The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1876-11-09
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- For lioliow. ID was = seqBesiered
nook among iha White Mountains, snd
he fsrm in question was good one -
I The parson visited Fo1 Hollow for the
purpose of making himself acquainted
sih the people and he thought Z he
could frd opportunity 10 preach there,
,hai be gbs take the farm. lie found
The place very pleasant, sad the people
"a far g. he could see, industrious and
sgreeable bni they hsd had no religious
meetings i0r years. There was suail,
uupaiuied meeting house 10 the yslc,used
sometime. for school house, aud co-
saslonally for other secular purposes. lt
had been bailt by former generation
for place OF worship, but the children
u that generation, though hsuesi as the
world goes, had sadly fallen from grace.
The leading man Of Fox Hollow was
known as Deacon Long His father had
been deacon in regular standing, and
the title bad descended upon him ss q
matter Of social distinction. A thrifty
farmer was Jabez Long, aud be bad once
represented bis town In The State Legis-
lature. This gentleman Parson Surely
sought.
II, said the parson, after having stated
tic business which called him 10 the llo'-
low, / could find opportunity TO preach
TO the poopie of the place, ! might take
the farm which has been kindly offered
me.
Well, now, look here, parson, returned
the deacon. AFTER brief consideration,
you aud | might rs well be blunt and
honest. Tain't no use TO be bealin' round
the bush. Fact Is, our people don't have
much faith in ministers anyway.
Tbereupon psr.on Surely mildly but
enI ,Jhslicslly explained 20 the thrifty
deacon that Ielig iouS ordinances wrre
Introductory and supplementary 70 faith
Iin himself only IN 50 far as he reflected
the love and mercy and will OF heaven,
After some further conversation, Dea-
con Long said he would consult with ilis
I friends. lie did SO, snd upon the next
day he waited upon The parson 10 re-
port.
) Well, psrson, he said, have talked
with the folks, and they don't seem TO
} think 'twoud pay 10 hire minister
/, They cau't see The use. As Tor Tue
, preachin, they can read all they care to
know, aud as for praying they don't have
no faith in il.
No faith in prayers said Mr.. Surely in
surprise.
No, sir. Your prayers can't alter any
thing. You can't make one hair white
or black. Says old John Sample-lt a
> minister could pray for rain, and it
would come just when they wanted IT.,
'twould be some use. You see, parson,
that every thing shows you how weak
} you aud your prayers are.
Parson Surely was touched IN tender
spot. lie fanced he could give these
skeptical inhabitants of Fox Hollow a
useful lession on the ways of Provl.
dence.
Suppose, he said after due deliberalion,
| could pray for rain aud have il come
just when you wanted itf
In that place, replied Mr. r.Long, prompt
Ily, we would hire you and run the
risk.
Parscn Surely proposed that he should
meet the leading ones of the settlement
! in the meeting house that evening, and
/ talk the matter over 10 this Long as
sented, and went away TO make the
! necessary arrangements.
Evening came, aud a majority o. the
grown.up people Of Fox Hollow were
assembled, aud Parson Surely with them.
The matter was duly considered, aud
Deacon Long put the question thus:
Parson, we on our part, agree to hire
you to preach for us, and We will pay
you either ia money or in work. You,
on your part, agree that YOU will give Us
rain just when we want IT, l. that III
With Que slight qualification, rsid Mr
Surely, emliug. cannot promise &
grant request on which you
shall be divided. cannot pray FOR On'
mans benefit TO another man. injury
The request am to snswer must lie en
lirely unanimous.
This was considered eminently iAir
and upon these terms the contract wa
made.
Mr.. Surely moved his family TO Foa
Hollow, aud took possession OF the farm
aud forthwith commenced his labors a
pastor.
The people very quickly found in hin
: one quality which they liked. He vonl'
work; and ho was not afraid Of work.
He was & farmer like themselves, aud un
derstood the business. Next, they fous'
be was genial and cheerful, and that hi
Sabbath services were really interesting
7. Aud then they organized Sabbad
School, under the influence Of whic
there was marked improvement in ih
children. Aud he did more than this.-
- lIe opened al evening school, the benetl
~ Of which, is time, was sought by som
M who bad grown past the age of child
hooi.
The spring passed. aud summer came
July opened seorchingly. The secoh
week Of the midsummer month found th
earth al Fox Hollow dry. The polat
tops were diooping, and the IeAyes Of q
Z, corn were curling up. /. was decide
by the people that they must have som