Litchfield enquirer., 1879-08-28

Gray's little, white hand into her gnarled up up fist, Thank you for both, my dear T Think wife was right not to speak her feelings?"
 Yes, and perhaps Dickens could preach then to Polly better than tract"
 The old man looked hard at me, but said
 nothing, and presently we heard gay laugh
 behind us, polite request for the road and Miss Gray's phaeton, with the old fellow driv
 ing who caught her horse whirled by. We followed slowly, the deacon's milk -cans keep ing up a rattling accompaniment to the click of Rory's heels. The deacon's family made me comfortable, and woke upSunday morn- ing in fine spirits, but oh dear, it was snow ing and blowing furiously. Whe could have looked for such storm, April 10th. thought of my fine passages about Spring with it's bud ding flowers, and enrolling birds. Couldn't I leave them out 1? No, impossible My sermon was about the new birth, it's fresh power to plan and do great things, ingeniously twisted to the beg, for the poor little church.
 MT. Jessup's coffee put such heart into me, I would not look at the big snow-fakes and we were soon driving to church. I forgot to say that MT. Munson, the pastor, nice old gentleman called on me the evening before, and said he would make the prayers and give out the hymns; which rejoiced me much. l had on one occasion done both at the mission church was begging for, but had no sermon then. Mrs. Keep was in the vestibule, and greeted me like an old acquaintance, brushing the snow from my coat, and assuring me in her pleasant voice when took hold of my cravat to feel if it was limp, that that ministe- rial adjunct was ''as stiff as she hoped my doctrine was" heard a clergyman say once that no layman could imagine what sustaining power there was in stiff collar, and some- times he liked his to saw his ears as counter irritant. Mir. Munson and l were soon seated on the sofa behind the pulpit, and, as it was early, watched the congregation as they came in. The pronounced Miss Price took a seat just under us, beside an old lady who had a peculiar immobile and yet active face if I may be paradoxical confess I looked about for Miss Gray, fearing her hand might pain her so much she couldn't come. Finally saw her enter with a hand some gray-haired gentleman, so like her knew he must be her father. He seated him. self in north front, and she vanished for a moment, emerging in the choir. Her face had a sweet, churchly look, wonderfully winning as the organist seemed to thlnk, for never saw fellow so stupid about fixing his music clamps, and after he played one bar of his vol untary, she had to stand by him and hold his book open. When 1 have a church of my own, the little as well as the big machinery must be in working order. After profound silence following the hymn, when heard nothing but my heart beat, rose and gave out my text slowly. had got my sermon off once before at college, but how different! 1 felt now that had lost my identity and won- dered why the young fellow whose voice rung so in my ears didn't speak faster. After a sentence or two he did better-really his ideas and language were good. Bye and bye he walked up enough to forget himself, and his clutch of the pulpit cushion; eyes grew moist ; only the old woman in Miss Prices pew laughed while others wept. She fascinated the young minister and held his eye, and when he made his crowning appeal her face was convulsed with suppressed laughter. feared it would disconcert him, but he went bravely on to vernal blossoms and soft zephyrs
 Just then the door blew open and cloud of snow swept in. The old lady did not grin now, but Miss Price did, as some one was shutting the squeaking door, the preacher was saying ''all these tuneful utterances rejoice at the souls freedom" At last the young man finished and sat down. 1 went into myself again and sopped my forehead. The collec- tion was taken up q got fifty dollars); the prayer made, and old MT. Munson was squeez- ing my hand and congratulating me- He beg ged me to preach for him in the evening" I firmly declined. He didn't know that had let off my only gun. Mir. Gray invited me to dine with him, if would excuse the absence of his sister. ''Only Annies at home, and her hand is very painful to-day, but she wouldn't stay away from church. Accept my thanks for aiding her at the depot yesterday. Rory and she are both headstrong, but not wicked" he added laughing. I accepted his invitation, and passed delightful afternoon with him and his daughter. Miss Gray and discussed music, Sabbath schools and charities. We grew so sociable swallowed pride enough to ask her if she thought the queer old woman in Miss Prices pew meant to insult me by laugh ing at my pathos. My question set her into such giggle that if had ventured, would have reminded her that her seizure resembled the old lady's She finally stopped and said, 'Oh, no! she wasn't laughing at you, she wasn't laughing at all, but she has nervous trouble, and cannot control her muscles She is tender, kind person, not at all like her Miss Price, and whenever her feel ins are touched, her trouble increases. Do not think am laughing at her, or much at you, she added, rippling over again, "but it's unfortunate that she will sit in that front pew laugh at the remembrance of the discomfit- ure of clergyman who preached for us last ouhAuCl. hC osoPPCu ouC GllC. duu SidIcu dt her, till Miss Price took her out of church. If Rory hadn't hurt me yesterday, should have warned you in time, but forgot all about it. Now do you forgive me P .-...... ~-.
 ''Yes, but you can't think how she affected my nerves"
 Il saw she did" When looked up quick ly, Miss Gray blushed, adding, II felt sorry that hadn't told you"
 It stopped showing and we went to church together in the evening. The tenor was sick, SO volunteered to sing with Miss Gray, as wasn't needed at the other end of the church. The organist had his music-rack in good order and got on without the young lady's help. I bade Miss Gray goodbye at the church door, riding home with the deacon. I've preached in Hilltown since, and Miss Annie and I are now engaged to be married. MT. Munson says he is too old to keep the parish, and there IS good deal of talk of inviting Rev. Zacche-