Litchfield enquirer., 1874-01-08

Ill this world. but he no need to be com plete fool if he ss SO good. He no need to be so afraid of that ar elder. May ] be cat-a-wam pussed if he won't swalieI all the soap that old coot is mind to give him!% g
 And so with much gossip Lida Ann's wedding and the honeymoon were over and gone. The June roses blOOmed and July fervers came, and At gust sultriness, and still Elder Hetchel remained fixture at the home of Farmer Fernwell. He ap- parently enjoyed life at the hous, of his father -in-l law; and 1t seemed never to have entered his mind that he was not entitled to remain there as long as he chose.
 Elder Hetchel possessed one great tal- ent,-the talent for maintaining master ly inactivity of body. While farmer Fern we'll toiled in the field throughout the summer the Elder stuck it out in black clothes and white choker ill the parlor His ministerial dignity and sanctity were neither compromised by too great famil- iarty with common things, nor contami- mated by worldly pursuits Through all the heated term he remained the same fearful object, a sombre column clad in heavy sables.
 In the mean time little Lida Ann was as nimble and squirrel-ike as of yore, run ming here and there and everywhere vii brating in her manners between the pret- ty. childish ways which nature taught her and sham dignity, which greatly amus- ed her friends whenever she assumed it.
 When the summer was over and gone, and the leaves had ripened to scarlet and yellow, and the Elder still incubated, the thing became very tedious to the father in-law, the more so as the Elder was less popular now than in the exciting times when he had made his advent among the people. The polite practice of inviting this sensational evangelist into the pulpit to sit with the pastor on Sundays had somehow fallen into disuse of late Per haps this neglect was because the people thought the Elders way a little unhappy. The Elder had a way in conference meet, ing of curiously watching the proceedings with his eyes half closed, and smiling expression of countenance; then when the l favorable moment came, he would sud deuly spring to his feet and pronounce few emotional words, with a great gush of tears that quite washed some of the brethren and sisters off their feet, at the first trial of it. There was sobbing all over the house. After the thing had been repeated several times, however, and there had been two or three sad attempts to i'm itate it, resulting in great discomfort to all concerned, it was generally voted humbug; and when the Elder tried it again, those present resisted. It may have been this experience that led the people to speak of the Eld9r's style as "wishwashy."
 However it was, Elder Hetchel was no 1 longer in demand anywhere They did not need him at the brick church, nor at the Sand Creek Road, nor down at The Bush. His only visible occupation, aside 1 from incubating, consisted in leading the family devotions at the farm house. This inactivity was galling to the farmer and his wife. They kept no ''help," but, af- | ter the manner of this primitive region, performed with their own hands the ser vices of their household It was not agreeable to them to take care of this idle man thus billeted upon them by his re- | igious tenderness and his sacred black clothes. As winter came on again, and the Elder remained lethargic, the farmer ventured to expostulate with his son-in-law, and proposed to him a change ill the domestic programme, involving another home for the Elder and his wife. The son-in-law was, of course, in fears about 1t immedi- ately, and proposed to pray with the far
 
 moreover, that he had now prepared the arrows in his quiver, and expected a call. He was even then, he said, Gin a state of dubiety" whether to rush forth and blow the trumpet of Zion unbidden, drawing the bow at a venture down at Skid Hollow, or to delay until he should be invited into the vineyard to labor.
 It was soon midwinter, but the Elder | still remained inactive as ever at the farm house. The father-in-law's modest hints had grown into demand that the Elder should leave, and the Elders pathos up- on the subject bade fair to become a fixed and settled mechanically.
 The neighborhood as a rule, sided with the farmer and his wife against the son. in-law. It was said by the sober minded church people, that the Elder was acting the part of sponge; but there were some who sill believed in him. The young men, however, uniformly insisted that the Elder had no right to live upon Farmer Fernwell. About dozen of them went so far, upon one cold evening in February as to inveigle the evangelist into the school house, upon pretence of important business, and then and there gave him free lecture upon the general subject of his duty as husband and son-in-law, and citizen in that community. A quartet of the young men, profanely styling them selves ::'The Holy Roarers," interpersed the lecture with songs disrespectful to to the Elder that he must speedily pro- vide home for his wife or leave town.
 The persecuted man saw fit to leave tonw soon after this affair. The manner of his going seemed needlessly abrupt He was incensed and at times peevlsh and irritable during the three days inter- | vening between the schOol-house lecture and his departure. He intimated that some of the people of that cold region were likely to go to warmer country, and pensively alluded to the fate of the cities of the plain. He finally left for parts un- known, very early on Monday morning, and apparently in a pet. Every one thought that he might at least have told his wife where he was going and what he intended to do.
 The weeks went by, and it became evi- dent that the Elder had 'sgone for good The people generally accepted his depart ure quietly and gratefully; but few in- sisted that good man had shaken off the dust of his feet against the town. Little Lida Am was as gay and happy as ever. She still maintained at times Ill her own childish way the dignity of minister's 1 wife.
 Six months rolled away, and Elder Hetchel was a memory only, unheard of and uncared for. Then came letter to Farmer Fernwen from his son-in-law. The son-in-law proposed in his letter to return to his wife and home in the beautiful and touching character of the prodigal son; and he expressed the hope and expecta- tion that his ''deer father would il the fated caf," and make other preparations for welcome which he specified. The ''deer father" did not see it in that light, but he prepared to meet his daughters husband and to treat him as the circum- stances required.
 The prodigal came through the gloam- ing just as sultry August day was cool ing down into delicious summer night. He came mounted upon fine white Ga nadian charger Having secured his steed.