Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-05-25
Misfellat1sous.
THE ADVENTURES OF A CIRCUIrRIDER.
1.-THE CALL, ~

1
1.-THE CALL. FL
1.-The dear man whom we had last
among us to dispense with the Gospel"
sald Mrs. harrington, upon one occasion,
has served his church in several capac-
tles-ilrst as locust preacher, then as
circus rider. and last of all as an exbaus-
ter"
1t was in the second of these miscaled
categories that two young men in GER
tam theological seminary were placed
quite unexpectedly. Their career was
not 50 long and so varied as was that of
the circuit-rider of Edward Egoleston's
story, but it had good deal of snap to it,
after all.
| ahted-!wo young men to do missionary
work during the summer vacation field of labor
tne state OF Iowa. Expenses paid, but no salary
gwen. one OF the brethren, however, may have
morse and buggy. Answer soon."
This was the way the invitation was
read out to class in one of our Eastern
semnaries, and after it had been so read
twice there was silence. 1t was evident
the entire class would not 60 in body;
It was moreover. evident the young SEM
inarians did not banker after this work on
|
missionary horse and buggy. "How old
wardly asked himself when the subject of
the horse was temptingly held out as bait
to lascnate the shy and cautious students.
I'VE took up our carriages and went to
Jerusalem" was suggested as good text
for the sermon after the first ride and first
breakdown in the rickety buggy on whose
thin seats the successors of the apostles
had planted themselves, and against whose
trembling dasher their beautiful and apos-
tolic feet had been placed.
| The members of the class did not all
speak out at once. Some were going back
to their farms; some were going back to
their fathers merchandise In the words
OF the college-song, some
| Would 60 to Greece or Hartford,
Some to Norwich or to Rome,
| some to Greenlands icy mountains,
More perhaps would stay at home"
At last two young brethren spoke up
and said: ''Well, we will 60" Every
one looked at them. They were the last
ones the professor and the pious students
thought would offer to go upon mission
ary journey. They had Just returned
from years trip in Europe, and were
rather cosmopolitan in their ways, and
trile worldly. One of them was a terri
Die doubter and took his theology
as some children take the whooping-
cough. with great whoop, and ado, and
splultering. He believed the fewest and
simplest things possible, and even these,
when they would be settled for him at
night, were an open question again in the
the morning.
His tavorite idea of the ministry was
that it would be great comfort on ones
deathbed to feel sure that one had done no
great harm through preaching.
This was his negative kind of joy.
| There was nothing hopeful or positive
about it. The other brother took things
very easily and lightly He looked on
humanity at its best and brightest, and
found it very hard to condemn heretics
when they were hearty, pleasant fellows.
''Ihe Almighty will think twice before he
damns such an elegant gentleman as
M, said the witty Madame de Main
tenOn.
10 this sentiment this easy going young
theologan could readily respond. The
sIckly flag OF dyspepsia never waved its
folds over his articles of belief. 1t was
"Bless the Lord, o my soul r' all day with
him as he enjoyed himself over the COM
forts OF his roast-beef theology.
Therefore it came to pass that, when
these two unlooked-for brothers spoke up
in the classroom and said, "We will 60"
everybody was surprised.
''Loye of travelp" suggested the pro-
| fessor
"Fine opportunity to see the West, you
know, remarked an envious classmate,
who was sorry he hadn't spoken up soon
(r.
II doubt whether these two heritics
will be accepted out there in the bushes"
said third
"Dontt pass off your scaly views as an
exponent OF Seminary's way of thinking"
remarked fourth.
And thus it happened that the very
morning after the degree of A. NJ. had
been given to the candidates of three
years standing at the university, these
men who We're lately collegians, and had
Just returned from long and luxurious
tour through Europe, found themselves,
ON fine June morning, going over the
horseshoe bend Of the Alleghanies, to be
missionaries for the space of three months,
until the fall opening of the seminary.
1.-THE JOURNEY.
"Well, Joseph. this seems kind of nat.
ural, and yet kind of strange. this jour
ntying over mountains together" said the
easy brother, whom we shall call Friar
William. Here We are going to be mis-
sonaries in regions far beyond these
mountains. 1t seems just as if we were
going over the Semmering Alps in order
to have good time in Italy,"
IL hope they won't find us out" an.
swered Joseph; IL do hope they woat'
report US to the trustees of-Seminary,
for what can a fellow do who wants to
work, and yet sees doubts before him all
the time. like the black puppy Faust saw
whenever he was in company with Meth.
stopheles p
Spirits up, Brother Joseph" said the
iriar; this trip is going to knock the nom
sense out of us both-il's just like throw
ing dogs into the river to teach them to
swim. There's a queer kind of shock at
first. but the coming to land and the run
round and final shake off must be very
tine--it establishes such fine precedent,
and is SO reminiscent y