Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1878-10-10
Hiram Lynde's Experiment.
''Fun many a shaft at random sent
Finds marx the archer little meant


he would have been amply satisfied with
his position as gardener and hOstler for
Mark Harrington, Esq, which yielded
him good wages. But he was a staunch
Northern Vermonter, who found it hard
to realize there is wide social distiction
between the employer and employe in the
| suburbs of New York. TO be considered
an upper servant, and to be forced to eat
in the kitchen with Bridget Malone and
Ann McCarty ehafed his pride terribly.
Every Sunday Hiram harnessed pair
of superb black horses into a costly, soft
cushioned carriage, and drove the Har-
rington family to Church. While they
were worshiping within, he waited out
side, or drove slowly around the streets
to pass away the time, but was always
promptly back when the congregation
dispersed, ito take them home.
| Month after month went by. Bitter
feelings in the meantime gained mastery
in Hiram Lynde's heart, and angry NUT
i terings were often on his lips, which he
found hard to suppress.
One fine morning he drove with the
Harringtons to church as usual. AS
they slowly assembled the steps, and dis
appeared within the sanctuary, a strange
light shOne in his eyes, and shaking his
hand fiercely after them, he exclaimed:
s'PrOud hypocrites! There they go to
worship God and advertise their fine for
tune, through their velvets, silks and
laces. They put money into the contri-
! button box for the poor with jeweled
hands, but nary farthing DO they care
for the souls of one of them. Nearly a
year I've brought them regularly to
church, but nobody has said word about
my going in. If preaching is good for
them why isn't it good for me, too? All!
I'll try an experiment. I'll bring their
fashionable religion out in a strong light,
or prove it all sham. Ha, ha! yes I
wiII.''
Four days passed. A purpose had
ripened in Hiram's breast and he lOnged
to put it into execution.
One morning as he was wedding in Mr..
Harrington's garden, he saw Joe Phelps
leaning against the gate.
'Hollo, Joe! come here,' he called,
pleasantly.
Joe skipped up the gravel walk to his
side. His mother was hard toiling wild
ow, who earned scanty livelihood for
herself and six children, by washing.
Joe's clothes were so worn that great
patches covered his knees and elbows,
and only great skill in mending and darn
ing held them together. Hiram surveyed
him closely.
Pretty poor clothes you wear; hardly
| = Tou l.
'They are the best L have,' replied Joe,
the hot blood mounting to his face from
wounded pride.
want a chance to earn new suit in an
easy way, in one hOur?' asked Hiram.
yes, indeed, answered Joe, jOyfulIy.
Joe, I'll make you a fair, square offer.
Next Sunday morning, if you'll wear these
same old clothes and be barefooted, just
as you are now, and go into the church
just after the Harringtons get in, and
take seat with them-it's No. 1O5-I'n
in Darrow's store.'
'Oh, you are fooling,' laughed Joe.
Never was more serious in my life, ,
said Hiram, earnestly. 4 want to morti-
fly these purse-proud Christians. want
to see how these big-feeling people will
act, to be in a row with poor boy, half
covered with patches and darns.'
ooh, I don't want to go into their pew,
said Joe, quickly. 'Tisn't using them
we'll; it's mean
'As you pleas replied Hiram, indfffer-
emily. There's plenty of other boys
who'd jump at my Offer
Joe reflected moment. Yes, I'll dc
) it, he said, decidedly. Mother would
, have to do great deal of washing to get
a me summer suit. I'll do it to save her
D but hate to, awfully.'
When Sunday came, Joe waited till he
, saw the elegant carriage of Mark Har.
rington go by, and then followed hard af.
1 ter it. He reached the church just after
, the family had entered it. Hiram wa:
holding the horses in front of the steps
: Giving the reins to a friend standing by
: he and Joseph made their way through
the vestibule, up the stairs to the inne
e door. Here Hiram waited and watched
q with chuckling heart, the boy as h
: timorously went through the br0E aisl
; till he came to pew 105. Mr.. Harrington
o was sitting at the foot, and Joe slipped il
l by him, and sat down between him ant
u his daughter Helen, while the faces o
J.; both showed great surprise.
THAT was capitally dOne,' thought Hi
e ram exultingly. Joe is a trump any
le where Now the rich and the poor ar
o side by side, and in Gods eye one is n
u better than the other.'
y On their way home the odd incident c
ID Joseph Phelps sitting unlimited in thei
rs pew was glibly discussed by the Harrine
'C tons.
Poor boy said Miss Helen, pityingly
I'd sit is plain his starved soul is reachin
c. out for something higher. We must Ell
TX courage and help him.
p Hiram listened in establishment. n
to word OfindignatiOn or modification can
ne from the lips of those he had called fasl
lg ionable Christians. His plan to humb
of their pride had failed.
OF On Monday Joseph came around to r
he ceive the promised remuneration for h
he service. Hiram was true to his word an
sh gave him Il good summer suit of clOthe
ts, which made him very happy. TOwar'
tz, evening Joseph Phelps received motto
of through Bridget Malone, the cook, tn
ty her master, Mark Harrington, wished
de see him.
Dl- He entered that gentleman's presen
as tremblingly. He had committed gra
fe offense by taking seat beside him, uni
of vited, and he was in quivering expect
tiOn of being accused of it.
ke Joseph, did you enjoy hearing NJ
me- Catltn preach, yesterdayG' asked NJ
Us Harrington, with an amused smile.