Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-07-26
VOL. 71.-3641. NO. Al.

MY "Nh 1WllliHulfnNhlN 10 lhllu III bpu anu
heaven. lie asked for no faith in himself
only in so far as he reflected the love and
mercy and will Of heaven.
After some further conversation, Deacon
Long said he would consult with his friends.
lie did 80, and upon the following day be
waited upon the parson 10 report.
Well, parson," he said, " / have talked
with the folks and they don't seem 10 think
twould pay 10 hire preacher. They cant
see the use. As for the preachin' they can
read all they care TO know, aud as for pray
in, they don't have no faith in it,"
i" No faith in prayer " said Mr.. Surely
in surprise.
"No, sir. Your prayers can't alter any
thing You cant pray one hair white or
black Says old John Sample If minis
ter could pray for rain and have it come Just
when they wanted it,, 'twould be some use
You see, parson, that very thing shows you
how weak you and your prayers are"
Parson Surely was touched in tender
spot. lie fanced he could give these skep-
teal inhabitants Of Fox Hollow a useful les
sou on the ways Of Providence.
suppose, he said, after due deliberation.
" ! could pray for rain and have IL come Just
when you wanted it 2"
" In that case" replied Long, promptly,
eve would hire you, and run the risk"
Parson Surely proposed that he should
meet the leading ones Of the settlement in
the meeting-house that evening, and talk
the matter over To this Mr.. Long assented,
and went away to make the necessary
arrangements.
Evening came, aud a majority Of the
grownnp people Of Fox Hollow were as
sembled, aud Parson Surely was with them.
The matter was duly considered, aud Deacon
Long mt the nrOpositiOu thus
Parson, we, on our part, agree 10 hire you
10 preach for US, and We will pay you either
in money or in work You, on your part
agree that you will give us rain Just when
We want it. Is that it z"
with one slight qualification said Mr..
Surely, smiling. 81 cannot promise TO grant
a request on which you shall be divided. |
cannot pray for one mans benefit to another
mans injury. The request am TO answer
must be entirely unanimous"
This was considered eminently fair and
upon these terms the contract was made.
Mr.. Surely moved his family to Fox IIol-
low, aud took possession of the farm, and
forthwith commenced his labors as pastor.
The people very quickly found in him one
quality which they liked. lie ro,id trort
and he was not alaid of work. lie was
farmer like themselves, and understood the
business. Next, they found he was genial
and cheerful, and that his Sabbath services
were really interesting. And then they or.
| ganized Sabbath-schoo under the influence
of which there was marked improvement
in the children. Aud he did more than this.
| lie opened an evening school, the benefits of
which, in time, were sought by some who
had grown past the age of childhood.
The spring passed, and summer came.
July opened scorchingly. The second week
Of the midsummer month found the earth at
| Fox Hollow very dry. The potato-tops were
| dropping and the leaves of the corn were
curling up. II was decided by the people
/ that they must have rain.
Now, said old John Sample who was
one Of the most skeptical among them, ." is
the time to try if the parson can keep his
promise. You'll see, reckon, how com
pletely he'll collapse"
A committee waited upon the parson and
informed him that they wanted rain.
"Very WELL" said he. I" | will meet our
friends this evening, at the church, and the
matter shall be settled upon"
The people were interested and curious,
and when evening came, the meeting-house
was full for nearly every inhabitaut of the
age of understanding was there. The par
son opened the way to deliberation by stat
ing the purpose for which they had met.
loa wane ran a,, ne S"''' anu an :"
or,ng !. ior you ,,
a, "' ""'' ~" f'"'" '"
",. p"'ip,e' a.. - ,,,,
sA', ~ Pa's ' ~"
W IAN IAN p"'y ~ N I vs. - IL,
YOU m',I n.e'1 w. iGu m,' ~" ,,ii' .'a'
Now say-when shall the rain come p
"I Let it come this very night good and
strong" proposed John Sample.
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