Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1876-03-24
Poetry.
THE MODERN MEET1N' HOUSE.
BY WILL S. HAYS.


BY WILL S. HAYS.
Howdy, Davy, light an hitch; thars no one home
but me;
Thar amt Twin, sir, I'd sooner like ter see;
For Nance and Liddy's gone to see a sick man on
the hill,
An Hiram's gone to get his grist at Jason Turner's
mill.
was in town last Sunday and my sweetheart and
me agreed
To go to meetin-if you'll wait I'll tell you what
seed:
The bells wor tollin lively on the balmy mornin'
AM folks wor in hurry like the rushin' to fair.
The meetin' house was built Of stone, the steeple
pinted high,
The windows they were painted all the colors Of the
sky;
An runnin up the steepe was great long lghtnin'
kinder thought the members lacked confidence
in God.
The big bell sorter hushed himself an then it rung
some more,
An people come in carriages an got out at the
door;
The wimmin fixed their dresses like thew meant to
make call
Thar faces showed they warn't a thinkin' ov Their
souls at all
Well, Davy, thar I stood an thought twas wicked
suppose,
Some go to church to close their eye an some to eye
their close:
I overheard ole Missus Sweet to Missus Stebbns
say,
my darter Becky's dress warn't DONE she won't be
here today
stood thar hesitatin' like what sort of move to
make,
felt that should go inside for my salvatons sake;
started meekly in the house, 1 knew it want no
With my ole broad-brim hat in ham AN Jeans coat
on my arm.
went along bout half way up the velvet carpit lie,
The men an wmmin shut thar gates, an they begin
to smile;
Isee one open just bit, went in an pulled it to,
When Brown, the banker, riz an sad This 'ere's
rented pew
got out his 'rented pew an sot down near the
door,
Expectin' for some man to say This ere's rented
floor"
fine dressed stranger he cum in-the members
didn't wait,
But every Teller jumped at him an opened wide his
gate.
The parson riz an raised his hans, with cold an
hauty air,
An everybody in the house stood I'D an heard his
prayer.
I don't know how it is with them, somehow always
I'm dom God injustice when get itoo proud Ito
Kneel.
They all sat down an stared about then at.the par.
sons face.
While he put on his specs an sed "Let's sing ANA
Yin Grace
An organ bnsted loose up stars-the musick hit was
Hit tckled them couldn't sing, an them wot had
to pay. y
The musick quit, the parson riz they passed the
hats roun' next
An when the deekins sot them down the parson took
He preached about two hours bout the faith in God
to keep
The wimlnin folks were noddin' while thar husband
wor asleep.
One gal sed to another, "Hev you seed my bow
She'dnod her he'd an then say back, "The party hit
was gay.''
One whispered loud enough behind her fan fur me
to h ar,
THAT bonnet sofy Tags got on is one she had last
year."
The parson quit and then sat down-the organ play
ed agin;
thought if that was servin God the tunes they
played were thin;
I've heard the bands at circuses Jest play the self
same air,
The parson when the organ quit dismissed 'em all
with prayer
Now, Davy if the angels seed what did, believe,
Thar warn't a one among em all, but what lafed in
their sleeve;
For God don't smile on Christians who his bessins
will abuse;
He hain't use for organs. an he don't like rented
pews.
He rings no bells to tell EN- that the Sabbats come
once more;
The angels had carriages to drive up to his door.
Such christians might as well look up to God an
sweetly smile
An say, 81 send my soul, dear Lord; I'm comm
after while.''
Our Master up in Heaven Davy sees-hears every
thing;
He likes to see his children kneel-an' loves to hear
'em sing;
For whar he lives the angels sing an Christians get
their dues
His music costs him nothin', and he has rented
peWS.
Thar amt no use o. fooin long the roa down the
grave
Thar is no way O. dodgin' when you've got your soul
to save.
Fine churches, organs carriages, Clothes rented
pews, an ''peif,"
Don't count that day-it lays between yer Maker
and yerself.