The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1865-01-06

D
lessly pure that it rivalled his face in
Wilderness
Now it was very observable on en-
tering the church that morning that
it was blue with smoke, and not from
any sudden freak Of tho wind but as
if the chimney had made up its mind
to smoke-was acting from principle.
There was strong smell quite sug-
gestive of bacon: but the sexton had
been carefully airing the room for the
last three hours so that now it was
somewhat eudurable. And yet before
Mr.. Hill had finished his first invoca-
ton, half the congre alton were in
tears The choir not to be outdone
by the sermon, had been practising on
chants and anthems, and it was re-
markable on that day how clear and
4 sonorous rang out John Sulhvnn's
voice; he looked like the very spirit
of psalmody. The singing was de-
cided success Afterward came the
Scriptures, aud th.E the prayers
Now Parson Flint was very godly
man, but somewhat old fashioned. He
was accustomed to crave Gods mercy
and forgiveness in very humble way,
and to ask for blessings on all his
fellow creatures; but then poor man
he knew Just nothing at all OF He
brew, or even. OF Latin and Greek,
When the segregation raised their
heads attef@!soyeung minister's elo-
quent, ySsn We1xed prayer, thick
cloud Of ESHfAn}kH Asell9ped them.
The seKkax ksSs bA4 pfEisnal trouble
with the stauess Y tkst't i1a fire obsti-
nately refused tv'S'fis,s ztkough he had
coaXed it with shsiASlil Az Alpine knots;
afterward, ON sobsr,feebnd thought, it
did little better. Itwas an old trick
of the chimney, but this Sunday it
acted more proyolingly than ever.
The windows and doors had to be
thrown open to let out the smoke;
bat it soon became apparent that it
would not do to have such dranght
of air through the house, Children
cried with the cold grown up people
began to cough, and the old women
actually sneezed; SO the window and
doors had to be closed. At last the
great sermon was begun; but now the
young ministers eyes were very dewy;
he found it impossible to read his
manuscript, he could not say word
without 1t. Ia WAN he wiped his
glasses lie had just reached the
| 'pearly gates and golden streets
Of his discourse when the Deac on,
anxious to assist, ratified the stove
door, and poked the fire; smoke 1t
would and smoke it did Elderly
people buried their faces IN their hand
kerchiefs and tried to 50 oil into a
doze; big boys were gigghnS IN the
gallery and enjoying the general dis
comfort The young minister could
not see to read, the tears rolled down
his cheeks, and there he stood gasping
for words On the whole it was a
most Notifying failure, made all the
more apparent from the magnitude
OF the theme on which he entered
There is in some parts Of the country
great prejudice against clergymen that
: are confined to their manuscripts A
man that can't talk Auently and well,
whether he has anything to say OF
not, is just no preacher at all. The
= title community of which / ana speak
! ing, shared in this feeling. After
this, the Rev. j. Leander Hills stal
5 began to set. Some suggested 'tha
he had preached his preach ont 9th
ers, that they doubted if he knew an,
3 more about the New Jerusalem thai
, anybody else. Becky" said the Dea
, con after the service yas over ssif tht