Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1865-05-10
plRsoN sURRLY's EXPERIMENT IlllII VI

,lue SHall pdfioh a1 1aii0nuoio hou o0ou
for some time without pastor. The men,
bers were nearly all farmers, and they had
not much money to bestow upon the sup.
por. of clergyman; yet they we're willing
to pay for anything that could promise
them any due return of good. In course
Of time, it happened that the Rev. "Abra-
ham Surely visited Fallowdale, and as q
Sabbath passed his sojourn, he held meet
ing 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 spirit.
ual welfare. :.
Upon the merits Of this proposition,
there was long discussion. Parson Surely
had signifed his willingness to take per.
manent residence at FalloRdale, .but.the
members Of the parish could not SO readily
agree to hire him * - =
ID dou't see the use of hiring a parson,"
said Mr.. Sharp, an old farmer of the place.
"He can do US NO good. IF we've got any
money to spare, we'd better lay it up for
something else. A parson can't learn me
anything"
g To this it was answered, that stated reli-
gious meetings would be Of great benefit to
the young people, and also source Of real
social good to all.
~ don't know bout that" said Sharp,
after he had heard the arguments against
him. Sharp was one of the wealthiest men
in the parish, and consequently one of the
most influential. .'"I've hearn tel" he con-
tinued, "of parson that could pray for
rain, and have it come at any time. Now
if We could hit upon suchsa parson as that,
I would 60 in for hiring him.
This opeped.a new idea to the unsophis.
ticated minds of Fallowdale. The farmers
often suffered from long droughts, and
after arguing while longer. theyagreed to
hire Parson Surely upon 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
wero deputised to make this arrangement
known to the parson, and the people re-
mained in the church while their messen-
gers went upon their errand. -.
When the deacons returned, Mr.. Surely
accompanied them. He smiled, as be en-
tered the church, and with graceful bow
he saluted the people there assembled.
"Well, my friends" he said, as he ascen-
ded the platform in front of the, desk, "I
have heard your request to me, and, strange
as it may appear, I have come to accept
your proposal; but I can do it only on one
condition; and that is, that your request
for change of weather must be unani-
NOUS" a.s
This appeared very reasonable, since eve-
ry member of the parish had deep inter-
est in the farming business, and ere long it
was arranged that Mr.. Surely should be-
come the pastor of RalEowdale, and that he
should give the people rain whenever they
asked for-it. = q, .... e.
When Mr.. Surely returned to his lodg-
ings, his wife. was utterly astounded upon
learning the nature'of the contract her hua-
band had entered into but the pastor only
smiled, and bade her wait for the result. q
nButy you know you cannot make itrain,"
persisted, Mrs, Surely; "and you know,
too, that the farmers here Will be wanting
rain. very often when there is none for
them. You will bedisgraced."
~ will learn them . lesson" quietly re-
turned the pastor. @
"Ay-that you cannot be 50 good as your
word; and when you have learned it to
them, they will turn you off,"
awe shall see;p vas Mr. surely's reply,
as he took up.a.book and commenced read.
ing. 90. ~
This Easa signal for'the wife to. desist
from further compensation on the subject,
and she at once obeyed. -. -. ]. !
Time few on, and length the hot days
of midsumner were at hand. For three
weeks it had not rasined, and the young corn
was beginning to curl up beneath the effects
of the drought. I'm. this extremity, the
people bethought themselves Of theProm-
Use of their pastor, and some Of them has
-. -