Smyrna times., 1876-08-09

mann's face become
At last the sermon was concluded, and |
all was silent. The wretched man raised |
himself from his stopping posture, and |
stood for some moments like one entranced. |
Then he whisperingly spoke
" Not the least chance; nothing to com
pare with it Such a sermon never heard
1t seems burnt to my brain can almost
remember every word ell eh ?"
And something evidently suggested itself
to the mind of Pastor Wohlmann. The
downcast body changed suddenly into one
of lively eagerness and he smiled unhand-
somely.
"Oh! if brother could only preach
that sermon over again! Then l could
hush there he is"
Again the car was applied to the parti-
| tion, and for another three-quarters of an
hour did that ear intently dring in every
| word of the revival sermon from beginning
to end.
"That will do; have it," said he, as he
laid him down to sleep; "now if the pastor
will only let me have the first turn to
i morrow"
1t was better, certainly, and more con.
sistent, TO leave the matter thus with the
heather goddesses.
| The Sunday morning camo, the Church
of St. Catherine was filled with hearers,
for there was something of the excitement
that commonly attends shooting of ties y
the Christian parcG were present to a man
(if that liberty may be taken with gender)
in the persons of the judges, and for the
first time the two competitors eyed each
other, as they sat side by side in a sort ,
pew, like gladiators before the contest.
The glance of Ernest Wohlmann was rest
less and unfriendly, but the eye Of Carl
Richter was placid and beaming with be
nevolence.
Who was to preach first? Only one
knew how much depended on that. II
was desperate venture, and the fates
whom he had invoked gave the lot in favor
of Ernest Wohlmann.
lie mounted the pulpit first. To all
appearances his manner was collected and
his delivery natural, though critical eye
might have detected constraint in the one
4 and haste in tho orher All listened with
rapt attention, as with consummate impu
: dence he began, went through, and con
4 cluded, exactly word for word, the very
: striking sermon that was not his own
0 The impression he made was most favora
o bic. Mods Of approval were interchanged
phlematic burghers rose from their seat
G to catch every word and as the preacher
Y voice ceased, a medley of suppressed cough
e and throat-clearings, and other sounds
d bore witness to the power of his stole
n eloquence.
d But what of gentle Carl Richter all til
II while? When his own text was give
re out he started, then smiled at the odd c.
10 incidence but when his very words cam
ir pouring forth, he opened his mouth an
O. stared at the preacher like one bedazeC
il Was it his own voice as well as his ow
h words? Was it case of transmgration
ID Was his voice in the pulpit while his bod
ii was sitting there? For a quarter of a
III hour at least he completely lost himsel
st, Then the truth began partially to brea
m upon him, mis- sermon had been stole
IT. from him, he little fancied how. I'll
lg preacher, alas was vending stolen ware
a. Then the question arose, what should
do when his turn came Should he excu
he himself from preaching and denounce Il
| n. 4. l. u -
ed text, and make an impromptu addres
lie Or should he stick to his own, and 81
,at them the sermon again?
st, Carl Richter was man of simple min
he that is not fool, o Mr.. Wordly-wise, b
a one who ruled himself by simple referen
re- to the right and the wrong. 1t was
,rs, own sermon and he had come there
ase preach it. Never mind about results;
ere the people grin and scuffle, and stare, a
sc, reject him if they liked. So before I
It'll sermon was ended, the good man h
re- made up his mind stricktly that the C,
md gregation, coute que cOute, should have
its again.
to As Ernest Wohlmann decended in
) 10 NdIl EhfC hAAA u AOOh
hat gentle reproach that would have withel
sed him, only the knave took good care
led avoid those plying eyes. A hymn '
Vas sung, and after that the second preac
owe began.
was 1t was now the turn of the congregat
S to to be struck with amazement. All raj
the their heads With sort Of jerk; SC
was smiled, and others looked around with
hen incredulous air. They "hemm'd" {
lore blew their noses and fidgeted in their Sc
win but TO no purpose. Onward went
stem placid preachers and his voice was
sweet, and his way SO winning; feel
me. what he said, no pretending to feel
the giving them his own mind and heart,
he'd thieving from another, that in little t
in all was hushed again, and the eongr
was ton gave ear moro than ever they had d
9TH before.
ster. And how was it settled?
vara The crave church-members who ha