The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1874-03-08
The Modern nIcetin' House.
BY WILL s. HAYS.


Tho Modern Mcetin' House.
BY WILL s. HAYS.
Aowdy, Davyl light an hitch; thar's no
one at home but me;
Thar ain't man livin', sir, I'd sooner
like to see;
For Nance an Liddy' gone to see sick
man on the hill,
An Hiram's gone to git his grist ut ia
son Turner's mill.
was in town las Sunday, an my heart
an me agreed
To go to meetin'-ef you'll wait I'll tell
you what seed.
The bells vor tollin' lively on the balmy
mornin' air,
An folks wor in hurry, like the rushin'
to fair.
The meetin' house war built ov stone,
the steeple pointed high,
The winders they wcr painted all the CO.
lors ov the sky,
an runnin' up the steeple was great
long lightnin' rod
I kinder thought the members lacked
confidence in God.
The bigbell sorter hushed hitself an then
bit rung some more,
An people cum in carriages an got out
at the door;
The wimmen fixed thar dresses like they
meant to make call,
Thar faces showed they warn't O thinkin'
0v Their souls at all.
Wall, Davy, thar I stood an thought
twas wicked, suppose
Home go to church to close thar eyes.
an some to eye thar clothes;
overheard old Missus Swell to Missu.
Stebbins say.
"My darter Becky dress warn't done-
she won't be here to-day"
i stood thar hesitatin' like what sort ov
move to make;
thought that should go inside for my
saivation's sake;
4 started moekly in the house, I knew it
warn't no harm,
With my old broad-brim hat in han an
jeans coat on my arm.
I went along, bout half way up the
velvet carpet aisle,
Gszv szsvs. ~. ~irumiu ouu. y.s. n.:..,
and they began to smile;
seed one open jest bit; went in an
pulled It to,
When Brown, the banker, riz an said,
"this ere's rented pew"
got out of his "rented pow" an sot
down near the door,
K1peotin' for sum man to say, "this
ere's rented ioor."
A fine dressed stranger cum in-the
members didn't wait,
Bot every feller jumped at him, an
opened wide his gate.
The parson riz an raised his hands.
With cold an naughty air,
An everybody in the house stood up an
heard his prayer.
I don't know how it is with them
somehow I always feel,
I'm doin' God Injustice when I get too
proud to kneel.
Then all sot down an stared about. then
at the parsons face,
"Let's sing Amazin' Grace
An origin busted loose up stairs-the
music hit was gay,
Hit tickled them as could sing, an them
wot he'd to pay.
The music quit, the parGon riz-thcy
passed the hats round next.
An when the deekins sot them down.
the parson tuck his text.
He preached about two hours bout the
faith in God to keep;
-H0 WAMtaah AoiiAo WGCo NOuO1Q, RNllG
thar husbands were asleep.
One gal sed to another, "Hev you seed
my bow to-day?"
Shed nod her he'd an then say back,
''The party hit was gay"
One whispered loud enough behind ler
fan fur me to hear,
'fhat bonnet Sofy Tags got on is one
she had last year"
The parson quit aud then aot down
the origin played agin;
thought ct that was servin' God, The
tunes they played was thin;
I've henrn tho bunds ut circuses' ies
play the self.same air;
The parson, when the origin quit, dis
missed 'em all with prayer.
Now, Davy. ef the angels seed what ]
did, believe
Thar warn't " one, among 'em all. bu,
what LATED in thar sleeve;
For God don't smilo on Christians who
His blessins will abnse;
He hain'tno use for Origins. an He don
like rented pews.
he rings no bells to tell 'nn, TINT tht