New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-08-30


the parsons work seemed very light to
her, indeed. She "could have stood
cup end talked for an hour twice
"a week if she had had the college edicatiOn,"
she said at home. "Talkin' Of the laws of tho
"Jews and the old Romans and prophecies!
"Therc's mighty small amount of food for my
"soul 10 such talk, anyhow" There are many
more of the congregation who, when they saw
the parsons gray head among the passengers
in the old red coach, remembered 1t was Sat
urday night and wondered when he meant to
write his next days sermon. lie always took
half the week to write one.
When the parsOn went away in the red coach
his heart was heavy within him. The other
passengers kept aloof from the gloomy old man
with his meek eyes and sharp, tired voice.
He had not been out of the OldtOwn circuit
for ten years. II was the new member, Porter.
who had given him the money for this holiday.
"Go find some grist for the MILL" he said,
"otherwise it will grind nothing but dust"
Grist7 1t occurred to the old man for the first
time in his life that something more was
needed for his work than earnest cndcavor and
prayers. His salary was too small for him to
buy books or current literature. His reading
was confined to a small theological library which
he had owned for years, aud weekly re-
lgious newspaper. Year in and year out
he talked with the half-dOzcn brethren and
sisters of his own church, and the dozen fam
lies outside. lie knew every crook and Granny
of their characters, as they did his; they were
exaggerated in each others eyes as bugs IN
microscope. They shaped and measured al!
the great Christian graces by their own inch
rule. Charity was represented by the annual
fair in the lecture room for the cause OF mis-
sions, and Faith by the yigOr with which they
sent all the world outside of their own sect to
pprlitIon. Vague rllmOrs reached them OF
great movements in this religious body and
that, but Sister Potts and Brother Sutter only
SHOOK their heads and talked of the unregen-
crate The Evil Spirit was typlfed to the
village bv drunken old Drum, who was very
unhoptf full case it is true, but still human. -.
There was good deal of discussion as to
where the parson should 60 for his holiday.
Many of the brethren wished that he should
improve it by making a collecting tour, beg
ging money for a new steep,e; others recon-
mendcd some of the large religious gatherings
at the seashOrc or mountains. But the parson,
once awakened by the word "grist," took the
matter into his own hand. 81 am going
" Fishing" be said. 81 used to go fishing
"whcn | was a boy, and it will do me good
"tO be boy again." SO he went fishing,
tramprd over the mountains, STOOD to the
waist in water, forgot his trout as he looked
UP to the great nights or listened to the thun-
der among them. The petty gossip and cark-
ing molly cares of the village slipped
away from his mind and left it fresh and
free. 1t seemed to him that he could hear
now in tie thunder in the solemn hight, in
the movement of the little wind-fower in the
grass, the words of Lis Omnipotent gracious
Master, "Be not afraid; it is l." He never
had heard them in the moldy books or weekly
newspaper. He tied up his rod and line and
went to little seaside watering place. There
were not more people there than in his own
church, but they were of many differing kinds.
There were Jews, Roman Catholics, Unitari
ans Friends. lie threw himself into all their
fun and work, and az far as he could
into their thoughts. 1t was q genial, jolly
time He discovered some good, gracious
woman, some clever fellow, every day.
lie woke every morning with fresh as
constituent that there were so many good
people Ill lilt N'iiu' COhi' VI ti'H' "hooO
names were AKIN to Atheist in his creed, were
dcvolit, God-fearing men and women, with
their ideas of Him and their brother men
based on broader, moro liberal ground than
he had ever known.
There was il terrible accident during his
stay; a man drowned, his wife and children
left helpless; and in the sudden surge of feel
ing which laid bare every heart about him in
the tenderness, the humanity, the Christ-iike
pity and help which came to the widow and
orphans, he began to understand the meaning
of Che word brother "a his Master used it, not
as it was banded about in OldtOwn.
The parson is glad, however, to be at home
again. He springs down from the old red
stage with his eyes sparkling and his face SO
full of laughter and happiness that OldtOwn is
startled-cven shocked. Oldtown is of funereal
turn of mind. He does not think of preparing
a sermon. He has so much to say-his heart
so burns within him, that the Sabbath day
seems all too short. There is not a word of
theology or the old Jews in it either.
1t is the homeiest sort of talk. But
when they come ont of church everybody
stops to shake hands and exchange hearty
greeting. Ii is as if they had been somewhere
with the fresh wind blowing, and the sun
shining, and God himself near at hand.
PUBLIC OPINION