The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1878-12-27

muttered the fellow, watching tht
slight, black coated figure as it csmt
alertly up the shaded street. "No, III
not go in; / want uothing to drink
live drunk too much already"
The men laughed as he skunk quick,
laway, going down an alley. Il offer
ed guess, the Colonel used to say
when telling the circumstance, :" as t.
how much liquor he had put out o
sight in the year, and 1 told 'em tina
he'd cut any mans throat for 'leven
pence. But if I'd fureseen that he'(
have upturned Kerr's Ford as he die
took out the up6erpinrings from th'
foundations, as one might say-me ant
Phipps, being burgesses, would have
made short work with him that yer!
day."
The young clergyman, came up the
street with a quick, buoyaot step. The
wind was braciDg; the sky arched
higher to-day over this hill and Iivel
than he had ever seen it before; the
distance was vivid. sunny blue. The
village lay on rising ground, and
stretches of autumn woods and rich,
peaceful farms sloped down from it CT
every side His church was new, and
| finished according to his own taste,
even to the crimson cushi ms. CThe
Judge had wanted dark blue.) His
congregation believed that every word
in his sermons glowed with holy fire;
even ;he carnal-minded of the village
men, like Bryce and Phipps, treated
him with profound respect. Mr..
Harbour did not precisely describe his
position 10 Kerr's Ford as good fat
ground on which TO camp:" but he
certainly did think of it with COM
placepcy. 1t seemed to him as direct
recognition uf his virtuous life by
Providence; though, being geruine
young fellow at bottom; he did not
put this idea into words.
His father had been a noted banker
in New York: then defaulter, then a
convict. He had died in pris, d. His
elder son john had inherited the faint
of blood. At twenty he was old and
exhausted in dissipation aud vice.
Nicholas had turned his back on both
father and brother, and wi IA the money
left him by god Christian mother,
had fitted himself for the ministry, and
taken this charge on the hills of Penn
sylvania. Nobody in Kerr's Ford knew
the history of his family WhV should
they? He had washed his hands clean
of the accur, ed stain. Now and then
he had received begging letters from
his brother Johu, and always sent him
money. but the gulf was like that
between Dives and Lazarus, and Mr.
Harbour had but little doubt as to
which brother was secure for all eter-
nifty.
There are many minor causes to day
to contribute to his comfortable COM
placency. Just below Brice's store he
met committee of ladies from the
church fair: there were two or three
portly matrons in black alapacas and
blacker fronts; Miss Ann Hyde, thin,
watchful and aggressive as a colley
driving stupid, fat ewes; and little
behind, a group of pert, pretty girls
They surrounded him. eager, vehement,
all talking at once. The Rev. Nicholas
listened with an anxiety which he
strove 10 subdue into benign atten-
ton. 1t hardly suited the dignity of
his calling to be concerned about the
rattle cake, or grab bag, and yet it was
all important that the church should
have stained rose window.
''Pierce has agreed to charge nothing
for the dishes, and what do you think,
Mr.. Harbour, ice cream should be a
plate? We don't want to be exorbitant,
you know. But people ought to be
generous. considering the cause is the
Lords"
Certainly, certainly. Very good in
Pierce, Pm sure" calculated the be-
wildered pastor.
"And Miss Sarah Clevedon has
consented to assist" The pastors
wandering eye grew steady at this.
"Not," pursued Miss Hyde THAT the
girl will be of any real use. The most
eccentric, unreliable person! But it will
give tone to the affair to have her
name. The social status of the Cleve-
dons will induce many to take interest
in our efforts, who care nothing for q
well cooked supper, or even for our
noble purpose. Miss Hyde was Cor
responding Secretary of the Female
Missionary Society. Herlanguage was
noted In Kerr's Ford for its SEQ ,e and
dignity of expression.
I'VE ought not to reckon on such
things said Mr.. Harbour gently.
''The Master, you know, is no respee-
ter of persons"
And yet, as he walked on with them
to the hall where the fair was to be
held, be knew that he did reckon cL
the Sc things. "The social status of
the Clevedons" weighed not little
with him, even in his feeling for Sarah.
1t illuminated all his thoughts of that
beautiful young person as the gold
back ground does the pictures of me
disval Madonnas. He was angry at
himself. Could be not keep even his
love pure and high-above the paltry
level of caste considerations The
young man knew his own weakness.
He remembered that once in London,
when his cab was stopped at the en-
trance to certain street belonging to q
noble Duke, because none but hveried
equipages were allowed to pass, how
he stood for an hour, locking at these
privileged conveyances and their occu
pants with a homage nearly akin to
awe. 1t was absurd to pay the same
homage to this village sristocracy-to
Sarah's family, with their ancestry of
a circuit judge, a country squire, and
a far off signer of the Declaration
But with the whole population of the
country. he did il.
Miss Hyde drew him aside when