The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1861-07-25
PARsON sURELY,s ExPERrmENT
a Sketch for weather GrumbIers.

i, a Sketch for Weather GrumbIers
The small parish at Fallowdale had been for
some time without pastor. The members were
t nearly all farmers, and they did not have much
money to bestow upon the support of clergy
! man; yet they were willing to pay for anything
that could promise them any due return of good
In course of time, it happened that the Rev
A braham Surely visited Fallowdale, and as q
Sabbath passediduring his sojourn he held a
meeting in the small church. The people were
| pleased with his preaching, and some of them
proposed inviting him to remain with them and
take charge of their spiritual welfare
Upon the merits of this proposition there was
a long discussion. Parson Surely had signiied
his Willingness to take permanent residence at
Fallowdale, but the members of the parish could
not so readily agree to hire him
i don't see the use of hiring parson,' said
Mr.. Sharp, an old farmer of the place. He
can do us no good. parson can. learn me
anything
To this it was answered. that stated religious
meetings would be of great benefit to some of
the younger people, and also source of good
to ALL
i don't know about that. I've hearn tell of a
parson that could pray for rain, and have it
come at any time. Now if we could hit upon
such parsOn as that, / would go in fer hiring
him
Ills Opeueu II new luea TO the QnS0phlStlcated
minds of Fallowdale. The farmers often suffered
from long droughts, and after arguing awhile
longer they agreed to hire Parson Surely on the
condition that he should give them rain when
ever they wished for it, and on the other hand,
that he would also give them fair weather when
required. Deacons Smith and Townsend were
deputized to make this arrangement known to
the parson, and the people remained in the
church while the messengers went upon their
| errand.
When the deacons returned, Mr.. Surely ac-
companied them. He smiled as he entered The
church, and with bow he saluted the people
there assembled.
We'll, my friends, he said as he assembled the
platform in 'front.' of the desk, Il have heard your
request to me, and strange as it may appear,
have come to accept your proposal; but l can
DO 1t only on one condition; and that is,
that your request for change of weather be
unanimous.
This appeared very reasonable, since every
member of the parish had deep interest in the
farming business, and ere long it was arranged
that Mr.. Surely should become the pastor and
that he should give the people rain when they
wanted it.
When Mr.. Surely returned to his lodgings,
lis wife was perfectly astonished on learning
the nature of the contract her husband had en-
tered lNto, but the pastor smiled, and babe her
wait for the result.
But you know you cannot make it rain, per-
sisted Mrs. Surely and you know, too, that
the farmers here will be wanting rain very often
when there is none for them. You will be dis
| graced
| L will learn them lesson returned the pas
| tor.
| 'Ay,that You cannot be as good as your word
and when you have learned it to them, they
Will turn you off,
SWa Sbon enc ,roo NJ, uo-l,,
he took book and commenced reading.
l his was signal for the wife to desist from
further conversation on the subject, and she
obeyed.
Time flew on and the hot days of midsummer
were at hand. For three weeks it had not rain
3D. and tue young corn was beginning 10 curl
| up beneath the effects of the drouth. In this
extremity, the people bethought themselves of
the promise of their pastor, and fastened to
| him.
Come said Sharp, whose billy farm was suf
ierng severely, we want rain. You remember
your promise.
Certainly returned Mr.. Surely. 'Ifyou will
call for meeting of the members of the parish,
will be with you this evening.
With this tie applicants were perfectly salts
fed,and forthwith they fastened to call the flock
together.
Now you'll see the hour of your disgrace,
said Ms. Surely, after the visitors had gone
%, am sorry you ever undertook to deceive
them So.
4 did not deceive them
Yes, you surely did
we shall see.
80 we shall see,' added the lady
The hour for the meeting came round, and
Parson Surely met his people at the church
Ihey were all there, some anxious, the re-
mander curious.
'Now,my friends, said the aston, rising up
OH the platform, 4 have come to hear your re-
quest. What is it2'
we want rain,' bluntly spoke Farmer
Sharp; and you know you promised to give it
to us
'Ay-rain-rain,' repeated half dozen vel
ces.
Very WELL Now when do you want to have
it?'
Tonight. Let it rain all night long, said
Sharp,to which several others Immediately as
scented.
No, no, not tonight, cried Deacon Smith.
Il have six or seven tons of well made hay in
the, field, aud l would not have it wet for any
thing.
50 have hay OUT added Mr. Peck. we
won't have it rain tonight
Then let it be Tomorrow
1T will take me all day tomorrow to get my
hay in, said Smith.
Thus the objections came up for the two sue
ceeding days, and at length, by way of compro-
mise, Mr. Sharp proposed that they should have
lain in just four days
For said he, by that time, all the hay
which is now out 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 Snowfall 1t muslin I
rain them!'
This was law for Mr.. Sharp, SO he proposed
that the ShOnld in nd han
sat down.
But this would not do. If we can't have
rain before then, we better not have it at ALL
said they.
In short, the meeting resulted in just no con-
clusion at all for the good people found it utter
~ impossible to agree upon time when it
should rain.
Until you can make up your minds On this
, point, said the pastor, as he was about leaving
the church, we must all trust to the Lord =
And alter this the people followed him from the
church.
Both Deacon Smith and Mr. Peck got their
hay safely in, but on the very day Mr. Sharp
f was to have started for Snowfall, it began to
/ rain in good earnest. Mr. Sharp lost his visit,
= but he met the disappointment with a good
grace, for his crops smiled at the rain.
Ere another month had passed by, another
: meeting was called for a petition for rain, but
, this time the result was the same as before. =
: Many Of the people had their muck to dig, and
9 rain would prevent them. Some wanted it inn
mediately-some in one, some in two, and some
: in three days, while others wanted to put it of
2 longer. So Mr.. Surely had no occasion to cal
for rain.
One year rolled by, and up to that time the
b people of Fallowdale had never once been able
), to agree upon the exact kind of weather they
Q would have, and the result was that they begar
n to open their eyes to the fact that this world
It would be strange place, if its inhabitants
o should govern it.
d On the last Sabbath in the first year of Mr.
;. Surelys settlement at Fallowdale, he offered tt
take up his connection with the parish but the
n people would not listen to it. They had becom'
e attached to him and the meetings and they wish
6 ed him TO stay.
sRut I c0n No lopoo, - 49, -, Eo.Yoa