Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1879-11-06
OVERWHELMING A PARsON.

81 IN real glad you've come, Miss Pur-
dy!' exclaimed Miss Betsey Marvin,
opening the door to the village dress
maker. ''I've been expecting you fur
this three weeks. My. alapaea is gittih'
so rusty Pm most ashamed to wear it.
When'd you git home?'
''Last night" answered the little wo-
man, shaking out the folds of the large
figured delaine before her.
''Then you haven't heard the news,
maybe-abOut Parson Mobiles leavin' us,
hey you?'' asked Miss Betsey, with an
air of mysterious importance.
''Nota word except what saw in The
newspapers. You see I'Ye been over to
Florence, sewing, for three months;
Cousin 7Maria's youngest daughter was
married last Tuesday. How will you
have your dress cut, Miss Marvin ?''
"You don't say! Well never! What
luck she does hev marrying off her girls;
Cut it polnase, Miss Purdy, and don't get
it ter longibehind-it's dreadful sin to
waste cloth so, I think. Well, I'm glad
you didn't heart from Sophia Jackman-
she has such habit of coloring things so.
Now Ialways tell straightforward story,
and let folks touch it up to suit them
selves. How did you like Parson Noble,
what you you've heard of him, Miss
Purdy?''
f'He always put me in mind of those
men that St. Paul tells about 'of whom
the world is not worthy" answered the
dressmaker, measuring Miss Maryin's
plump waist with her tape-measure.
"Oh we'll! 1 s'pose most people was
pleased with him at first; maybe you'll
change your mind when you hear about
the donation. can't say but what he
has a pleasing way with him, but
always thought he was a little loose in
his doctrine. l mistrusted from the first
that like as not he wouldn't stay long,
Somehow his preaching want strong
enough-there wasn't theology enough
about it.''
Possibly not, ;" remarked Miss Purdy:
basting up the lining, 'Ebut it seemed tc
me he preached the gospel and that was
good enough for me-"
500 you think he was very spiritual p
asked Miss ,Betsey, waving contested
point. F'He's been seen more'n dozeI
times sliding down Dragon hill with th'
boys on their double rippers-as they cal
, 'em. Whatdo you think of that?"
81 think most likely he enjoyed it, ant
Pm sure the boys did. 1 never saw
man have such a faculty for making
everybody happy around hint wa
really wonderful.
, Miss Marvin laughed a low laugh whic
had in it neither mirth nor music.
'FIt's a real pity to spoil your goo
opinion of him. she said, ''and I hat
to do it, but s'pose somebody else wi
tell you if don't. When he come here
you know, they promised him 500 salar
but the times is hard and everything
cheap, and they thought. mebbe, tn
>, year he'd be satisfied with six. NObod
, but him and his wife, you see. Seems
me 500 and the parsonage is monstrot
price-what do you think?''
ssI suppose they have to have food an
" clothes, Miss Marvin; in fact, had 3
idea that ministers were human"
= ssI begin to think so myself, Miss Purd
dreadtully human,'' sighed Miss Betse
'EWell, as I was saying, they went to hi
the committee did-and kindly ask
him if he'd take six hundred this year,
money was so scarce, and what doy'
think he said 20
81 haven't the slightest idea, unless
said he wonld preach for nothing
= 'sNo, indeed; he said he couldn't b
just live on 800, and thought he ought
be making some provision for the futu
s. now, if ever. Mrs. Chaplin said S
thought that was distrustin' PrOvident
and that's the way look at it. Has
-. the Lord promised to provide? Didn't
t feed Elijah and the children OF Isra'
- And calculate if ministers is faithful
Lord will take care of 'em when they
. too old to preach?''
'Wen, what did the cammittee
then 90 inquired the dressmaker.
SIT made sight of talk, can-tell "
some was fur lettin' the paTson go,
Deacon Simons got real riled up; he 5
she didn't blame the minister one mi
he thought they ought to raise his sal
= instead of lowerin' it, and he'd be will
to give $5O.' The deacon meant well,
he's a dreadful unreasonable man WI
he gifts his dander up; but Squire Lyn
he put him down at once; he said sit W
poor plan to let ministers hev their W
Al. and if they should give Parson Nc
seven hundred this year, he'd be asl
= for eight hundred next, maybe T
the deacon got up and says he, 'I'd lik
ask Squire Lyman if he could live on
hundred That was a real tender p
and the deacon knew it, for Sue Lyr
told 'round that her father gave her
- hundred q year fur her clothes ant
travel with, and they kept two girls
man to take care of the horses, but
mi, squire only paid ten dollars minist
tax last year-but then 'twon't do t.