Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1869-11-19
lained that he should find wife in our


pastorate. Left our flock without a shep.
herd, we sat so long under the preach
ing OF candidates" that il began to look
as if our fastidiousness would never be
satisfied with any mortal minister. AT
last Rev. Earnest Gray "came. saw and
conquered US with one sermon. Ii was
a sermon full of thought and promise; but
| did think it was really his paleness
which Won the mothe+ly hearts Of the
matrons, and the tender ones of the maid
ems, and settled him over the first church
in Weston.
He had seen Nellie Clifton in his pas
toral call on her father, at the Sunday
School, in which she now felt renewed
interest; and in church there was no
swecter face in which to read the inn
pressions of his preaching.
AT their first meeting in the sewing
circle, it surprised no one to see the min
ister linger all the evening in her neigh
borhood, talking earnestly, while she
listened with sweet humility. There
was tender, sympathising tone, and Il
dash of sentiment in her low replies,
which brought a new look into Mr.. Gray's
expressive face. She had already made
him think of something besides his books.
He gave her his arm on the homeward
walk, and rs | passed them Mt Nellie's
door. she lc. her hand rest in his, while
she said with eye-lashes lying thick and
soft on her cheeks;
II am so glad you think there is some
good in me. | will try to be good if yon
will help me-
My dear Miss Nellie" me minister
began. And then | realized that | was u
listener. and fled
Vanity is not less fourishing in the
ministerial breast than in the rest of the
sex, and there is nothing like humility for
striking it the right way, which Nellie
knew by instinct. Women generally fall
in love with men whom they believe To
be great deal better or great deal
worse than themselves. In the one case,
they set up an idol and worship it 10 their
hearts content; in the other they are en-
listed heart and soul to win the loved one
from the error Of his ways. am inclin-
ed To think that the rcprobatcs. oi the
two. have the most chance OF success.
Fred Olney WAS not by any means n
reprobate, Yet like every other sailor,
there was enough of the "supcriluity Of
naughtineSs' to fascinatc any woman who
had a talent for the missionary work.
impressed it upon his mind that he had
formidable rival in Mr.. Gray. and he fell
in with my plan with wonderful dociity.
For two or three DAYS | drove Fred
away whenever Nellie appeared, and let
her see that did not wish her to kn ow
him. Ipraiscd Mr.. Gray till she was fain
10 find some fault with him. and dcpreca
ted Freds wildncss in proportion. They
caught only disSolvingy views ofeach other,
till Fred declared that he had "veere1
and hauled on that tack" long enough.
and he must at least be introduced to her.
Nellie was looking lovely, ina morn
ing dress Of pale pink muslin that jus:
suited her complexion her little slippcred
feet rested half seen on a hassock (and |
knew Fred always went into raptures
over pretty feet,) when | called him in
from the garden. Her bewitched attitude
did not make him forget the part he had
to play. He scarcely looked at her as
she made him bow, slightly touched
with consciousness.
What Will you haye' say quickly, for
| was very busy in the garden making a
bargain over the fence with Ellis for that
black horse you like so WELL"
"Iknow that horse" cried Nellie. "He's
splendid. / rode with Mr.. Ellis once,
and he nearly ran away with me?"
"Do YOU mean Mr.. Ellis or the horsc?'
She only flashed look at him, and he
turned to me with self-denial look that
| could not help but admire.
Il must have some kind of carriage.
for sailor on horseback is fish out OF
water, and you must try Abdallah's met
tie with me tomorrow"
Tomorrow is Sunday"
Never mind, we will drive to church
and hear that new minister who has turn
ed ali your heads. He certainly preach es
as if he meant it, and he is not Unlocking
for one cooped up between tour walls all
his DAYS. You admire him ofcourse, Miss
Clifton?"
II do not see the of course Mr.. o.
ney. Eevery one who sees him must
think him not only not Unlocking, but de-
cidedly handsome said Nellie, with
a little flush of wrath in her cheeks,
which added another touch to her beauty.
There, knew it! Every young wo-
man in the parish is his devoted admirer,
and alas for them. only one of them can
have him Tor her own!'
IL suppose girl may admire man
without wishing to marry him"
''May she? / live and learn: but for
my part think minister has no right
TO be handsome; it is clear robbery OF
common mems capital. Women have
such a taste for martydom that ministers
have charms sufficient i'm their spiritual