The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1874-04-07
oLlEe L ~ aald Sam, opening his eyes,


afraid" said he to the other. "Bring out
the whiskey-jar, Sam"
Bolton mixed himself a glass without
further preface or apology and his neigh
Dor, with the remark that it could not be
much amiss after wetting, very moder-
ately followed his example.
T"And now," said Bolton, rummaging in
little cupboard behind him, 81 hope you
don't dislike the smell of tobacco. I'm
rather too fond of it myself My weakness
is pipe; I could find you a cigar, perhaps,
If you are ever"
"Thank you, / never do smoke but
pray do not mind me. l was at German
university for a year and half, and that is
pretty fair apprenticeship to cloud
raising"
Took doctors degree there, no doubt,
thought Harry but it served excellently as
an opening for general conversation and
two pipes had been consumed, and Molly
had twice informed the gentlemen that the
beds were all ready, and that Sam was
waiting to know if there were any orders
for tomorrow, before Harry remembered
that he had sermon still to finish, and
that it was verging upon Sunday morning
so intelligent and agreeable had been the
discourse of the stranger. e.s
"If you please, sir" said the clerk, put
ting his head in at the door, " the rain is
a-coming down like nothing, and that great
hole over the pulpit bent mended yet.
Master Brooks promised me it should be
done afore tonight; but he's never seen to
| it," a.E
That Brooks is the very-but, there, it
can't be helped tonight, Sam, at all
events" said Bolton, rather ashamed that
the defects Of his parochial administration
should be exposed, as it were, to the enc
my. Il must speak to him about it my
self"
Z" clapped couple of sods over it as
well as / could, sir" said the persevering
Sam; "and don't think much wet can
come in to hurt, like. Will this gentleman
'ficiate tomorrow p' ths was said in a
loud confidential whisper) "cause the
t'other surplice amt"
Don't bother now-there's good fel-
low" said Harry, considerably annoyed, as
he shut the door in the face of his aston
ished subordinate, who was generally priv
ileged to gossip as much as he pleased. He
covered his embarrassment by showing his
visitor at once to his room, and then sat
down to complete his own preparations for
the next days duties.
The rain was as busily falling in the
morning as if it had only just begun, instead
of having been at it all night. Harry had
been more than usually scrupulous in his
dress but when they met at the breakfast
table, his guests clerical tout ensemble beat
him hollow. After rather silent meal, in
which both, as if by tacit consent, avoided
all illusions to subjects connected with the
day and its duties, Bolton mustered his
courage, as they rose from the table, to say,
"My service is at eleven, and ] shall have
rather wet walk you, perhaps, are not
disposed to accompany me P'
"By all MEANS" said the stranger, bow
ing. 81 am quite ready; is it time to set
out?" And in few minutes they were
picking their way, side by side, down the
little miry lane.
The church, it must be confessed was
not a comely e6iice. Its architectural pre-
tensions must originally have been of the
humblest order and now, damp and dilap-
idated, it was one of the many which in
those days were disgrace to any Chris
tian community. There was the hole in
the roof, Immediately over the curate's
head, imperfectly stopped by Sans extern
pore repairs; and very wretched and COM
fortress did the few who composed the
congregation look, as they came dripping
in, and disposed themselves among the
crumbling pews. The service proceeded,
and none showed such TevereDt attention
as the stranger; and being placed in the
rectorial pew, Immediately opposite the
clerk, the distinct though subdued tone Of
his responses was so audible, and so dis
turbed that functionary (who had that part
of the service usually pretty much to him
self, aud had come TO consider it as in some
sort his exclusive privilege), that he made
some terrible blunders in the hard verses
in the Psalms, and occasionally looked
round upon his rival, on these latter Oc-
casions especially, with unmistakable in
dignation. s9M
The service concluded, Bolton found his
guest awaiting him in the porch aud some
ten minutes sharp walking, with few re-