The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1880-12-25
PARsON sOULBRIDGR's CHRISTMAS
SERMON.
BY MRS. H. O. RowK.

BIZ MRS. n. @. ROWE.
Yes, and what use is it, after all p
grumbled Miss Mehitable, as she pinned
her best bonnet strings, before the look.
ing-glasa, in the back-parlor Of the par
Sonage. Wearing his eyes and health
out writing sermons that nobody will
take the trouble to listen to. For nv
part, pulling ont the bows with dis
contented air, 81 don't see the least use
In his toiling and moiling over q neu
sermon every Christmas, when he might
just as well preach the same one every
year, and nobody be any the wiser. Yes
IN minutef' aa she heard her brothers
voice in the hall; and when, answering
hls summons, she looked into his peace
fuI, thought illuminated face, flush oi
momentary shame overspread her owr
at the remembrance of those angry ques.
tionings moment before.
His own soul is watered by these
hours OF patient, prayerful toll" she
thought, humbly; and if nobody listens
to his sermon but himself and his foolish
old sister, it has not been written in
vain"
And yet, when she was snugly seated
and At liberty to take quiet survey oi
the sparsely-illed pews, lingering spice
OF the "old Adam sent thrill of indig
nant surprise to her sisterly heart, as she
noted how many Of the seats usually oc
cupied by the richer and more influential
portion Of the congregation were empty
coatenlptuottsly empty = she mentally
styled it, with not solitary representa-
tive to soften the neglectful look of tleil
impressed cushions and staidl u arranged
hymn-books.
There would be crowd around the
Christmas tree in the vestry that evening
mo danger of anybody staying away
from that and the gift OF gypsy hooded
cologne-bottle or doll pen-wiper would
be received with more expressions oi
pleasure and qualification than the re-
membrance Of that divine gift OF Re
deemer had ever had power to awaken
in their benumbed and stupehed souls
But the church was not entirely empty
after all, in spite Of the dissatisfied spin.
ster's Arst survey.
There were three pews filed with "or.
phans," Christmas was kept as holiday
Of course, at the asylum; then there was
old Father Griffin, with his ear-trumpet
attentively elevated; and a pale faced
seamstress, who leaned back in the
conlfortably-cushion pew of which she
was the sole occupant, with such look
Of restful satisfaction upon her worn,
tired face, that Miss Mehitable inwardly
congratulated herself upon having been
the first to suggest the re-upholstering oi
the church, that had been so successfully
accomplished during the past year. Two
Of the deacons, the third had Just mar
risd wife and couldn't come, and q
miscellaneous sprinkling of dull-looking
old ladies, green boys and pert-faced
girla made up the congregation. But
no, the door opens once more, and Miss
Mshitnble drew herself up with o little
sigh Of intense -Ratiafsction as, herRlded
and attended by the soft rustic OF her
silken garments, as she passed with state
ly step mp the broad aisle, came the m ost
wealthy and admired lady in the parish,
the orphan -heiress of its most liberal
friend and patron.
1t was an admiration almost bordering
on reverence that the gratifed spinster
watched the proud, fair face, shaded by
nodding plumes and costly laces, the
small, red mouth that, in spite of its
accompanying dimples and curves, had
about Il certain inherited hardness that
contrasted strangely with the clear, blue,
sunny eyes-proud eyes they were, as
beseemed her beauty and station, and
yet, looking into them, the humblest
forgot his own significance in admiring
wonder as, in gazing up into the marvel
loua blue of q summer sky, we forget
sometimes to marvel at its immensity in
the perfect delight and satisfaction that
its beauty alone yields us. But 40 Miss
Mehitable looked, she wondered--check-
ed herself, and then-wondertd again
if Miss Thornleigh ever did think OF that
poor girl whose name for six long years
had never bsen spoken by any member
of her family; whose claim upon his par
entail love and care was not even acknowl-
edged by the stern old squire on his
death.bed, as the will, drawn up and
signed at that time, proved, wherein all
his vast possessions were left unreserv-
edly to his youngest daughter, Miss
Helen Thornlsigh.
Everybody that knew them says they
were as devoted pair OF sisters IS ever
lived, before that wretch came between
them,r unused the good woman, with an
involuntary glance at the object OF her
meditations, who, having moved slightly
in her seat, brought within range of the
spinstsr'seye the white, shsrply-outlined
profile Of the stranger seamstress, and
catching her breath suddenly behind
her hymn-book, she cast another, this
time half-frightened look toward the two.
But the passing resemblance, real or
fancisd, was gone, and the faded, weary
face bore no closer resemblance to the
proudly serene cOuntenance of the beau
4
leaf does to the stately lily to whose feet
some carsles breez9has wilirled it.
The choir sang, tAat graitd old anthem,
peace on earth, good wIa to men, and
ee.st,s organ solemnly pHaled forth its
" accompanimeG, and the we'll
ned voices of the s1gers sent forth
ae glorious words of that God given
rromiSe until the arched roof above their
eAds seemed to echo back tho wondrous
lelody, Miss Mehitable felt q sudden
MIL Of triumphant Joy, personal re-
gnition Of the promise that would keep
heart warm for many day. she
ought; and then, somehow. without
ort Of her own, the bitter disapproba-
q with which she had regarded the
Iny absences of the day was changed
) % wondering pity that they could heed
ment
Faithful thought it was scarcely worth
his while to stop at the Interpreter g
house but, oh, how much he missedf'
she thought, with pleasant adaptation
Of the wonderful old allegory to her OWN
case, but moment after, noting the
look of pleased appreciation upon the
heireas's expressive face, little worldly
le9yen naturally crept in among the
higher thoughts, and she wondered If
Mise Elornleigh wouldn't pay the extra
fifty thAt the soprano had insisted upon
in addition to her present salary from
her own purse rather than lose so desir-
able singer it was more than probable,
and ahe would remember to introduce
the subJect at the very earliest oppoH-
tnnity.
But worldly thoughts and calculations,
however innocent, took fight like q
brood OF Startled ground sparrows, as,
in his caln1s, sweetly-reverent tones, the
minister aAnouncsd his text for the day
Behold, bring you good tidings OF
great Joy; 1and with a warning nod of
one Of the HOrphans," whose Christmas
spirits were threatening to get the upper
hand OF chuttch decorum, and run over
in laugh - sight Of Miss Thornleighs s
spaniel perdlhed upright upon the
cushioned seH ut his mistress's side,
Miss Meredith settled herself comfort
ably Ia the waIEmest corner. of her own
pew, Gloss 10 tlbe register, and prepared