Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1877-03-09
A Dead Church.

rows OF low.backed, comfortless pews, with |
an uncarpeted aisle separating them, looked
forbidding aud homely. The gallery oppo-
site the pulpit was decorated with wooden
ornaments in very bad repair; and the moon
faced clock had a broken long pointer and |
crooked short one. A red curtain drawn |
over brass wire, Just above the gallery
rail, revealed small melodeon, weighted |
down with halfworn singing books. The
little square Of carpet 10 front Of the pulpit
was glaring in color, aud offended the min
ister's sensitive eyes. But he cared little
for the appearance Of the church. He turned
anxiously TO the congregation, aud glanced
over the men and women who sat awaiting
his remarks. They did not even seem IN.
clined TO look at him now although he saw
many faces whose owner had stared at him
curiously enough at the depot. The church
windows were open, and delicious breeze,
laden with the perfume Of liacs In neighbor-
ing gardens, Of the apple-blossOms on the adj
jacent hills, rustled gently the leaves Of the
hymn-book which the minister was opening.
Mr. Argent longed to spring to his feet,
and to address the congregation with burn
ing, electric words which should infuse life
into their fainting souls. For he we'll knew
that their souls were faint. A kind OF spir-
itual paralysis had, two or three years pre-
vious 10 his arrival, fallen upon both the
Congregationalist and Baptist churches in
Chasetown, and thus far all efforts 10 heal ii
had been vain. Gradually the attendance
fell away, and by and by it became difficult
to secure preaching in either church. The
Congregational minister, who had for 20
years contented himself with q meager sal.
airy and small approval, hadla call elsewhere,
and, despairing Of Chasetown, accepted it.
The church thenceforth became dependent
] on "trial preachers" The Baptist brethren
were reduced to the same precarious methed
of obtaining spiritual sustenance, aud Red
man, the rich manufacturer and prominent
worker in their denomination, had thought
to do them great good by sending Mr.. Ar
gent among them. The young clergymau's
fame had preceded him, and dozens Of the
Congregationalists had thought it worth their
while on the occasion Of his FIRST appearance,
to visit the Baptist church. They secretly
longed for that spiritual awakening which
had almost vanished from their breasts.
Would it come from him2 GfHMNH
The little church was not filed. There
were great ugly gaps in the very middle Of
the congregation. Here and there half q
dozen bright, handsome girls occupied pew
together, and, conscious Of the contrast Of
their beauty with the hard features aud au-
gular outlines Of the farmers wives and the
farmers scattered about them. they looked
coquettishly at the new minister, as if sur
prised that he did not notice il. As for the
farming folks, they appeared gloomy and uu-
sympathetic; the husbands sat apart from
their wives each person seemed to shrink
into bis or her corner, as If some wrath to
come was concealed in the gathering twilight.
A few elderly, red-faced, square jawed men
looked critically at the minister, as if won
dering why he were so presumptuous as to
delay his beginning. When at last Mr.. Ar
gent arose, be felt as if he had the whole
congregation upon his back and it was crush
ing him. But this was only for o moment.
He prayed; aud his prayer found an echo
in many heart. The old cracked bell in
the beliry had ceased ringing but a minute
or two before he began, and his voice, CON-
ing after the metallic dissonance, was like
sweetest music. His prayer was short; a
rustic swept over the congregation. Its
members had expected longer duplication.
They began to fear that they were to DO
called upon in the work. Each man eyed
) his neighbor suspiciously.
Mr.. Argent gave out hymn, which, was
sung by the young girls and the "choir,
whose singers arrived into aud hustled into
: the front seats with considerable osteutation
The new minister saw that there were two
beautiful faces among those Of the singers
who aided the choir most skillfully. One
; was that of woman Of "a or %, a delicate
pain.ladeu, even wrinkled face, with plead
ing, protesting eyes, timid lips and broad
high forehead the other that of girl, thin
sensitive, passionate, the lovely oval face
framed in folds of chestnut hair a face ca
: pablo Of almost infinite variety of expression
! After the hymn, Mr.. Argent announced
that there would be preaching in thai
church, morning and afternoon on the NOR
row, and Sabbath-school concert in the eve
ming, after which he read chapter from thu
: Gospel Of St. John. He then laid aside thu
great Bible, and stepping down from low
platform began to sing simple melody will
I which he had been wont to awaken religious
fervor in rude back woods communities 10 tn
far West The melody was inspiring; thu
s words appealed the singing was natural
g graceful, effective. 1t was a song to NOV
l. hearts, to awaken souls. But it seemed l.
o have little or no effect on the congregation
When the song died away, Mr.. Argent fan
s cied that he heard sounds as Of sobbing her
l. and there in the church, but the mass Of hi
9 auditors looked straight into space befor
!, them, almost as if they we're determined t
d ignore him and his song.
j. Mr.. Argent resumed his seat, saying
n "Will some brother lead as in prayer2'
n There was no answer. The twilight ha
d deepened into dark now; the breeze wa
% cooler; night had come. Mr.. Argent waite
Or in vain. 1t was evident that there would b
'r no response. His heart overAoWed with pit
Ii and sorrow for these cold and unlovely soul
&c that could not even warm themselves wit
Is his enthusiasm. lie addressed them freely
ID with eloquent words he urged them to retur
to the higher life from which they had d.
DC parted, and to consecrate themselves anoV
le Still no answer. Both men and women lis
70 tened uneasily. Some wore willing to r,
10 spond, but they desired "more converter
season." "MeTcy sakes he hustered every
~ body cen a. most to DEATH" Aunt Name
10 Brown said, afterward, relating the histor
ID of the meeting to a cOngenial gossip, over
e smoking cup of tea.
I'd "Will no one lead 10 prayerf Is there n
ne one who will come with me TO Ohrist's altar
m said Mr.. Argent, once more, this time vel
d. gently. He bowed his face hid it in h
hands, and waited. The silence in the lit
:, church was painful. Uncle Brutus, who 81
d. near the door shuffled his boots, 10 the hoI
Us r. A.. ko.-;kIo anou ,uhioh