National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1867-10-04

of1ife flowed through the .Iiving a.
green of celestial meadows. on
peaceful nights the many mansions
rose fair and stately in the eternal
light. Through the golden streets
walked harpers, harping in tune.
Toward these pleasant haunts he
beckoned them gently. The whole
was more dream of poet than
prophets warning cry. Surely.
Colonorc would listen and approvc
It was nightfall when he reached
his journeys end. Already the
streets were lighted, and he was as
tonished to see what citylike as
pect the place wore. The gentle
man whose wife had been the main
spring of the movement to send for
him, met him as he Stepped from
the train.
"The Rev. Mr.. Eastman ?" he ask
ed, holding out cordial hands.
Mr.. Eastman bowed.
MY name is Garield-you have
met my wife"
ANA the minister was hurried into
a light open carriage and driven
away rapidly. his companion keep
ing up a constant flow of easy talk.
lie stopped once to point ont the
church--a gray stone building,
handsome and substantial. \ faint
fiutter of worldly pride stirred in the
country parsons heart. 1t would
be pleasant to be pastor OF such Il
church. And the congregation, if
these Gartields were specimens.
would be such people as Alice be
longed TO, as their children ought to
grow up among,
l!e passed the evening IN making
himself agreeable, and learning what
he could about the arrangements OF
the church. The salary was fifteen
hundred dollars. That seemed rich
eS to Mr. Eastman, bat lie said
nothing when Mr.. Garfield Suggcs-
ted that they could easily atioid to
RAISE II II they We're entirely salts
fled. The candidate was to preach,
and directly after the services of the
morning "A meeting was to bc held
to decide upon his claims. He had
come to them SO highly recommen-
dco that the committee having the
matter IN charge had thought imme.
diate action cNpcdicnt in his ease,
although such meetings were usually
held on week DAYS.
The minister went to bed late, his
brain in a whirl. He was thankful
to be SO familiar with his sermon
that he need not look 1T it. That
was all right--wcll for him that it
was so. for never had he felt SO in,
capable of constructing Il single
sentence.
Hc rose hate again the next morn.
ing. and II was not until Just sctnre
church that he found a moment to
try and quiet his mind, and bring
his heart into harmony with the
work before hiua After he had
knclt to ask for aid and strength, ,he
hastily untolded the manuscript of
his sermon and started to his feet
with cry of dlsmay. BY what un
lucky chance had De brought She
wrong parcel : He had long be.
lieved that there was no such thing
as accident, but belief, faith. hope,
all seemed slipping away from him
now. The text of the sermon he
was to prcach-the only sermon he
had with him-Stared HIM in the
face. 1t was not 'ln my fathers
house are many mansionS.' but
"Wh ho ls,mH nelghbor =
What should he do? He had
never eXtempori2cd discourse IN
his htc-lcast of all could he do SO
now, with this whirllng anxious
brain. For one weak moment he
was tempted to tcign-and there
would have been very little ielgnlng
about it--a sudden indisposItion,
and refuse 10 preach ut all. lie
threw himself upon his knees IN nj
ter helpleSSness and prayer W hcu
the time of service arrived he rose
to his feet, strengthened III heart
\ noble purpose had been borI
within him. IT was meant that he
should preach this sermon. ana nc
othcr-shou,d he refuse IL do hi'
masters work 1t would lose hin
his opening for anew career, wha
: of that. ifit should quicken one sou
to new life.
Mrs. Garfield thought his iac'
shone like that of an angel when h,
come out tD walk to church with he
and her husband And, indeed, io
this once, if never again, he iel
himself Gods messengeS.
He went through tue preliminar.
services calmly and revarontly. Iii
. appcarance pleased the people Z
/ Golonorc, hut Of this he took II
[ thought. His hope was no longe
in them. When he announced lil
i. text his voice rang out clear an
|. strong. Then he looked round {,
{ n moment. over that full and fasl
n ionablc congrcgation-thosc well t
!. do men, and graceful, iaultlcss!
n dressed womcn--and again his voi'
sounded solemnly above t hci
+, "who is my neighbour
|, Verify, Colonore heard such wore
that dag as Colonorc never hca'
/, beiore-was taught then where
If look for the neighbor If she cv
4. forgot afterwards, the sin he up'
|. bnr and her children; Henry Eas
N mans skirts would be clear of it,
|e I'm all wrong doers--in' erin
~ s,,;ped men: i'm outcast womc