The Russellville Democrat., 1881-12-15
A MINISTER'S FILTRATION.


 .uo stranger ever saw her without ex-
 5ressing admiration, and one did not
 weary of the face after years of famili-
 arity with it. She was well bred, accom-
 nlished. and a great heiress. 1 had reason to believe that she was very fond
 of me. No man could be more entirely content than l was as l leaned back in the first-class carriage which took me from Glasgow into the country to the Vale of Cr1ix, where l was to preach a few Sabbaths.
 The pulpit was vacant, and I was going to trv my wings. With my pecuniary prospects l scarcely thought I should care to accept call to the Vale of Cruix, but had no objection to filling its pulpit for a few weeks, especially as Angelina bad gone 10 the west coast, and | easgow was warm, and stuffy, and \ stupid.
 Casual remembrances of elegant par. Bonages built in Queen Ann's style, of 8 study where the footballs were softened by Persian rugs, and the doors draped with pOrtieres of velvet; chairs and 8 desk carved richly as some old conSes siOnal, fitted through my mind. And thought also of table, spread with silver and rare china, with lady at it's head who resembled a Queen. And breathed a luxurious sigh as l awakened from my day-dream to kn wledge that the words, "Nale Cruix" were being shouted on the platform, and that the traJn was coming to a standstill. t-I seized my travelling bag from the rack over head and hurried out of the carriage The porters had just pulled four or five trunks on the platform. Two old cf,,aI tY,f n rfoI IYixg by all old woman in a sun-bonnet, the other by red -hared boy, with bare feet; and queer knock. kneed horse attached to a queer old gig, was standing at lit- sle distance. A young man in a light summer suit and city family, bent on rural happiness. were my companions on the platform.
 The former put his trunk into the first wagon, kissed the old woman in the sun- Sonnet, took the reins and drove away. He was evidently the son of the family come home to spend his vacation, The rest of the trunks and the city family, mother, father, little boy, nursemaid and baby, were put into the wagon driven by the by. When the train moved away was left alone on the plat form-alone but for the station-master who sat upon a bench smoking clay pipe.
 In Q moment more the official without looking at me made the remark: Deacon Stevenson has come for the new minister. He's over in the hotel and will be back in a minmte." Thank you," said l.
 The station, master took no notice of .se, but having climbed upon stool and made some changes in time reg ister on the wall of the station, locked the door, put the key in his pocket and sauntered away down the railroad. took his place upon the bench and waited. In few minutes prim little old gentleman appeared upon the top of the hill, carrying in one hand tin can, in the other tin pail, and under either arm a brown paper parcel. l l knew at glance that it was Stevenson. Are you Mir. Mactaggert?" he in- quired, mildly, as he approached. q want to knowl I hadn't any expecta- ton of being kept so long, but you see 1 it saves the women folks trouble to ktch things over when I drive down. I'll iest hang this can of paratifiine lie behind Some folks dislike the smell may be you do. The sugar loaf, tea and coffee can go under the seat just as well as not. How's your health, sir, and how do you like Vale of CruiX?" answered tkat my health was good and that had not, as yet seen much of Vale of Cruix
 "No, you haven't" said the old gentle man. "Well, you'll drive through it now"
 And he shook the reins, and the old l horse began to stumble along. And on we drove past certain rows of brick houses very much like each other, and
 the same flowers in their front gardens,
 ytil, having passed the church, we
 sme to one happily set about by old
 oak trees, before the gate of which we
 drew up
 A girl stood at the gate-a fair girl in
 blue muslin dress and apron.
 "Take the sugar, Mary, before it gets upset" said the Deacon. "This is Mir.
 Mactaggert, that's to preach for us Mir.
 Ma,taggert, this is my daughter Mary"
 We bowed and she vanished with the
 parcels
 "What a lovely little creaturew said
 to myself Nothing like Angelina, but
 so prettyw And found myself think
 ing Of her as washed my hands and my
 hair in the blue walled bedroom on the second HCor with white fringed coun-
 sYpanes and curtains, and two black
 sllhouets over the mantelpiece, on
 either side of the china vases of roses.
 There were only four of us at the ta.
 ble-the Deacon, his wife, stout lady
 who never said more than she could
 help, and Mary. She had spent the last
 winter in Glasgow, and We talked about
 lRhe had seen. She was self pos
 sessed without being forward, and oh, so
 pretty! Now, Angelina was splendid
 and queenly, so this was mild praise that
 she could not have objected to, only l
 said 1t very often. l preached on the
 next Sunday. lt was settled that l N should spend the summer there. l wrote
 this to Angelina;
 Since you cannot be with me it does
 master where l am--this stupid
 place as well as any other. Address to
 the care of Deacon Stevenson. I shall
 remain with him while I preach here"
 II was a pie sant summer, despite the
 uullness of the place. How good the
 gualnt old deacon was when one really
 snew him, How motherly was Mrs.
 stevenson! As for Mary, she grew
 sWeeier every day, I often wondered
 what Angelina would have said could
 sae have seen me helping her to
 plck backberries, to find the runaway
 @w to carry h me the milk pail, driv-
 lhg her over to the country grocery and
 ielurning with freight of groceries
 Angelina, who knew nothing of domes.
 hc details and uhnga unOuacyra rnuae d and