Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1861-11-01
A SKETCH FOR WEATHER oEuxBLERs.

parson that could pray for rain, and have il
come at any time. Now, if we could hit upon
snch parson as that, would go in for hiring
him."
This opened a new idea to the unsophisticat-
ed minds Of Fallowdale. The farmers often
suffered from long droughts and after arguing
q while longer, they agreed to hire Parsou
Surely. on the condition that he should give
! them rain whenever they wished for it, and on
| the other hand, that he would also give them
fair weather when required. Deacons Smith
and Townsend were deputised to make this ar.
rangeme1t known to the parson, aud the peo-
pie remained in the church while the messen-
gers went upon their errand.
| When the Dcacons returned Mr.. Surely ac-
companied them. He smiled as he entered the
| church, and with a bow he saluted the people
there assembled:
"Well, my friends" he said, US he aseended
the platform in front Of the desk, Il have heard
your request to me, and strange as it may ap.
pear, have come to accept your proposal; but
do it only on one condition, and that is, that
| your request for q change Of weather must be
unanimous
This appeared very reasonable, since every
the farming business, and ere long it was ar
ranged that Mr.. Surely should become the pas
tor, and that he should give the people rain
when they wanted il.
When Mr.. Surely returned 10 his lodgings
his wife was utterly as,ouudcd on learning the
nature OF the contract her hrs slaDd had enter
ed into; but the pastor smiled, and bade her
wait for the result.
But you know you cannot make it rain,'
persisted Mrs. Surely; ''and you know, too, that
the farmers here will be wanting rain very Of
ten when there is none for them. You will b.
disgraced-
Il will learn them lesson returned the
pastor.
LAY, that you cannot be as good as your
word; and when you have learned it to them,
they will turn you of"
I'VE shall see" was Mr.. SuFely's reply.
and he took up book and commenced read
ing.
This was signal for the wife to desist from
further conversation on the subject, and she
obeyed.
Time few on, and the hot days Of midsum-
mer were at hand. For three weeks it had not
rained, and the young corn was beginning to
curl up beneath the effects of the drouth In
this extremity the people bethought themselves
of the promise Of their PastcT, and hastened to
him.
Come" said Sharp, whose hilly farm was
suffering severely, I'VE want rain. You renem,
Der your promise"
Certainly" returned Mr.. Surely. "If you
will call FOR a meeting of the parish, 1 will be
with them this evening"
With this the applicants were perfectly sat
is6ed, and forthwith they hastened to call the
flock together.
Now, you'll see the hour Of your disgrace"
said Mrs Surely, after the visitors had gone.
"Oh, 1 am sorry you ever undertook TO deceive
them so."- 5H-t=54t
81 did not deceive them."
"Yes, you surely did,"
1--WE shall see''
$50 we shall see," added the lady.
The hour of the meeting came round, and
Parson Surely met his people at the church
They were all there, some anxious the remain.
der curious. .--1
Now, my friends, said the pastor, arising up
on the platform, Il have come TO hear your re-
quest. What is III"
"We want rain," blnntly spoke Farmer
Sharp; "and you know you promised to give it
TO u.s."
"Ay-rain-rain," repeated half a dozen
voices.
Very well. Now, when do you want to
hive it,"
Tonight. Let it rain all night long," said
Sharp, to which several others Immediately
assenRd?" ...t
mo no, not tonight" cried deacon Smith.
Il have six or Seyen. tons of well made hay
in The field, and would not hIye It yet for
anything"
80 have hay ont" added Mr.. Peck. 1--WE
won't have rain tonight"
"Then let it be tomorrow"
1T will take me ali day tomorrow to get my
hay jp;? said Smith.
Thus the objections came up for the two sue.
! ceeding days, and at length, by way Of com.
promise, Mr. Sharp proposed that they should
have rain in just four days.
For" said he, "by that time all the hay
which is now cut can be got in, and we need
not cut any"
"Stop, STOP" uttered Mrs. Sharp, pulling
her worthy husband by the sleeve. "That is
the day we have set TO go to SnowhiIl. II
mustn't rain then"
This was law for Mr.. Sharp, so he proposed
that the rain should come in one week, and
then sat down.
| But this would not do. aft we can't have
rain before then, we'd better not have it at
| all" said they.
In short, the meeting resulted in just no con-
cIusion at all, for the good people found it ut.
terly impossible to agree upon a time yhen it
should rain
until you can make up your minds on this
point" said The pastor, Rs he'was about leay-
ing the church. I'VE must all trust in the Lord
And after this the people followed him from
the church. So
Both Deacon Smith and Mr.. Peck got their
bay safely in,'but on the very day Mr.. Sharp
was tohave started for SnowhilI, it began to
rain in good earnest Mr. Sharp lost his visit,
but be met bis disappointment with good grace,