Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-01-19
doubtless palmer than to some of his success

doubtless palmer than to some Of his success
sors.
Do you think words fail the man whose heart
is full to bursting? Words these were of
PauPs, neither brilliant nor fine, nor profound,
nor trashy; but very simple indeed. And
though this young man had satisfactorily dis
played his talents before divers cultivated city
congregations, this was In truth the first
sermon of his which went to his own heart
Do you know what Christ meant when he said
to them, Go ye and preach this Gospel to all
the nations, beginning at Jerusalem ~
Jehroam Baker, the callous Yankee peda-
gogue, who could stand more hard preaching
than any man ever knew, was cheated of his
customary nap that morning. The people
were very much surprised. They didn'tquite
understand it. That is to ssy-they did
When Paul came among them after service it
was not as " the new minister" but as an old
friend. He needed no introduction to men
and women whose hearts he had touched SO
nearly He was one Of themselves. No fine
city gentleman come to teach rough Hoosiers
what they knew perhaps better than he. Nor
any rude soldier of the cross so overwhelming
them with the thunder Of his Gospel artillery
as to leave no hearing for the soft lsving voice
of the great Captain of our salvation, who wills
not the death of sinners, land surely never
wished to see them damned before they were
dead) Nor, lastly, was he, to their concep-
uOht tuOOlUklshl sllu Win IQ6
wrappings old formulas, and with dry husks
where live men keep their hearts.
Only gentleman.
hope nobody will ask me to say "Chrstan
gentleman" because, then, shall think my
corrector does not know what it is to be a gen
tleman.
And do you think gentleman cannot pre-
vail with such plain folk as these without
buster, and casting away his own true nature?
Does not tha tain fba A.
who told you that this old Hoosier farmer, in
cowhide boots and homespun clothes, slow of
speech and awkward in manner, is not the
truest gentleman God ever made
".
Father says you must come homo with us, !"
said Miranda Leighton, pointing to where
Father" stood before the meeting house door,
holding the mare, who was restive for her din
ner. There was invitations plenty to ''come
and stay with u.s. but Squire Leighton car
ried the day, and bore off Paul, who found him
self presently in a comfortable farm house,
where his host presented him in farmer fashion
90 This is the old lady; this is Miranda; and
this is John, my boy, | wish he wasn't such a
bad boy. Make yourself at home, and try to
like US and our ways. They amt very fine;
but We mean what we say"
In what way is John such bad fellow ?'
Paul ventured to inquire, by way of setting
himself at ease with that young man, who
looked at the minister with a certain degree
of suspicion, as one Of his natural enemies.
Whereupon Johns mother made sorrowful
confession of his tricky propensities, of his dis
like to church, of his fondness for other BOYS,
who were just like him; and Miranda conn leted
the display of Johns utter depravity by rela-
ting the incident of the cat.
At which the Rev Paul laughed so heartily
that even glum John yentured On a smile, and
Miranda had her fun all over again.
When dinner was over, and while the old
folks smoked their pipes, Paul persuaded John
to show him over the farm. The consequence
Of which showing was that John returned to
Miranda with puzzled look, and the remark
that /" that thar minister warn't bit like any
other he ever raw"
"Why, Sis" said the poor fellow, she laughs
just like other people; and made me tell him
about every thing on the place. And he likes
fishing, and I'm going to show him the creek
And he didn't know what harrow was till I
told him." added John, with a chuckle, "and
I'm to show him how to plow.'
'' So you think he'll do" queried Miranda,
quietly.
u dunno yet" said John, rasuming his
cautious look; % dunno yet-but think"
Having won over John, Psul's fame soon
went through all the country side; and as he
proved himself tolerable shot, a good fisher
man, and sensible fellow generally, tho boys
who had been so long the plague Of Sbottover
westinghouse, presently made him their hon
Ored captain, without whose presence or coun-
tenance no fun could prosper, while they de-
lighted to be for him guard, often more zeal
Gus thsn-wise
But what avails to recount at length the
peaceful triumphs of the Rev Paul Clifton :?
His first victory decided the campaign; and he
surprised the brethren at the next annual con-
ference meeting by yrequesting(unlesS some one
else wished the place. to be continued in
ShOttOver another year.
What Paul Clifton could have found in
Shottover?" was a question which puzzled
everybody but Paul Clifton himself, till ono
day
Fair, and gentle, and dearly beloved
reader, you guessed it long ago, didn't ycu!
And am not such an ungrateful boor Us to
disappoint you
till one day the bishop was invited to ded-
icate new meeting house in Shottover; and,
this done, was requested to "unite in the holy
bonds of matrimony" (Which bonds they bear
lightly to this day.
THE REVEREND PAUL CLIFTON