Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1863-11-21
The MINISTER'S Love.

sermon, and cast his soft blue eyes along
the Isles and up 10 TIE gallery, W here the
organ stood and where he choir sat-
II ow that the hyrnn WAS over, and the
last low muimur Of tie organ had melt
Ell into silcnce--now that all faces were
turned towards bin, AID the hush Seem
cd to say, more plainly than words
conid, I'VE are waiting for yon;' the
young minister undertook at last the or
deal that lay before him, anil stood there
with beating heart and cheek that
changed fran red to white, and from
white &c fel agai with every breath.
One accustomed to the sight Of crowd
ed houses. AMI The knowledge that tie
words which fell from his lips were Listen
Ell to and criticised by men of Ietters and
women Of he worl, might have smiled
a. the conlis:on elected by the presence
of ,hesc IL fashioned farmers and then
wives, and wonder how che who, judg
ny ly his face, lad not oaiy talent, bn'
ambition, could have been content tc
mako even III. frs; effort in the presence
Of suc!. m AZ Hence.
Ta'enIcl Il young man certainly WAS,
AMI ambitious als', though lie scarcely
knew it himself; but The I:t.io village wa'
his vo'l, AMI ;!io pooplo in these trowr
Oh pcws seemed Tor the moment 10 holt
lis fate in their hands. Again, rs he IN
folded tins white paper, covered with hi
delicac, distinct Handwriting, his blu
eyes wandered ahoGt the church, aaC
read tie faces uptrrned towards him.
There, grjn and uncompromising, 81
Deacon Grumb.o, locking ont for som,
flaw in doctrine. or some wan ,erin5 sen
lence which savorci Of want OF zeal
Youdcr WAS Deacon Dolcful, ready &
shake lis head in melancholy pre- lict;o'
Of his failure. Behind him IN Old maj
venerable. who Lad no faith in 'youn;
minister's" anl would have fain lad ~
oc;ogeuarian in every pulpit; aud farthe
back, Squire Gray, the aboItionist, sill
by side with Uncle Gobble, the proSlare
man Of lilo y;iiagc, at whom lie wa
looking bowie knives. These, and hos
Of other malcontents, were to be propiti
ated; and there also were oil father al,
mother, fond and anxious IS parent
could c,anl s:iing beside them his scape
grace brother, Jasper, the widest scion Z
ihat quiet family, brown skinned, gypsy
oved and laughter loving. Bold in hi
speech aud careless IN his mic-h, 10 wa
Ear better judge Of tie true merit [
lis sermon {lom worldly point {
,iew) than any there. William dr1ale
Ibis auditor more than I'll the rest-io
had not DO Jasper in his haFd hood
declared i!at y minister. 10 q be proYe
teacher Of his i ,ck, must he talented an
enlightened, Is web rs good md zcaloa,
And fuitLermcre,io The .Ltorse horror
good Deacon Do!oful. that fine r4ad,n
must moi be confined 10 the stage, la
should lie admitted 10 the pulpit. Jasp
what would Jasper think of lis maid
en- sermon!
The paper was unfoldel anil spsea
out upoa ihe dr,k before him, and IL
young minister strove 20 pat thes
thoughts away, and TO think oniy Of tn
great and ho.y cause in which he lai Ell
listed, an,i If tue Ono whose smile on;
weighs that cf the whole word
If he Struggled vainiy, otLe-s older an'
wiser than he may have done the same
for ambition will not always seat horsel
quietly before tho church porcll, bat 81
.entilnes will follow her slave along til,
Isles. ana Up tl' carpeted steps into Ok
very pulpit, as she might have followed
him into any scene of public strife or Fri
unlph, teaching Linn that ministers ar,
bnt men and that Ct all the preachers o:
this earth OF oars there was but One
holy oue--about whose picture head th'
old painters always drew glory, whC
could forget mans praise or blame, an.
struggle on through sc9rn and perseca
tion and temptation, the cross aud ihorny
crown his o"iy earthly tributes, Withhold
one bot or lieInish on his snowy soul III,
spo;leas gift Of God returned to Him az
epoliess Is lie gave it.
IN bis se.f-.rproach, young William
Dolswci.h made no such excuse for Iii:
mon'aI delinqrencies. but thought him
self at that moment the greatest sinner
upon earth.
The text was read, and the first words
Of his sermon were upon The ministers
lips. VIXEN he church door opened once
more to admit two ladies, who came
softly up the Isle aud seated themselves
very near the pulpit. Both were young,
and One the smallest and most girlish
wore golden curls, which fell below