The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1874-04-14
0be Gimes, Nep BLOOMFIELD, 11a.

morning though, to punish, as hejoldngly |
said, the archdeacon, for leaving him in
such a predicament, he could tell them
nothing more than that he had spent the
Sunday very pleasantly with friend.
Much amusement. ensued at the bishops
details of his visit, though he good-natured-
ly avoided any allusion that could be en-
barrassing to his late host. Bolton had
accepted the offer Of bed, and it was late
before they separated for the night Before
he took his leave on the following morning,
the bishop, to his surprise, announced his
intention Of paying him second visit. "I
think, Mr.. Bolton" said he, ''that, having
intruded on you once in disguise, as l may
say, l am bound to come and preach for
you some Sunday, if it be only to clear my
own character in the eyes of your parish
ioners'' Qor Harry had confessed, to the
exceeding amusement of all parties, his own
and his clerks suspicions). $50, if you
please, and If my good friend here will ac-
company me, we will drive over to you
next Sunday morning and I'll try" con-
tinued the bishop, slyly, elf 1 cannot get
Mr.. Churchwarden Brooks to put your
church little to rights for you." ....
The morning arrived, and the arehdeacon
and the bishop. A proud woman had
Molly been from the moment the announce
ment was made to her of the intended
honor; and the luncheon which she had
prepared was, considering her limited re-
sources, something extraordinary. But
when his lordship alighted, and, catching
sight Of her eager face in the passage called
to her by name, and addressed her kindly
and she recognized the features of the
unknown guest, whom Sam had so irrever-
emily slandered-the COED old woman, be-
tween shame and qualification, was quite
overcome, and wholly unable to recover
her self-possession throughout the day.
During the whole of the service, she looked
at the bishop instead of the prayer-boolz,
made responses at random, and was only
saved by the good-natured interference of
his lordship's own man from totally running
the luncheon. OF course the church was
crowded the sermon was plain and i'm
pressive: and when, after service, the
whole Of the rustic congregation, collected
in the churchyard to see as much as they
could of parsonage they had never seen
before, formed lane respectfully, with
their hats off, for him to pass to the gate,
the bishop, taking off his hat and claiming
their attention for few moments, spoke a
few words, homely and audible, approving
their behavior during the service, and
representing to them the advantages they
might derive from the residence among
them of an exemplary minister, such as he
believed they had at present, and such as
he would endeavor to provide them with
in the possible event of his removal. And
when afterwards he begged to be introduced
to the churchwarden, and, taking him fa-
miliarly by the arm, walked with him round
the building, pointed out indispensable re-
pairs, and, without any word of reproof
explained to him the harm done by injudi-
cious patching, and put into his hands a
liberal contribution towards the expenses
it might have seemed quite wonderful to
those who either overrate or underrate
poor human nature, how much more popu-
lar notion, and how much better under
stood bishop was in that remote village
from that time forth.
The landlord of the Crown and Thistle
was quite surprised at the change that had
come over Mr. Brooks. He used to be
rather a popular orator on club nights and
other convivial occasions, taking that eoono-
mical view of church dignitaries and their
salaries which, by an amusing euphemism,
is called "liberap' in politics but subse-
quently to this occasion he seldom joined
in these discussions, was seen less fire.
quently by degrees in the taproom of the
Crown and Thistle, and more regularly at
church and once, when hard pressed for
an opinion by some of his former support
ers, was asserted to have told them that
the Grown and Thistle took more money
out of peoples pockets than ever the bish-
ops did.
Harry had anticipated much amusement
from Sam Shears confusion, when he should
encounter, in his full canonicals, the bishop
of the diocese in the person Of the apochry-
phal DR.. Bates but whatever that worthy's
secret discontinue might have been, he
carried it off wonderfully well, and met his
lordship in the Vestry with lurking smile
in his humble obeisance, as If he had all
along penetrated the mystery of his incog-