Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-04-26
NO. JOB.
Gales ano skcttbes.
HOW ABEL M'APRIL PREACHED FOR
Mr.. SMITH.
Continued from Yesterday

"Stop q moment" said Mr.. M'April,
rising and laying his hand on the captains
shoulder to detain him You will not
invite me to preach for you, and had
much rather listen to you, but if you will
wait for me to put on my hat and coat,
will 90 with You. and perhaps help you
| little"
"My dear Sir, shall be delighted to
wait as long rs You please exclaimed
the old gentleman
Captain Ilalyard wish you would
have a bell on your church. No one likes
to hear that horn, said Mrs. Narley.
My dear woman, people don't object
to the fishermen b'owing their horns on
weekdays, and | don't see why they
should object to a iog-horn on Sunday. IL
is better than anything else for my con-
gregation is mostly made up of sailors,
and the old salts understand it, 1t tells
them there is danger ahead. and if they
don't keep a sharp lookout and steer
straight, they will run into all kinds of
vice, and get swamped in SIM
Mr.. M'April was now ready, and he
and the captain, accompanied by Miss
Varley, set out together.
Have you any newcomers at your
house now, Captain lIalyard9' asked
Ruth. as they walked along
"Well. you see, the Lively Sallie got in
last night, and Joe Dean was aboard; so
this morning found him in bad way, and
the worst of it was he had another with
hm--a mere lad. 1t made me feel badly
to see such a fne-looking young fellow
with him, and both of them dead drunk.
knew il wouldn't do to leave them where
| found them so | just got them home and
put them to bed. made Joe comforta-
BILE in room we have for such visitors in
the barn. but took the boy into the house
Then fastened them in and gave my
wife the keys, for fear they might rouse
up and trighten her while am away You
see, Sir" he continued, now speaking to
Mr.. M'April there is nobody but me and
my wife in our family, so we always have
room for more The house isn't very
large to be sure, but there's lots of room
inside. The places where sailors 90 are
not always the best in the world, and I
cant bear to leave them there. Then they
sometimes need a little encouragement to
set them up again; and we like company,
and have nothing else to don
II don't see how any one could do more
good in the world than in the way YOU
have chosen said Mr. M'April.
"Oh, it isn't much but it gives us old
folks something to think about. I guess
you won't think we have much of a church.
but ! wanted to have meeting on my
own hook. where the fishermen and others
who would not be willing to 90 any
where else might come. | built it with
some money that was left me. couldn't
do it all at once, but I've got things pretty
tidy now. ! have just rugged reflector
in the binnacle, and we are to try it for
the first time tonight
81 suppose we should say, Miss Varley,
that Captain IIalyard has had reflector
placed over the pulpit" explained Mr..
NJ April. do you call the preacher the
hemsman. Sir?"
''IIow quickly YOU comprehend :" ex-
claimed the captain. II almost think YOU
must be an old tar
Il have learned to know some of the
ropes, : said Mr.. M'Aprl.
"Well, well, feel sure YOU will steer
a straight course for us, though the minis
ters don't always. 1t seems to me thew
steer about mormon west, perhaps, when
it should be norwest by north. dare
say they'll reach the port finally, but it's
a roundabout course
ITO what denomination does YOUR
church belong - asked Mr.. M'April.
"Well, | can't exactly say, for we get
almost any one to preach who is willing.
As for myself, thing must be something
of a Baptist, for somehow | can't helm
thinking that poor Jack goes right to
heaven when he is baptized in a watery
grave but as to the theology of the diff
ferent scots, have given up trying to un-
derstand it all. Now if you and Ruth will
walk slowly, will hurry along with nv
matches. So that you may see my signal
lights burning before you come i'm
Then he went on in advance and soon
after the others came in sight of the queer
little edfice, with the white and coiored
lights burning brightly, and the Ameri-
can flag waving above. The services
were much as usual in churches. only per.
haps rather simpler and more earnest.
The singing of the hymn. We're home-
ward bound,' led by Captain Halvarsl.
was joined in by nearly all the congrega-
ton, and if not scientific they enioyed it,
and being their own audience. there was
no one TO criticiSe. After few remarks
by the captain. Mr.. M'April gave a short
address rs he had promised
lie called his audience shipmates, and
spoke simply; and although his language
was refined and above their level. it was
not above their comprehension. They lis
tened eagerly. and when he sat down l
think they almost wanted TO cheer. Ruth
listened with the rest The words seemed
to be for her personally as well rs for each
Of the others. The sermon she had heard
in the morning was in some respects SUI
perlor, for 1t was Il more studied produc-
ton; but the way in which our friend met
the ease of these poor fishermen affected
her a. nothing else had done. When the
service was over she arose from the bench
where She was sitting and they walked
out together without speaking, being so
busy with thoughts that the silence of the
other was not noticed. and finding deep
er companionshp than that afforded by
words. Have you never heard that the
best of friends can enjoy each others So
ciety as well in silence ?''
The next morning after breakfast Mrs,
Narley sent her daughter into the sitting
room to entertain the minister, while she
herself attended to some household affairs.
After the younp peODle had been siffiuo