Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1877-04-10
STRANsIENT BILLs-CAsH.
under painful embarrassment.


He recognized in the stranger q, ,clergy>
| man whose reputation was world,wide-nons
| other than the distinguished president of tho
! college from which he had graduated. O.. -1ao
The president remembered his former pupil,
| but it must be confessed that he was both /,
surprised and disappointed. ---..t.... o..
| He had given the young man credit for
| individual talent, but the sermon was a mere
| repetition of poor platitudes, and trucking
to prudish public opinion, which showed q
| weak and little mind. ~ 100 ,r!aa ber1as
After the service was, over the president
! waited o moment until the young minister
came forward, aud when the greetings were
over he said kindly: 'F r's.'t
"My sister wrote me that Robert Martin
was preaching here, but Ibid not connect the
name with the memory of my former pupil"
Your sister 7" said the embarrassed young
man. "You do not mean to say that the
woman with whom you entered church is
your sister :" - 'ai g.
.And why not 2" a a
1t was the presidents turn to look aston>
ished r..
Sure enough, why not
What did he know against the woman
whom he had been speaking eUii Of for tho
last half year -.., -.ai' sl.- 81.
There is something about this matter
that l cannot understand" said the presi-
dent 'tYou do not mean to say that sister
has been resident OF the village, and lis
tened to your preaching for six months, with.
out your calling upon herY The duties of
a minister are surely better defined"
But did not dare ~ and the poor man
stammered and stopped.
'sDid not dare to call on my sister, the
widow of Colonel Kimbsll? 2" and the tinge
of contempt was mingled with look of SUR
prise and indignation as he contemplated the
abashed and crestfallen young preacher.
After reaching his sisters residence, he
questioned her in regard to the matter but
she could only tell him that since her resi>-
dence in that place she had been "fet alone,
in the acceptance of the term. d
Determined tosunderstand the why aud
wherefore of such a proceeding, he again de>
manded an. ex planation of the young pastor.
who was finally compelled to admit that he
had supposed, from the gossip Of the church Z
members, that the woman was very out
cast from society, and that there had been talk
of driving her from the place. 100 .af
"She will not caro- to remain" said the
president but before sbe goes | will siftl
this matter thoroughly :" aud so he did.
gathering up, link by link. the whole chain
of scandal. until he came to Mrs. Wood
But this she utterly denied, and Mrs Graves
was obliged TO confess that Mrs. W OOd had
merely shrugged her shoulders aud curied
her lip when asked her opinion of their new
neighbor. ' .'l go.
tAh, indeed ~ was the rejoinder Of Mrs.
Wood Il remember of thinking she Wouldn't
be much of lady, as she wore faded delaine
and did her own washing" f ;ahi
The president preached on the following
Sunday, and at the conclusion of his dis
course, repca ted the story of wrong, adding:
"Had this woman really been poor aud
friendless, as supposed, what would the end
have been? Deprived of her good name,
aud in consequence, Of all means of earning
livelihood, she would have been discouraged
and Respondent, aud sunk down to the grave
q victim of tue scandal of those falsely CALI
ing themselves CHRISTIANS; but who, in tho
sight of Heaven, would not only have been
liars, but murderers."