Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1871-04-27
THE MORTIFIED PASTOR.


A Notable Case Of Absentmi ndcdness.
In order to fully appreciate the hor-
rible and utterly lncomprehensible
suflerings of the case which we are
about to describe, it is necessary to
premise some Of the circumstances of
the victims life, as related in a recent
German paper. Ezekiel Feldman was
young Saxon, who had determined to
apply himself to the study Of theology
almost as soon as he began to compre-
bend that every man has some work to
do in this world. 1t was not without
finding great obstacles to overcome,
nor without many trials and hardships,
that he succeeded in gratifying his
worthy ambition. OF poor parentage,
and of impracticable habits himself, as
is frequent among those given up to
distractions and pious thoughts from
early boyhood, it was with great diff
Guilty that he succeeded in taking the
regular course ut the university,
through which alone he could attain
the ministry in his country He was
not what you would call brilliant
young man, but he endeavored to make
up in application and industry what he
lacked in talent. So he plodded along
until he had received his degrees.
As yet but half the work, and perhaps
the leaet difficult portion of it, had
been done. BY means of the. strictest
economy, by avoiding all thu, associa-
tons OF the students corps which would
lead him t. the kneipes, and by devel-
oping commendable ingenuity in the
way of providing physical s,lstenance
out OF moral plentitude, he passed his
course. But now came the long and
tedious search for position that would
yield him living. This was rendered
all the more harassing as he found him
self sufficiently moral 20 fall in love
with girl of his native town, and he
could only look forward to consum-
nation of the marriage and his earthly
happiness when he should be provided
with passionate.
AT last his patience and industry
were rewarded with prospective success.
he wrote an enthusiastic letter to his
betrothed, quite rs enthusiastic as old
DIR. Brown, when he said, ferventlv,
Let us pray" after his first kiss
which he pictured the natural beauties
of the little rural pastorate which had
been promised him. "Let us thank
God, dear Marie" he wrote to her,
" that He has given us SO much grace
and hope, before the quarter of an
another year shall have passed, to lead
you into the PASTORS house at Hotleben
MS the pastors wife, there to enjoy,
God willing, a long, happy, and easy
life
For once in his life, Feldman was
not destined to be disappointed. He
received the position which he hoped
fora passionate under the patronage of
a country nobleman-and, within eight
days after his appointment, he led his
new wife into his new home. Both
found the simple country life well suit
ed to their tastes. Their circle of So
ciety was small but very select-con-
sistng OF the old baron, n retired col
onel, the young baron and his wife,
and the school master. This company
used to come together very frequently,
amusing themselves with game of
whist or "skat,' sometimes devoting
themselves to musical entertainment,
and Mt Others discussing the latest
events in the literary world Pastor
Feldman was also an enthusiastic natu-
ralist, in which he was the more en-
conrae ed rs the young baron was like
wise devoted to science, and both spent
many pleasant hours among the plants
and animal life of the charming grounds
and woods. These things are mention
ed to make it duly appear how terrible
was the trial which still awaited this
good man, and just after it seemed as
though he had been comfortably settled
in life.
1t was one summer evening. after the
intense heat of the sun had been some
what modified, that Pastor Feldman
made his way to the Baron's house.
But the holy mans eye was not quiet
and friendly as usual, and singular
anxiety spread over his face. He met
the OLD Colonel on the steps, and his
anxiety only increased as he noticed
the latter turning away from him,
quickly drawing his snuff box from his
pocket, and taking an enormous pinch
into his nose. The pastor sighed and
made his way into the drawing room.
where he found the Baron and his wifes