New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-09-26

| utT Ut ii nubu. udu entered tne CDurcD.
| My fathers interest made my first step
| in my new profession an easy one. After
| serving my preliminary apprenticeship as a
curate, was appoin ed, before | was thlrt Y
wears of age, to a living in the west Of
| England. "
| My new benefce offered me every advau.
| tage that could possibly desire-with the
one exception Of a sufficient income. AL.
| though my wants were few, and although
| was still an unmarried man, found it de-
| sirable on many accounts to add to my re-
| sources. Following the example of other
| young olergymen in my position, / deter
mined to receive pupils who might stand in
| need OF preparation for career at the uni
| versities. NY relatives exetted themselves:
and my good fortune still betriended me- /
obtained two pupils to start with. A third
I would complete the number which l was at
| present prepared to receive. In course OF
time this third pupil made bis appearance.
| under circumstances sufficiently remarkable
| to merit being mentioned in detail.
| IL was the summer vacation, and my two
| pupils had gone home Thanks to neigh
boring clergyman, who kindly undertook to
| perform my duties for me, ]. too. obtained
| n tortnight's holiday, which ! spent at my
| fathers house in London.
| During my soourn in the metropolis,
was offered an opportunity of preaching in
| church made famous by the eoquence of
| pho VI tio FoPu'dt pulpit oTntpls VI our
time. In accepting the proposal | felt nat
| urally anxious to do my best before the
unusually large and unusually intelligent
| congregation which would be assembled to
| hear me.
| At the period of which | am now speak
| ing, oil England had been startled by the
| discovery of terrible crime, perpetrated
| nnder circumstances of extreme provoca-
| ton. | chose this crime as the main subject
| OF my sermon. Admitting that the best
| among US We're trail mortal creatures, sub
| ject to evil couplings and provoca.ons like
| the worst among US. my object was to
| show how Christian man can lind his GER
| tain refuge from temptation in the safe
guards OF his rehgian. l dwe,t infinitely
| on the hardships OF the Christians first
| struggle 10 resist the evil intluence-on the
| help which this Christianity inexhaustibly
held out to him in the worst reapses of the
weaker and viler part of his nature--on the
steady and certain gain which was the ulti-
| mate reward OF bis faith and his tirmness-
and on the blessed sense of peace and hap
piness which accompanied the final triumph.
Preaching to this effect, with the fervent
conviction winch L really 1elt, / may say
for myself, at least, that l did no discreait
to the choice which had placed me in the
pulpit. held the attention of my congre.
CATION from he first word to the last.
While was resting in the vestry on the
to me written in pencil. A member OF icy
Congregations gentleman-wished u see
me on matter OF considerable importance
to himself. He would call on me at any
place, and at any hour. which l nigh.
choose to appoint If l wished to be salts
fed of his responsibility, he would beg
leave to refer me to his father, with whose
name might possibly be acquainted
The name given in the reference vas I'M
doubleday familiar to me, as the name of
man of some celebrity and influence in the
world of London, | sent back my card, ap-
pointing an hour tor the visit of INV CORE
spondent on the afternoon Of the next day.
SECOND PART-vI.
The stranger made his appearance pune
tually. / guessed him to be some two or
three years younger than myself. He was
undeniably handsome; his manners were
the manners of a gentleman-and yet. with
out knowing why, | felt strong dislike to
him the moment he entered the room.
Alter the first preliminary words of polite.
ness had been exchanged between US. nv
visitor informed me as follows OF the object
which he had in view.
Il believe you live in the country, sir :"
he began.
II live IN the west of England" an
swered.
''Do you make long stay in London ~
NO. l GO back to my rect0ry 70 NOR
row.
May I ask if you take pupils ~
"Yes"
Have you any vacancy ~
81 have one vacancy"
"Would you object to let me go back |
with you to morrow as your papil p |
The abruptness of the proposal took me |
by surprise. l hesitated.
In the first place las have already said) |
| disliked him. In the second place be was
too old to be a fit companion for my other
two pupils-bOth lads in their teens, In
the third place he had asked me to receive
him at least three weeks before the vaca-
ton came to an end, had my own pur.
suits and amusements in prospect during
that interval, and saw no reason why |
should Inconvenience myself by setting
them aside.
conceal from me that l had disappointed
him.
Il have it very much TO heart" he said,
to repair without delay the time have
lost. My age is against me, know. The |
truth isl have wasted my opportunities
since l LETT school, and l am anxious to
mend my ways before it is too late. | wish
% prepare myself for one of the universe
fies-l wish to show, if can, that am not
quite unworthy TO inherit my fathers fa-
nous name. You are the man to help me,
i can only persuade you to do it. was
struck by your sermon yesterday; and, ii l
may venture to make my confession in your
presence, took strong liking to you.
viii you zee my father before you decide to
'ay no! He will be able to explain what
aver may seem strange in my present appli-
'ation; and he will be happy to see you this
'fternoon, II you can spare the time. As 10
he question of terms, am quite sure it can
Do settled to your own satisfaction"
lie was evidently in earnest-gravely, We
lems ntly in earnest. / unwiliingly CON
ented to see his father.
The interview was a long one. All nv
lues tons were answered fully and frankly.
The young man had led an idle and de.
ultory life. He was weary of it, and
lshamed of it. His disposition was pecu-
lar one. He stood sorely in need of guide,
! teacher and friend, in whom he was dis
'osed to confde. If l disappointed the
iopes ne had centered in me he would be
discouraged, and he would relapse into the
unless and indolent existence, of which he
vas now ashamed. And terms for which ]
night stipulate were at nv disposal if
would consent to receive him for three
months to begin with, on trial
still hesitated. l consulted my father
nd my friends.
They we're all of opinion land Justly Of
piniOn so far), that the new connection
would be an excellent one for me. They all
eproached me for taking q purely capricious
islike to we'll born and we'll bred Young
nan, and for permitting it to influence me,
t the outset Of my career, against INV own
interests. Pressed by these considerations,
allowed myself to be persuaded to give
he new pupil fair trial. He accompanied
ne the next day on my way back to the
ectory.