Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-04-30
Gales and Sketehes.
THE GUIDING HAND,

1t was an invitation to preach at Rock.
rest on the following Sabbath, ''with a
view to call" so the note ran, and the
young minister read that clause over more
than once, as he sat in the low walled,
shabby little chamber that he had digni.
fled with the name of study" and thought
| over all the pros and cons attendant upon
the subject of a possible settlement at
| Rockrest
1t was Il large, wel-to-do parish, able
and willing to give fair salary to the man
who should make it his business to care
for their souls, in good, thorough, ortho-
doN tashion-while that there were many
poor souls to be cared for,-many stray
sheep to be brought into the fold of safety
was strong argument to the jealous
young pastor in favor of sojourn there.
But on the other hand, in spite of the
meagre poverty of his personal surround
ings, and simple, homely, often coarse
ways of his small widely scattered flock,
the r6nstant effort to stoop to the compre-
hension of his ignorant listeners, with the
absolute impossibilty of getting them to
appreciate the grand and beautiful in ma
ture and revelation, while his own soul
was all afire with reverent wonder and
delight, there were honest, loving hearts.
humble and urattractiye Outwardly, per-
| haps, yet endeared to him by an associa-
ton of mutual faith and love, and it would
be strong wrench upon his deepest and
best affections to part from them.
But there was another than himself to
he considered, and warm glow crep. in
to the young mans cheek while his hand
toyed caressingly with the little bouquet
of late blossoming panses, whose bright
faces looked roguishly into his own with
an arch reminder of the dear fingers that
had pucked and arranged them, "that" as
she said, there might be one bright spot
lor his eyes to rest upon in that dingy
room," and his face grew grave with
tender pity as he remembered the harsh
uncongeniaity of the place that, in her
patient womanliness, she had glorified
| with the sweet name of home, 'the coarse
SELF assertion and i'll nature that made her
life a daily. hourly martyrdsm, and with q
little maniul seltishness, he thought Of the
blessing that her sweet face and sweeter
| nature would bring to his home if he
should be SO blest as to have one. Here
the Rockrest letter received another look.
oughtfully but evidently approving. and
| from box OF manuscript sermons, he
carefully selected several which he en-
anined with critical attention, laying
them aside, one by one, with evident dis
satisfaction, while he held a little consul
lation with himself
That temperance sermon that | am to
preach for the Rumtord people, at the
convention, il week from Wednesday, can
easily be rearranged from one of these,
and so leave me time to write an entirely
new one for the coming Sabbath at Rock
rest. shall certainly do my best. and"
with thrill of natural pride. al believe l
shall suit them, for they are, as a class.
better educated and consequently more
appreciative than the people in the smaller
towns about here"
"Mr. Bryce, Miss Millett wants 10 know
if you've seen anything yit about gittin'
that chance for her Cordilly. that you
spoke about? ~
1t was the loud voice of his landlady,
who, with her usual disregard for cere-
mony. had entered without any prelimi
nary knock, and now stood, her red hands
resting upon her hips, and her eyes scam
ming cur!ously the manuscripts that lit.
tered the table.
The minister sighed as he put aside the
half modelled thought that was already
taking form and beauty in his fertile
brain, and turned patiently toward the
homelicr details of his pastoral duties.
No, haven't seen Mrs. Jason vet,
but ! shall walk by that way this evening
aud will call and see about it."
He turned to his writing, but the in-
qusitivc dame was not yet satisfied ad-
vancing Il step nearer, she glanced un.
tremendously over his shoulder with a
knowing wink. and the significant COM
ment:
"Yer ter work like good Teller,
already | s'pose on that Rockrest SER
mon %
And as she caught the mingled look OF
surprise and annoyance upon his face, she
added good naturedly by way of explana-
,ion:
''Our sam was out to the Corner last
night, an he see Tim Tyter. old Blodg-
ett's head man there, an he saidt Blodgett
himself, an some o the big bugs was
terribly taken with you, an was bound to
have you anyhow"
! This view of the case was not at all un-
palatablc, if the medium herself was a
little rough in her expression of it, but
more than all, there was the ring of gen.
uine feeling in her voice Us she said in a
lowered tone
I'VE shall be dretful sorry to lose YOU.
Mr. Bryce, that's fact, but we amt such
fools As to think that you'll live on the
pinched pay that we can afford, much long.
er. It's only the single men,, with a
sly, sidelong glance at the pansies. '.tha,
can afford to preach for us.-But I'D like
to say one thing If you wont think me sar-
cy.'-(Mr. Bryce protested honestly
against such an impossibiity)-"an that
is, that soein Old BlOdgett is capfn in Roc
rest, an whatever he says all the rest are
pretty sure to say aye to ii, wouldn't,
if was you, say much on the temperance
question that you've been so fierce on,
over there. You know he owns the big
distillery there, an, he's made all his mon.
ey out OF it, besides buildin' up the place
itself by it, an he naturally feels little
tender on that point. and"
Mr.. Bryce interrupted her with some
warmth;
If my conscience bids me speak, all
Rrockrest shall not bridle my tongue. /
shall speak for temperance as freely there
rs here, whether rich parshioner smiles
or frowns'
The DANA r,aSS al bar tI;a l;ps t..vathar