Los Angeles daily herald., 1874-09-29
THE MODEL MEETlE'.HOUSE.
BY WILL g. HAYS.

HowJy, Davy! light and hitch; thal's no one
home but me,
Thar amt man livin', sir, I'd sooner like
Ter see;
For Nance and Liddy,s gone TO see a sIcl, man
on the hill,
An Hiram's gone to get his grst at Jason
turner's mill.
1 was in town las Sunday, an my hear. an,
me agreed
To go to meetin'-ef you'll wait I'll tell YOU.
what | seed:
The bells were. tolling lively ON the belmy
mOrnin' air,
An folks were in q hurry, like the rushin, to
fair.
The meetin'-house was built Cf stone. the
steeple pnted high
The windows they were painted oil the colors
An runnin' up the steeple was great long
lghtnn' rod
kinder thought the member lacked a conf
dence In God.
The big bell sorter hushed Itself an then 1t
rung some more,
An people come in carriages an got out at
the door;
The wimmin fixed their dresses like they
meant TO make a call;
Thar faces showed they warn't thinking ov
their souls at all.
Well, Davy, thar stood and thought-'twas
wicked suppose
Some go to church to close their eyes AM some
to eye their clothes;
overheard old Missus swell TO Missus Steb-
BINS say:
my darter Becky'S dress Warn't domestic
wont be here to-day"
stood there hesitatin' like what sort of move
to make;
felt that I should go inside for my saliva
TONS sake;
l started meekly in the house. knew 1t want
no harm;
With my old broad-brlm hat in hand and
jeans coat on my arm.
went along bout half way up the velvet car
pet lie,
The men am wimmen shut thar ga es an they
begin to smile;
see one open just ~ bit, went In an pulled
tito,
When Brown the banker, riz and said "This
ere's rented pew"
got out of his "rented pew an sot down
near the door
Expectin' for some man to say, This cre's
A fine dressed stranger he cum in, the MEM
bers didn't wait,
But every feller jumped at him an opened
wide his gait.
The parson riz an raised his hans with cold
and naughty air,
An everybody in the house stood up an
heard his prayer.
don't know how it is With them-somehow l
always feel
I'm doin God injustice when get too proud
to kneel.
Then all sat down an stared about then al
the parsons face.
While he put on his specs an said, Lets sing
amaZin grace"
An organ busted loose up sairs-tre music 1t
was gay
It tlckled them as couldn't sing and them
wot had to pay.
The music quit, the parson rz-they passed
the hats round next
An when the deekns sot them down, the
parson took his text,
He preached almost two hours bout his faith
in God to keep
The wimmrn folks were noddin' while thar
H.
One gal said to another, "Hev you seen my
bow to-day"
She'd nod hor he'd, an then say back, "Ths
party it wOs gay"
One whispered loud enough behind her fan
"That bonnet SOFA Tags got on is one she had
last year,
The parson quit and then sat down--the organ
played agin;
thought il that was servin' God, the tunes
they played was thin;
I've hearn the bands at circusses play. just the
self same air.
The parson, when the organ quit, dismissed
'em all with prayer
Now, Davy, if the angels seel what 1 did. I
believe,
There warn't one among 'em all but what
laffed in thar sleeve;
For God don't smile on Christians who His
blessin's will abuse;
He hain't no use for organs, and He don't like
rented pews.
He rings no bells to tell 'em that the Sabbath's
come once m0re
The Angels have no carriages to driye up 20
His door.
Such Christians might as we'll look up to God
an sweetly smile,
AM say, 81 send my soul, dear Lord Pm cum
min after while"
Our Master up in Heaven, Dayy, sees-heGrs
everything;
He likes to see Ills children kneel, and loves
to hear 'em sing;
For whar he lives the angels sing an Chris
tians get their dues
His music costs him nothin', and lie has no
rented pews
Thar amt no use o. fOolin' long the road
down to the grave;
Thar amt no use O. dodgln' when you've got
your soul to save
Fne churches, organs, carridses, clothes,
rented pews an "pelP'
Don't count that day-it lays between yer
Maker and yourself.