Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1868-04-22

the high reading desk there appeared, how
ever, instead of Parson Winslow's iron gra,
hair, a profusion of short dark curly locks
4 ''Who's 'hat in the pulpit p Whispered
the Deacon. leaning over to his neighbor il
the next pew
. Its you,g Mr.. Torrey from Wellville
Parson Wirslow was called over there tt
preach a funeral sermon for an old lady, sc
Mr.. Torrey comes here to take his place
/ 50 Glad we're going to hear him. anyhow
said the Deacon, heartily, .'lve always beer
powerful anxious to. Deacon Grover, over
at Nellville says he breaches the soundesl
orthodoxy q any man he ever heard
1.-The frs, scholar in his class at college,
have heard ell. and -
- Let Us ray." said the young minister,
rising in the pulpit, and so the whispered
conference ame 10 an untimelv end
The usua Introductory exercises gone
through wit. the text was announced. lsa.
5s from the ID to the 7th verse inclusive. and
he read it slwly aloud in their hearing
Deacon ,hnes turned around and nodded
to his wife Il way which said, 20 You see
| III not alon in my opinion Of proper kind
of fast day Then he gave his whole and IN
dINed attentln to the sermon. which he eX-
pected woul9ust ventilate his ideas and no
tions. Self-afiicient Dca. Jones
1t was iasterlv effort. that sermon, and
it held the audience as If spell-bOund. 1t
"truei< home l. Deacon Jones heart. pene-
trating the crust IS Sutiiciency and selfsatis
faction which Parson Winslow's shafts had
harmiessy ganced a for many wears. 1t
seemed almost to the Worthy Deacon as tho
somebody ha been describing him to Mr..
Torrey, SO redily did that skillful archer
detect his wek points and aim at them.
l. it sub fast that | ha1, chosen !.
day for a MAJ to afflict hs soul is IL I, bow
down his he'd as IA bulrush and TO spl,-d
sackcloth mi ashes under him? will thon
call this a fat aud an acceptable day to the
Lord?'
The keenback ewes of the preacher roamed
over the hone in Il searching way though
he were looung through every one, and then
from this vcre he went on to point the char
acter of the nan who was righteous over
much. who mde great merit OF fasting and
prayer. wfilehis own children perhaps were
neglected. or-rained SO injudiciously that 1t
was worse thn no training at all. The
homes that wre no homes through the mis-
taken zeal If parents, the youth who were
growing up todetest their homes, and long
for years of maturity that they might leave
the paternal rof, and who in their hearts
hated and desIsed the religion their parents
professed. becalse it made them so stern and
unlovable and ,loomy.
Deacon Jones fell as though everybody IL
the house must know he especially was
meant. assurey as though the minister had
pointed hs finger directly at him and said ar
did Nathln to David. = Thou art the man =
lie looked slvk about little. to see If 9th
ers were ookng at him. but every one seem
ed busy with their own meditations-
:. Is notthi, the fast that | have chosen
to loose the bUds of wickedness. TO undo the
heavy burens and 10 let the oppressed gC
\ free and that " break every yoke
=" belnget to the Anti-Slavery Society
wears ag,, thought the Deacon in little
spasm of self-5ratulation. but Mr.. Torrey
showed item that slavery was only one torn
of oppression that there were bands of wick
edness foi every hand to unloose oppressed
in mind. )odv. or soul, for every one to re
lieve. ane that many men, willfully or care
leselv lad upon even their dearest friends
yokes hard To he borne. which duty require
should be broken yet the sharpest arrow
was vr to be aimed at the Deacon whos'
gray head sank lower and lower. in outward
toker of his inward humiliation
Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry
and that thot. bring the poor that are cas-
out 10 thy house? when thou secst the make
that thou cover him that thou hide no
thvsch from tltne own flesh? -
The hiding from Ills own flesh meant uo
/ only his own family Just then, though Dea
con Jones heart smote him that he had al
WAYS been ratier tvrant than father +
F his four bright intelligent boys, but it mean
still more to lin Not half mile from I'll
church dwelta poor widow, an own cousin
of his. who 1eing lett an orphan in earl
youth had hen brought up in his father
family amdseemed 70 him more like a voun
ger sister man cousin. Yet because thi
cousin pesisted in marrying the man sh
loved. against the Deacon's own express al
vice and calnsel. although his only objection
to the MAI were that he was sickly and il
low circumstances. he had discarded her en-
tirelv. shut her out from his sympathy. ant
since her wedding day had never spoken t
her. save 20 find fault or utter a triumphan
- told vn So" Though he had been hlesse
with an abundance of this world goods Will
his poor cousin had been obliged to struggl
on through poverty. sickness and misfortune
the most he had ever given the family Wi
tracts, tGtaments, and good advice Eve
now. whm she had been a widow for thre
wears anc WAS striving to keep home 10
her littledetenceless children. his heart neve
seemed t. soften towards her. nor his purs
strings tCloOeen. But let Ms here do Mrs. .JOne
credit She had done tor them. and don
faithfully all that she could. Ii had neces
sarIlv ben in a very quiet way in order L
keep her husband from suspecting it, ant
that circumstance had sometimes sadly tie
her hands, for she felt this to he especially
case waere she must not let her obstinat
left had know what her generous right han
was doing
Whit sermon on liberal free handed
charity was the exposition of that last verse
W ere not poor widow Ellis and her children
compelled by necessity to keep fast days oftc
and rglly ? And why did he, Deacon Jones
neye. bring those poor outcasts TO his com
forta Die home. and make them happy for
little time mt least? Could he not contrihut
towards clothing those poor children so sadl,
in need. and Oh why. why had he so ION,
hid himself from his own flesh ? 1t was {
close searching communion which the mar
held with his own soul, and it is doubtful
as he asked himself again and again the s
oondeInning questions, whether he heard tn
application of the sermon, the general re
marks or the :. finally brethren.' He ha,
only sense enough to rise with the rest whel
the choir sung IL plaintive chant beginning
I'VE all o Lord have gone astray:' at whic
he CALCULATED an audible " Amen
There was fixed purpose in Deacon Jones
mind when be went ont of the house aftc
the benediction was pronounced 1t betraye
its presence. though not its nature. in hi
quick energetic movements. and he contden
tially remarked To old Dolly as he unhitche,
her halter. III do it, I'll do it. -
Not word was spoken between him AM
his wife for TIE first half mile, save whel
Mrs. Jones exclaimed in rapture, "What al
excellent sermon we have had - and he re
piled .'powerful'' His immediate relaps
into silence showed her he was thinking an
she would not disturb him, till she was her
self startled by his - Gee up, Dolly - an
he reined up at Mrs Ellis door
The widow surprise at his friendly man