The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1860-10-17

and the Preacher-A fact.
, In the spring of 1s-, after the adjourn
ment of an Eastern Conference, dear old
father p, who had been the previous year
our circuit preacher, came back to H
with his certificate of superannuation, as
much as to say, "you've served your time,
old man"-the spirit Of the age demands
different style from yours'-Jesus Christ
and Him crucified used to satisfy our peo-
pie, but public sentiment changes, and
where it leads we follow"-"here's your
part Of the fund.-" Well, the old man took
it and retired. He had been in the minis
try great many years. He was Metho-
dist when it was odious to be one; he had
sought it in bush and brake, in camp and
tent. He had lived scantily, meagerly,
among poor people whom he loved-scanti-
ly, meagerly among rich people who had
nothing against him only he was so old
fashioned in his Interpretation of the Scrip
lures. He had reared large family-how,
God knows and circuit preachers know
to habits of thrift, and industry, and order.
But they were too scholarly and too early
called to preach to have been great pecuni-
ary helps to their parents. What was to
be done! What should they do? What
was to become of them?-his infirm wife
and little children-were questions that
presented themselves with distressing viv
idness to the mind OF the old man. There
was sadness and sorrow around the parson-
age hearth, and barren as it had been to
them many, many times, of the comforts of
life, it was now more cheerless than ever be-
cause it no longer afforded them home. -
Various propositions were sntertained Of
occupations into which the smaller boys
were to enter, but nothing was decided up
on. One Of the lads, however, adhered to
the Quixot,c purpose he had expressed, to
the astonishment of the whole family cir
Gle. 1t was this: to write to Mr.. Douglas,
who was then in Vermont, to ask his in
fluence in securing him situation as page
in the Senate Chamber. The proposal was
discouraged by father and mother, and the
absurdity of the idea that Mr.. Douglas
would interest himself for an obscure lad,
pointed out to him. But the sanguine boy,
stimulated, no doubt, by the admiration he
felt for the great man and encouraged by the
i 81
large humanity which glows in every pass.
age of his eloquenco, would not be rcbuffed
He addressed Mr. Douglas on the subject
nearest his heart, and p a short time re
ceived letter full Of cordial interest and
iudicious counsel. The Office he sought
was represented as one attended with temp
tations and idle habits, and the lad advised
4 ssrsue his education enter some Occu
patton independent Of party favor. Hi!
confidence thus invited, another communi
cation followed the first and resulted in tn,
disclosure of the necessitous state of hi.
family to Mr.. Douglas, and the urgency
! which prompted his application for relief
Atthis juncture, almost providentially, .
lucrative Office in the Custom House a
Brooklyn, was Taanted by the resignation
of its occupant, and the incumbency ten
dered, by Mr.. Douglas influence, to th'
distressed superannuate. Surely there
seemed to have been an ordering Of HEAVIER
in all this, and the Office was gratefully &C
cepted, to the chagrin Of hungry Office
seekers, who could not see why man wht
had nothing but religion to recommend
him, and mary" politics, should be install
led over them and their claims to distinc.
ton. The old folks went to the city te
live, and the next year We had white-liv
cred fellow, with corn-colored hair, who
preached thanksgiving sermon on bleed
ing Kansas, got notoriety and ninety dol
lars in cash-more than the old man haG
received for the whole Of his fifty-two di
atribes against sin and Satan.