobs returned, Mr Surely
accompanied them He smiled as he enter
ed the church, and with i graceful bow he
saluted the people there assembled,
| We'll, my friends, heAsaid, as be ascend.
| ed the platform in front ef the desk, i have
heard your request 70 me, and strange as it
may appear, J have come to accept your pro
posal but / can do il only on one condition;
and that IS that your request for change Of
weather must be uuanimBus'
| This appeared very reasonable since eve-s
ry member Of the parish had deep interest
in the farming business, and ere long il was
arranged that Mr. Surely should become
pastor Of FalloBdale. and that he should
give the people rain Whenever theyEasked
fori il
When Mr.. Surely returned to his. lodg.
ings; his wife was utterly astounded. upon
learning the natnfe Of the contract her hus.
band had entered into but the pastor only
smiled and babe her wait flor the result.
Time. flew on. and at leugthsthe hot days Of
midsummer were at hand For three weeks
It had not rained and the young corn was
beginning to curl up beneath the effects Of
the drought In this extremity the peopls
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Of tbe promise Of their
pastor. and some Of them FASTENED to his !
dwelling
Come said sharpwh dset Lilly farm was
suffering severely. we wart some rain
You remember your prardisess
Certainly, rejoined Nh Surely. IF you |
will call . meeting, Of the members Of the |
parish, will be with you this evening
With this the applicants were perfectly sat.
is6ed, and forthwith they FASTENED to cSllthe
Hock togetherJ
Tue hour for the Meeting came round
and Parson Surely met his people al The
church; they were all there most of them
anxious and the remainder curious.
Now, my friends, said the pastor, arts
ing lpoa the platform Il have come to |
hear your request What ii it III
We want rain, bluhtly spoke farmer
Sharp and you know you promised to give
it to us
.Ate-rain, rain repeated half dozen
voices
Very, well Nov when will you have
This very right Letlit rain all night.
long. Isaid Mr. Sharp % 1hioh several 9TH.
ers Immediately assenttd
No, no, not tonight crfcd Deacon Smith
/ have six or seven tensof we'll made hay in
the field, and Would1net hape II wei for aay.
thing Il.
SO bare I hey out, added Mr Peek
We won't ha7e-it rain tunight
Then let il rain sd-nhIF5w
1T viii take ne all day1 to morrow III eet
may hay IN said Smith. HI
Thus Objection c' Iae i j for the two sue
seeding days. aud al lehgth, blythe Wv Of
slr sharp proposed thatthey 4
ihouId haYs rain III just four days sIsora III,
aid BE, by that time 81 the hay that il II.
low out can be gos ip md we need not cut II
my HI
Stop, stop uttered MEe. Sharp, pui ing HI
lfr worthy husband smaFtly BY the sleeve
That is the day We have SET to 70 TO SHOW
I'LL Il mustn't rain then T. '
This was law FOR MI. Eharp. 50 Be- grro.
,osed that the rain should COME Ii, one wseE.
hen resumming his seat But this would
lot do. Many Of the people would not pnEt
e 90 long If We cannot hare rain before
ben, we'd better not have ID Al al, SAID
hey.
In short, the meeting resulted ii Just no
sopelusion at all, for the people found II ut
ssFly impossible to agree ppon 8 time when
It should rai1