The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1874-04-30
CHAPTER XIV.
ANNA ELIZA.

How shall make YOU understand
this book, reader OF mine, who neve,
knew the influences that surround a
Me hoiist oi the odd sort. [ p to this
point | have walked by faith: | could
see how the present generation could
be made TO compr' herd the earnest
ness of their yrandtathers. But
have hoped that, none the less, they
might dlmly perceive the possibility
of religious ieryor that was as a fire
| in the bones.
But now.
You have never been young
Methodist preacher of the olden time.
You never had ovet you presiding
elder who held your fate IN his hands ;
who, more than that, was the man APP
pointed bv the church to be your
sodly counsellor. In The olden time
especially, presiding eide, 5 We're gen
rraiv leaders of men, the best and
greatest men that the early Metho-
dis, ministry ofinrded: greatest in the
qualities most priced IN ecclesiastical
organization = practical shtcwdness,
executive force, and a piety Of unc-
ton and Iustre. How shall make
YOU understand the weight which the
w, rds Of such man had when he
honoht it ueediul 10 counsel or ad-
monlsh young preac her:
Our old friend Magruder, having
shown his value as an organizer, had
been made an "elder," and just now
he thought 1t his duty to have sol
emn conversation with the preacher
i.-ciaarge OF Jenkinsville circuit, upon
matters of great delicacy. Magruder
was no, a man Of nice perceptions,
and he was dnnly conscious of his
own unfitn,ss for the task before him.
1t was OF, the Saturday of a quarter
" meeting. He had said to the
preacher charge tha, he would like
have word it'll, him and they were
walking side By side through the
woods. Nei her Of them looked at
the other. The sselder" was tryingi in
vain to think OF a point at which to
neg n; the young preacher was Won
derlng what the elder would say.
"Let us SIT down here on this linn
log, BROTHER said Magruder, desper-
a'ely.
When they had sat down there was
a pause.
Have you ever thought Of marry
ING, brother Goodw M he broke out
abruptly at las'.
81 have, brother Magruder," said
Morton, cur l., not disposed to help
tue presiding elder our of his Difficult
ty. Then he added: "But not think
ing it profitable subject for medita-
ton. | have turned my thoughts to
other things"
"Ahem! But have you not taken
some Steps toward matrimony with
ou, consulting with your brethren, as
the discipline prescribes::
.No, sir"
"But, Brother Goodwin, ! under
stand that you have done great
wrong to defenceless girl. who is a
stranger in strange land
"Do you mean Sister Ann Eliza
Meacham?" asked Morton, startled
by the solemnty with which the pre-
siding elder spoke.
Il am glad 10 see that You feel en-,
ough in the matter to guess who the
person is. You have encouraged hel
20 think that you meant to marry her
Il | am correctly informed, you ever
advised Hulston, who was her lover
not to annoy her any more, and yo,
assumed to defend her rights in tn,
lawsuit about piece of land
Whether yoa meant to marry her 0
no., you have at least compromise,
her. Aud in such circumstance
there is but one course open to
christian or gentleman" The el
der spoke severely.
Brother Magruder, l viii tell yo
, the plain truth" said Morton, risin