Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1880-03-23
THE MINISTER'S MISTAKE.
Coon ADVICE SADLY MrsArrLrED.

they had been carved out Of glittering
bronze, and the scarlet vine along the
stone wall caught new splendor from the
last rays, while the silvery-white fringe
of the wild clematis swung from the dead
thorn bushes, and here and there bird,
perched high up against the deep, vivid
blue of the heavens, uttered its shrill
clear vesper note; and Mr.. Caryl, walking
home through the Westbrook woods,
thought what beautiful world this was
that God had made.
Mr.. Caryl was only four and twenty,
and had been in the Westbrook parish for
three months. Not long, but long enough
to discern, by the testimony of his own
experience, that there were thorns as well
as roses in country pastors life.
1t had seemed so beautiful an ideal
when he looked at it through the medium
of his fancy, standing on the threshold of
the theological Seminary. 1t was beau
tiful still; but the ideality had all gone
out of it.
His mother met him on the doorstep of
the parsonage brisk, specialized little
dame. in turned black silk, with fnlls
of neatly darned lace, and violet ribbons
in her cap.
"Well, Charles" she said, cheerily,
Heres a whole slateful of calls for YOU y
Mr.. Caryrs countenance rather fell.
He had been anticipating an evening by
the wood-fre, with the last number of
Blacklroods Magazine.
Calls" he repeated. "What are
they. and where are they:"
He went into the little parlor as he
spoke-,he parlor where the coveted wood
fire was leaping and flashing on the
bright and-irons, and a shaded lamp was
already burning on the table among his
piled-up books and papers-and took up
the little slate.
1.-The Widow Corset" he read. adding
soto roce: THAT woman again. She
has died once week, regularly, ever
since have been in Wcstbrook.
Charles mildly reproved his mother
ats fact" asserted the young cler.
gyman. ~ don't think people ought to
confound hypochondria and religion in
that blindfold sort of way. She'd deal
better send for the doctor and leave off
scolding that wretched adopted daughter
of hers. | won't go, that's settled. Wha,
next, Meet Deacon Daley and old
Captain Hartwick at Fowlersville Four
corners at $50 o'clock tomorrow: Now
| wonder why people can't agree about
their own boundary lines without calling
in the clergyman of the parish as umpire
between them"
"Dissension is such dreadful thing
among your flock, Charles" said his
mother.
80 is scarlet fever, or smallpox said
Mr.. Caryl, rather curtly; "but all the
same don't see how / can be held re-
sponsible for either the one or the other.
Lend the manuscript of your last sermon
to old Miss Dadd to read But haven't
any manuscript to read-only hall
dozen memoranda. Ipreached entirely
extempore last Sunday"
Couldn't you just write it off from
memory" said Mrs. Caryl, piteously.
"The poor old lady seems so anxious.
She said the sermon impressed her SO
deeply"
Really mother, | think that's little
unreasonable" said the pastor. "Sup-
pose every old lady in the parish were to
require me to write out twelye-page
sermon for her especial benefit. Give
Miss Hits list of hymns for next Sun
day Yes. III do that-as well now as
any time. Speak to Mrs. Prunes Sarah.
Mrs. Prune's Sarah: Who is Mrs.
Prune's Sarah. And what am to speak
to her about, I'd like to know" demanded
this young clergyman in sort Of mild
desperation.
"Don't you know" explained Mrs.
Caryl, ats Mrs. Prune that lives down
by the saw-mill, in the big white house,
with the poplar trees in front of it. And
it's her step-daughter that's come home
from the third situation all on account of
the ribbons in her hat, and her pride in
her own pretty face.
"And | am to speak to her, eh:' said
the young pastor.
"Yes; YOU are to speak to her." said
his mother.
81 shall do nothing of the sort" de-
clared Mr.. Caryl, with some emphasis.
"But you must, Charles!' pleaded the
old lady. Its in the line of your reg
ular duty"
Mr.. Caryl hesitated, and wrinkled his
brow in sore perplexity.
"Do you think so." said he.
I'm sure of it," declared the old lady
Conscientiousness was one of the strong
points of Mr.. Caryls character. He
took up his hat.
"If it's got to be done" said he des-
perately, ''the sooner the better"
"But you viii stop for your tea first,
Charles:" urged Mrs. Caryl. "Hot corn
bread and strawberry jam"
"Tll stop for nothing" said Mr.. Caryl.
Don't fret, little mother; it won't take
me long to speak to Sarah"
And he disappeared with laugh.
As it happened, he never before had
been called upon to practice this particu-
lar branch of his profession, pleading
with the rebellious lambs of his flock who
thought more Of their bright eyes than
they did of their hymn books; and he
turned the matter over in his mind as he
,ralLad alonn the frosty woodland nafh