Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-05-21
THE MODERN MEETIN-R
BY WILL S. HAYS.

BY WILL s.. HAYS.
HowDY, Davyl light and hitch thar's no one
home but me.
Thar amt Twin, sir, I'd sooner like ter
For Nance and Liddy's gone to see a sick man on
An Hiram's gone to get his grist at Jason Turn
ers mill.
was in town las Sunday, an my heart an me
To go to meetin'-ef you'll wait I'll tell you what
seed
The bells were tOlhng lively on the balmy mornin'
An folks were in hurry, like the rushin' to a
fair.
The meetin house was built of. stone. the steeple
pinted high,
The windows they were painted all the colors of
An runnn' up the steeple was great long light
MIN rod
kinder thought the members lacked a confidence
in God.
The big ben soTter hushed itself an then it rung
some more,
An people come in cartridges an got out at the
door:
The wimmen fixed thar dresses like they meant to
Thar faces showed they warn't thinking Ov their
souls 81 all.
Wall Davy, thar stood an thought twas wicked
eye thar clothes;
overheard ole Missas Swell to Missus Stebbins
say:
''My darter Beckys dress want done-she won't
be here to-day"
I stood thar hesitatin' like what sort ov move to
make;
felt that should ge inside for my salvaton's
sake:
started meekly in the house, I knew it want no
With my Old broad -brim hat in hand and jeans
coax on my arm.
went along bout half way up the velvet carpet
The men and wimmen shuttha gates, and they
begin 10 smile;
[ seen one open just bit, went in and pulled
il TO,
When Brown, the banker, riz and said, This
ere's rented pew"
Igot ont Of his rented pew an sot down near
The door,
Expecttn, for some man to cay, 6 This ere's
1ne-dressed stranger he cum in, the members
didn't wait,
But every felIer jumped at him an opened wide
his gate.
The parson riz an raised his hans with cold and
An everybody in the house stood up an heard his
don't know how it is with them-somehow al
I'm dom Goa injustice when 1 get too proud to
knee.
Then all sat down an stared about, then at the
While he put on his specs an said, Let's sing
An organ busted loose up stairs-the music it was
gay,
It ticEed them az couldn't sing and them wot had
to pay.
The music Quit, the psrson riz-they passed the
hats round next
&r1f hon bn HON hn
took mis- text
lie preached almost two hours bout his faith in
God to keep
The Wimmen folks were nOddin' while thar hus-
bands WOr asleep.
One gal said TO another 'Hev you seed my bow
Shed nod her he'd an then say back, The party
il was gay"
One whispered loud enough behind her fan for me
C That bonnet sofy Tags got on is one she had
last year"
Tine parson quit and then sat down-the organ
played agin;
thought if nat was servin' God the tunes they
I've hearn Inc bands at circuses play jest the self
same air
The parson. when the organ quit, dismissed 'em
al with prayer.
Now, Dayy, if the angels seed what did, be-
lieve.
thar sleeve;
For God don't smile on Christians who His bless
ms will abuse;
He haint TO use for organs, an He don't like
rented pews.
He rings no bells TO tell 'em that the Sabbath's
come once more;
The angels have no carriages to drive up to His
door.
Such Christians might as well look up to God an
sweetly smile,
An say, I send my soul, dear Lord, I'm cummin'
after ! while
Our Master up in Heaven, Davy, sees-hears every
thing:
He likes 70 see His children kneel-an' loves to
hear EN- sing;
rtOr Whar lie lives the angels sing an Christians
get their dues
His music costs Him nothin', and He has no
rented pews
Thar amt no use O. foolin' long the road down to
the grave;
Thar is no way o dodgin' when you've got your
soul tG save;
Fine churches, organs, cartridges, clothes, rented
pews an "pclf''
Don't count that day-it lays between yer Maker
an yourself.