The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1868-11-03

on the bed, and drew his head to her
bosom, and comforted him, just as she
was wont to comfort her children. After
a time her tender caresses, her soothing
tones, seemed to have healed little his
bruised, tortured heart. He lifted up
his head and kissed her-his first kiss
from out the darkness in which he must
abide, and then he sent her away /
think every soul, standing face to face
with an uutricd calamity, longs to be for
space alone with God.
Three hours after that the church bells
rang, and, as usual, the minister and his
wife walked out of their dwelling, save
that now he leaned upon her arm In
that hOnr of seclusion he had made up
his mind what to do. They walked up
the familiar aisle, and she left him at the
foot of the pulpit stairs, and went back
to her own pew in front, He CROPPED up
the stairs, and then rising up in his place,
he spoke to the wondering Congrega-
ton:
"Brethren, l stand before you as one
on whom the Fathers hand has fallen
heavily. | am blind, shall never see
you again in this world, you, my children,
for whose souls have striven SO long
| have looked my last on your kind, fa-
miliar faces on this earth see to it that
| miss none of you when my eyes are
unsealed again in heaven. Grant, o Fa-
ther, that of these Thou hast given me |
may lose none..
There was not fearless face among
those which were lifted toward him, as
he stood there, with his sghtless eyes
raised to heaven, his hands outstretchrd,
as to bring down on them the blessing
for which he prayed. Some of the wo-
men sobbed audibly, but the minister
was calm. And after moment, he
said
"My brethren, as far as possible the SER
vices will proceed as usual.
Then in clear voice, in which there
seemed to his listeners ears some uncarth-
ly sweetness, he recited the 103th Psalm,
commencing
'Out of the deep l called unto Thee,
O Lord Lord, hear my voice"
Afterwards he gave out the first line Of
hymn, which the congregation sang
Then lie prayed, and some said who heard
him that the eyes which were shut on earth
were surely beholding the beautiful vi5-
SON, for he spoke as a son beloved, whose
very soul was full Of the glory of the
Fathers presence.
The sermon which followed was such
an one as they had never before heard
from his lips. There was in it power,
a feryor, tenderness which no words OF
mine can describe, 1t was the testimo-
ny OF living witness, who has found the
Lord very pleasant help in time o
trouble.
When all was over, and he came down
the pulpit stairs, his wife stood again al
the foot, and he took her arm and went
out silently. He seemed to the waiting
congregation AS one set apart and conse'
Grated by the amounting of special sor-
row, and they dared not break the holy
silence round him with common speech
The next afternoon committee from
the church went TO the parsonage. Mrs
Spencer saw them coming, and told hel
husband.
SIT must be- he said, ''to ask m,
advice in the choice of my successor"
II should think they might have wal
ted one day." she cried, with women.
passionate impotence at any seeming
torgetfulness of the claims given him by
his years of faithful service.
The delegation had reached the dool
by that time, and the minister did no
answer. She waited on the men into thu
study, and left them there; going about
her usual task with heart full of bit
terness. 1t was natural, perhaps, thai
they should not want blind minister, bu
to tell him so now, to make the very first
pang of his sorrow sharper by their thank
lessness, it was to much.
An hour passed before they went away,
and then she heard her husbands voice
calling her, and went away into his study
prepared to sympathize with his sorrow.
She found hlm sitting where she had
left him, with such look of joy, and
peace and thankfulness upon his face a;
she had never expected to see it weal
again.
"DIary,' he said, "there are some kind
hearts in this world, My parish want me
TO stay with them, and insist on raising
my salary hundred dollars ayear."
"Waut you to stay with them," she
cried.
''Yes, | told them that | could not dc
them Justice, but they would not listen
they believe that my very afiliction will
give me new power over the hearts cl
men, that can do as much good as ever.
They would not wait day, you see,
least we should be anxious about our fus
ture."
"And l thought they were coming. in
indecent haste, to give you notice to go, "
Mrs Spencer cried, penitently. "IIow ]
misjudged them Shall | never learn
Christian charity 2"
SO it was settled that the minister oI
Montclair should abide with his people.
For three years more his persuasive
voice called them to choose the better