The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1879-09-10
WHOLE NO. l47O.


q An Anxious Inquirer.
]. A western paper tells the story 0
! how city drummer met bis match il
q little country girl:
She was sweet, shy, innocent lit
] tie village maiden, and she seemed
, somewhat hurried as she stepped in
, to the grocery store where city drum
j mer was lonnging.
The clerk knew her, and while h,
did up her parcel of tea he asked hel
if she wasn't afraid to walk home sc
late at night.
She asked the clerk nervously il Il
was 30 very late
4 When he assured her that it wal
but 9 O'Clock, she took up the paree
and hurried away
The city drummer, looking on,
thought to himself:
ait is really too bad for such o
pretty little girl to walk home all
alone.p
So, throwing aside his cigar, be
skipped out aud overlook her just as
she was turning dark corner.
Wouldn't you like some COM
psny ?" he asked graciously, offering
his arm
"But / don't know you,D she said
hesitatingly.
Don't you? why, | am an old
friend of your fatber'sn
Indeed " she replied, but she did
not take bis arm.
They chartered pleasantly along,
he asking many questions about her
home, etc.
He learned that her father was an
invalid, confined to his room, and her
brother was absent from town.
They soon came to neat aud
somewhat prstentious cottage, and
pausing at the gate she timidly asked
him to come in.
Charmed with her sbyness and be-
lieving the coast entirely clear, the
unsuspicious drummer accepted the
invitation.
She showed him into tasty little
parlor, then asked to be excused for
a few minutes.
As she passed out of the door a /
smile hovered about her lips, bat the |
drummer did not zee it.
Passing down little hall she tap
ped lightly at another door, which |
was opened by a gentleman of de-
cidedly ministerial aspect
"Mr. CO. she said. There's a gen.
tleman in the parlor who seems to be
q very anxious inquirer /; WON'T you
60 and talk to him ~
Certainly, my dear answered
her pastor, who was prom e to i'm
prove an opportunity to d, end to his
business Of saving souls IS mea OF
different callings are to drive sharpI
He fastened 20 the parlor. gI4 ses
and all, and grssped the drummer
warmly by the hand, exclaimiDg
heartily:
"Glad to see you, my friend, very
glad to see you"
The drummer stared 81 the old |
gentleman in astonishment, and " n
dered vainly who be was and why be |
was 30 very glad to see him.
The minister drew q chair close !
beside him, and laying one hand on
bis knee, began very earnestly:
"Our young friend tells me that
you are 80 anxious inquirer am
always glad to talk with any one
who is interested in matters relating
to the welfare of the soul"
The m:uister paused for moment,
and the drummer began to turn hot
and cold.
"Havs you ever made any profess
sion of religion, do you belong to any
church 2" the minister asked, encour-
sgingly.
"N-no," stsmmered the drummer
ou. loud.
"Confound the girl - be mut,ered
under bis breath.
The minister began to see that be
was not getting on, and noticing the
irummer's disturbed manner, re-
"Something troubles you, nv
friend. Cannot you con6de in me
Perhaps I can relieve your doubts
and fears"
"I-I think had be::er go,~ the /
drummer said, rising and vainly try
ing to guess which door be came |
in al.
Let us have a season Of prayer |
and, suiting the action to |
the word, be kneeled down by his
chair Not having decided which !
door be came in at, and not daring |
to risk meeting that "confounded |
girl" by opening any other, the
drummer had nothing better to do
than to submit 70 the novel expert
ence of hearing himself prayed for.
As soon as the prayer was ended
be again essayed to 90, but Mr.. c
bethought himself of the "girl," and
stepping u the dining room door cali
ed:
"Wife, has Lei,ie gone 2n
"0h, yes, she did not stay. Willie
went with her, and he's been gone
long enough to get back"
At last the minister showed the
discounted drummer TO the door,
shook him warmly by the hand, bop
ed to meet him in heavsn, and let bim
ont into the free air once more
As be passed out of the gate be
heard subdued giggle, saw two ig-
ures dimly outlined against the sky,
and boy e voice remarked:
"Tbe anxious inquirer isn't anx-
ious TO inquire after the innocent
young maidens Of our town any
more"
Plain Talk fo n Girl.