The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1874-03-18
TIE MODERN MEETIN' nOUSE,

by WILL s. HAYS
uowdy, Davy light an thar's no one at
home but me
Thar aint man livin', sir, I'd sooner
IKE to see;
For Nance an Lhay's gone to sec sick
man ON the hill, !.
q" isirnms gone TO git lis grist at
Jason Turner's mill, :, =,
Twas in tow" las, Sunday. m my hear,
=: and nc agreed: -
10 60 to mcetin'--ef you'll welt III tell
you what | seed.
The bells wor toliug lively on the bamy
morniu' air, -. 49,
an folks wor in n hurry, like the rushin
: TO fair.
Che mcetin' house war built ov store,
the stecple pointed high,
The winders they wcr painted all the
cnlors of tho sky
An runnin' up the stceple was g great
long lightnin rod :.
| kinder thought the members lack ed n
- confidence in God.
The big bell sorter hushcl itself aA' then
il rung some more,
An people ctm in carriages an get ou: ct
the door; = :. -
The wimmen fixed thar dresses like they
meant to make call,
Thar faces showed they warn't q thinkin'
ov Their souls Mt all, ;.
Wall. Davy, thar l stood nm thought
.. : twas wicked, I suppose
Sori5 20 10 church TO close thar eyes, an
;. same to eye thar clothes,
I overheard old Misses Swell to Missua
Stebbins say, ,. -.
"My dartcr Becky 8 dress. Harn't dohc--
y. shc wont be here TO. day"
I stood thar hcsitatin' like what sort ov
: move 10 make;
Thought that l sh uld 60 inside for my
snlvation's sake;
I started nicekly in the house, knew it
'"warn't 10 harm, -"
With my old hroad-brim haL in ham an
. jeans coat on my arm.
! went along bout, half way up tho velvet
carpet aisle.
The men an wimmin shut thar gates, anG
they begap TO Smile; :,
I seed one open jest bit wont in an
j. pulled IL to-,
When brown. the banker, ,riz an said
This ere's n rented pew"
I gol out of his '.rentcd pew an sot
-. down near tho door,
Expectin' for some man to say, "this ere,
: Eentcd floor" -,
n me dreSscu strhngcr-.-hc cum ln--thc
members didn't wait, Ia. :.
BGt'eyery feller jumped at him. and opcr-
49,. ed wide HIS gate. .;
The person riz an raised his hands, with
=. cold an naughty air,
An" everybody in Tho house stood up
an heard this prayer. :"
don't know ilow it is with them-somc-
ho% always feel, :.
I'm hoin' God injustice when + get too
-. proud to kneel..
Then all sot down an stared about, then
:, at the parsons face, :,-
While he put on his specs an scd, "Lets
; sing Amazin' Grace" ,.a'
An organ busteed: loose UP stairs-thc
j music hit was gay, -:
Hit ticklcd them rs couldn't sing, ar
them that hadto pay. =.
The music qAit, tho parson ris--,hey
passed the liats round next. :. =
An when'tho dcckins sot them down,
the parsoh took his text. :: =
lie preached about two hours bout the
faith in God to keep .:
Thu wimmin' folks were 'roddin', while
thar husbands were asleep, ,.
One gal sed TO- another. "IIev you seed
my bow to dny ?",.
She'd nod her he'd an then Say bnok,
"Thc party hit was gay" g
One WHISPERED loud enough behind her
fan fur me 10 hear; ;
"Thnt bonnet sofy Tags got on is one
-. she hhd last year.
The pnrson qnit and then sot down-the
origin played again:
| thought eff TINT was servin' God, the
tunes thcyVplayed was thin !. =.
we Iheard the hand, at circuses' jest
play the self f-sume air. "
The parson. when the origin quit, dismiss
ed 'em all with prayer.
Now, Davy, cf tho angels seed what
did; believe -.
Thar warn't one, among 'em all, Tut
what lnffcd in ther sleeve;
For God don't smflc on Christians who
His blessins will abuse 49, =, -.
he hajn't no use for organs, and He don't
like rented pews.
Hc rings no bells to tell 'em that tho
-, Sabbath' come onoc more -, -.
The angeis have no cerriages to dtiyo UP
-. to His door. II i :. !; - =
Such Christians might Ms we'll look up to
~. God, Nh. ,swccly smile,,
An say, 81 sond my soul dear Lord-rm
v.. comm, hftcrwhie." :, :
Our hlast er up in Heaven, bavy, seeo-
hears everything; I
lie LIKES to gee his children Nnocl, nm
T. loves to hear 'cm sng;
For whar Iie lives the nhgcls spn, an
Christians gift their dues :: ..
His music costs Him nothing, aud lie hes
no rented pews. ,,"' ..
Thar amt no use o'follin' long tho road
down to tho grave
ther IS no way o'dodgin when you've got
your soul to save;
Fine ohurchcs. origins, carriages, clothes
rented pews ah' "pelf,''
Don't count that dny--it lays betwcon
yer maker an yerself