Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1874-09-10

at his home ten days before " Gu don know
how long these ten days have been, and now,
to be brief who is the party?"
"The fact is, Mr. Emery, have been so
busy, that
"Then you haven't settled this affair. Oh
dear r' and the parson fairly groaned as he
settled back into his chair.
"You see, there has been so many things
that have had to attend to the past week" !"
said the deacon, tidgeting in his chair; "but
if could have a week longer
"a week longer" interrupted the parson.
"Another week of trouble and anxiety? Well,
deacon, if you can't do any better-but this
is a terrible state Of things-one week from
tonight"
"Without fail it must be done" the deacon
responded, as he left the minister, with the
perspiration starting from every pore.
"It's no use to talk" said the deacon to
himself as he walked home. "It's no use to
talk the deacons must come down. Here
have been doing all of this dirty work." The
deacon said the words before he thought; but
after they were spoken, the force Of the words
surprised him. "Well, that's so it's mean
work, and ought to have my own way about
it, think"
The deacon, after he arrived home, bother
ed and scolded his wife a great deal for get
ting him into such an awkward position.
A week passed away very quickl y-much
sooner than the deacon wished. He had met
the deacons but once, and they had such a
stormy time that they would not meet again.
Two of the deacons got so provoked with each
other that they had not spoken together since
the meeting. One was Deacon Brown, and,
We are sorry to say, the other was Deacon
Ellery. The state of affairs were much more
unsettled when Mr. Ellery started for the
minister's, Friday evening, than they were the
week before. The deacon always kept his
word, and was remarkable for his punctuality.
The minister was at home, and received the
deacon as usual, and without waiting to pre-
face his remarks said
II presume the whole thing is settled ?"
1.-The deacons can't settle it, that's certain"
said Mr.. Ellery, in no happy manner
"Why, you surprise me. You predicted
such IN auspicious future, that l am aston
ished," said the minister.
"You are not more astonished than | am
1 am astonished at the business that / am en-
gagged in," said the deacon, rising. 81 am
getting tired and sick Of it. want you to
understand, parson, that it isn't my work.
But am ashamed of myself for consenting
to it. Ihave the highest respect for you, Mr.
Emery. You have been treated shamefully-.
l repeat it, shamefully; and l want to apollo
gize for the part have played in this affair" !"
"You astonish me somewhat, deacon, by
what you say; but, really, have thought
that the demands made upon me were extra
ordinary. But l freely forgive you. | have
only permitted this state Of things, Deacon
Ellery, to convince some people that the min
lister can attend to his own private business
better than any one. state this frankly to
you, for I have long ago observed that the
business which you have been engaged in was
repugnant to you. Why, noticed your re-
luctance in stating your business. l knew
you were ashamed Of it"
"You are right, pastor. l thank you for
the patience with which you have borne these
unpleasant visits that have made. To tell
the truth, havn't felt happy, Mr.. Emery,
since this business commenced. | feel great
deal better tonight" said the deacon, as he
took the pastor warmly by the hand.
II think we understand each other, dea-
CON-" said the minister. "But before you 60
tonight, I wish you to join with mein prayer
to Him who only can direct US Alright" and
the deacon and the minister knelt in prayer.
When the deacon arose, the tears were rolling
down his face, and he seemed deeply affected.
II would like for you and your wife and fam
lily, deacon, to come here On Monday night.
I want to meet the members Of the society,
and especially the deacons and members Of
the church," said the minister, as the deacon
was going away.
The following day invitations we're sent to
all the members of the society that the pastor
would be at home on Monday evening.
Mr.. Emery preached out of town the fol-
lowing Sunday but an invitation was read
from the pulpit similar to the one stated
above. There was considerable discussion
upon the object of the gathering at the
pastors, but no one knew its import. Mon
day evening came, and the parsonage, by half
past eight, was pretty we'll filled up; but no
one had seen the minister. Miss Terry said
she knew that he was at home, for she had
seen hack come to the house ; so she told
Mrs. Grey at the beginning of the evening,
so that it was generally known that the pastor
was in town. The parlor, sitting-room and
dining-room we're pretty we'll filled up with
people, and they were all wondering where
the minister was, and what the meeting was
called for, when the rustic of silk was heard,
and parties coming, and in moment after,
the pastor entered the parlor, with very fine
looking lady upon his arm, and walking to
~ oo,tro &c tbo roo,, ho On IA
II am very happy to meet so many men,
bers of the society and church upon this occa-
sion, and shall be happy to introd uce each
of you personally to my wife.
The announcement was so sudden that tor
moment there was perfect stiffness. Then
Deacon Ellery and his wife advanced and
cordially greeted the pastor and his new wife,
followed by the other deacons, and for half
all hour afterward Mrs. Emery, the pastors
wife, was the centre Of attraction. Strange
to rl.ate it was happy time. Old differ
ences were healed in the twinkling of an eye
Mrs. Gray and Mrs. Ellery, who had not met
as friends for weeks, embraced and kissed
each other. Deacon Ellery and Deacon
! Brown, who hadn't spoken to each other for
nearly week, although they saw each other
every day, shook hands cordially. They all
seemed delighted with the minister's wife, and
well they might be, for she received them
with so much grace and pleasing manners
that the most critical had to succumb. Miss
Terry said'"i did beat ALL and Mrs. Preston
was perfectly radiant over the minister's tri
umph. The Widow Burton and Miss May
we're present, and none seemed to enjoy the
evening better than they. Everybody was de.
lighted, at the pastor, as he took his people
by the hand, and heard kind words spoken, and