Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-08-27
OUR MINISTER'S TRIAL.

A good man was our pastor, Rev Thornton
Haven, and one of uncommon eloquence.
Our best hud almost written good
church members loved him. am sorry to
say that few, thorned by the words that fell
from his lips when he endeavored to incte
his brethren and sisters to
"a closer walk with God"
regarded him with other emotions than the
fruits of the spirit.
Like all other good men, he was carefully
watched by those who would have been
transported with fiend-hke delight could they
have found n flaw in his conduct.
"Well, WE'LL" SAID Mrs Monroe. the wheel
wrights wife, to her husband, as they sat ut
the breakfast table one morning. suppose
Mr. Haven did kiss Fanny LawtonP" She
was almost one of the Emily-what in the
world was the harmpn
But" said the wheelwright, 81 don't be-
leve that he did kiss herr
Fanny, herself SAID that he did," replied
the wife.
This seemed clincher to Mr. Monroe.
lie deliberately wiped his face with his
handkerchief, and with a downcast, thought
full look, and much slower pace than usual
went to his shop.
He had hardly taken his shave in his hand,
and begun to apply it on an unfinished spoke,
before Deacon Brown came in. The Deacon
stood awhile chewing small fragment o
shaving ahd talking about this, that anC
nothing. Suddenly he said
"Brother Monroe, have you heard about
our minister"
EYES," replied the brother.
Then there was not word spoken fol
several minutes. The wheelwrght lustil,
worked on the spoke-the Deacon looked
out of the window.
At length Mr. Monroe asked, in low tone
of voice.
"What is to be doneP"
Something must" was the Deacon's an
swer, "or the cause will suffer-"
And then he walked rapidly up the street
"What is the story about Mr. Ravens i'm
proper treatment young ladies? ?" asked Gym
ical lawyer Thompson, of Woodland, the tav
orn-keeper.
why said the mixer of sherry cobbler
and drawer OF strong beer, 1.-THE parson is NJ
better than Others"
"Have you heard of the sanity priest Ha
ven's fall?" was the question of one infide
to another.
yes" just rs thought it would be-ha
Ia, ha!n
Something must be done,n were tn
words of Deacon Brown; land that soon,
he thought but did not say.
So from the wheelwright's he went to tn
house of another decentralization johnson
He had heard the story, and. being IN enemy
believed il, and determined to deal with tn
offender.
The deacons called on the minister. Dea
con johnson was spokesman. The story IL
full was that Mrs Barnard, grass widow
that Is, a woman whose husband has gon
off because he could not live with her-ha
heard, rs she was passing the parsonag,
Fanny I.awton say to one Of the children
"You'Ve lost kiss from your father by nc
being IN the house when he got home fror
the lower village this afternoon, and | &,
it,"
Mr. Haven denied ever having kissed Ii
girl, and suggested that the deacons shout
write to Fanny, who was teaching scho
about twenty miles distant, and get at II
truth of the matter.
The deacons did so. They stepped into II
minister's study, and one ofthem wrote.
few days there came the reply;
"You ask me If on one occasion the Re
Mr. Haven gave me ELSEWHERE we wer
and who was present. In answer / stat,
Rev Mr. Haven did one afternoon. while
was staying at his house, and in the sithnl
room, give me kiss. No person but on
selves was present"
Deason johnson was elated, and immed
ately wrote TO his wife's cousin, young ca