The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1874-02-20
THE MODERN mEETIN'-HoUsE.
ny WILL 3. HAYs.

BY WILL 8. HAYS.
HOwdy, DAvy light an hitch thar's no one home
Thar amt man livin' sir, I'd sooner like ter
see
For Nance and Liddys gone to see sick man ON
An Hirams gone to get his grist at Jason 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
The bells wor tollin' lively ON the balmy mornin
air,
An folks wor in hurry, like the rushin' to a
fair.
The meetin-house was built Of stone, the steeple
pinted high,
The windows they painted all the colors ov the
sky;
An ruunin up the steeple was great long light
kinder Thought the members lacked confidence in
God.
The big bell sorter hushed hitself an then hit rung
some more,
An people come in carriages an got out at the
door
The wlmmen xed thar dresses like they meant TO
make a call
Thar faces showed they warnt athinkin' oy Their
SOttS at all.
Wall, Davy, thar stood an thought-twas wicked
eye thar close
overheard ole Missus Swell to Missus stebbins
say:
"My darter Beckys dress want done-she lcont be
here to-day"
stood thar hestatn like what sort ov move to
make;
felt that should go inside for my salvation's
sake;
started meekly in the house, knew it want no
With my old broad-brim hat in han an jeans coat
on my arm.
went along, bout half way up the velvet carpet
lie,
The men an, wimmin shut thar gates an they begin
seed one open just a bit, went in and pulled it
to,
When Brown, the banker, riz an said - This ere'S
rented lDcl0."
got out ov his rented pew" an sot down near the
door,
Expectin' for sum man to say This eres rented
Go0r."
hne-dressed stranger he cum in-the members
But every Teller jumped at him an opened ride his
gate.
The parson riz an raised his hans, with cold an
naughty air,
An everybody in the house stood up an heard his
don't know how it is with hepl-somehow al
ways feel
I'm dom God injustice when get too proud to
kneel.
Then all sat down an stared about, then at the par
sons face,
While he put on his specs an sed Let's sing
Amazn' Grace"
An organ busted loose up-stairs-the musick hit was
Hit tickled them as couldn't sing, an them wot had
to pay.
The musck quit, the parson riz-they passed the
An when the deekns sot them down-the parson
took his text.
He preached about two hours bout the Faith in
The wimmen folks were noddin' while thar hus-
bands wor asleep.
One gal sed to another, " Hey you seed my bow to-
She'd nod her he'd an then say back, "The party
hit was gay"
One whispered loud enough behind her fan fur me
TO hear,
That bonnet Sofy Tags got on is one she had last
year.
The parson quit an then sot down-the origin
thought if that was servin God the tunes they
played was thin;
I've hearn the bands at circuses jest play the self
same air.
The parson, when the origin quit dismissed 'em all
with prayer.
Now, Davy, eff the angels seed what 1 did, be-
eve
Thar warnt among EN- all, but what LATED in
For God donT smile on Christians who His blessin 5
will abuse;
He haint fur orgins an he don't like rented
pews.
He rings bells to tell 'em that the sabsaths come
once more;
The angels had no cartridges to drive up to His
door.
Such Christians might well look up to God, an
sweety smile
An say, 81 send my soul, dear Lord; I'm comm
after while"
Our Master up in Heaven, Davy, sees-hears every
thing;
He likes TO His children kaeel-and loves to hear
em sing;
For whar He lives the angels sing an Christians get
their dues
His music costs Him nothin', and he has rented
pews.
Thar amt o. foon long the road down to
the grave;
Thar is no way o. dodgin when you've got your soul
TO save
Fine churches, orgins cartridges, clothes, rented
pews an "peif -
Don't count that dGy-a lays bet,oeen per Maker an
NeTself.