The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1881-09-08
A Fishing Parson.

In a quiet village, far away,
The pulpit was vacant many day.
Candidates came from far and near
Every Sabbath for nearly year.
Some were too awkward some preached with ease;
But no one was able them to please
At length there came from distant place
man of unusual power and grace
His frame was strong and his eye was clear,
And all we're pleased who came to hear
This is our man :" said the elders all,
4 nd old and young united to call.
The call was accepted, and early in May
The new parson came with his household to stay
Bat after the toll of the settling down
In his pleasant home in the little town.
The parson was one day seen to stroll
Across the street with his basket and pole.
And take his way DER field and brake
To d ling stream that entered the lake
Just below the town What does it mean
Asked the gossips aud all who him had seen.
"a hshmg po,xoa'' exclaimed the men
How could we so deceived have been =
The spinsters said Twas shame and sin
A Dt,Son to be engag ed in
Such co,L}ig sports +" Twas late in the day
When the parson took his homeward way,
With well filled basket and better still
\ glowing cheek and healtEtul thrill,
Caused by the blood that flowed through his veins
As torrents flow after summer rains.
Some said. with GOODNESS They nevermore
Could respect and love him as before
Il 6s5tioj pa.xo.,t Who ever heard
of tSt,n9 man who preached the Word I"
Thus spake the elders and deacons and ALL
And before them at once the parson they call
a painful duty the eldest said,
Devolves upon us and shook his head
In a serious way Never before
For { lsht and seventy years or more,
Have we as a church been called upon
To reproye oar pastor for what he has done
~ on went fishing the other day.
We think it unseemly every way
Twill injure the cause with the Young and the
gay,
'Z,s sa@ah'lonS' What have you to say ?"
4 smile came over the parsons face
As he rose to respond with becoming grace.
He spake of Peter and brethren three,
Who once went fishing on Galiee
These were the men that the Master chose
To carry His gospel to friends and foes
He spake of Bethune and he spake of Todd r.
t,shutd p'rNtuE'" but MEL OF God
Fishing parsons = yet better men
To preach the W ord and WELD the pen
The church has not known for many a dar
They loved 10 preach they loved to pray
Not their Lord the less because as well
Iowa ba ,tai,, l.I1
And as for myself can boldly say
preach the better, from day to day
For the strength gain il my walks about.
bile casting my fly Tor the specked trout
And when in the forest. alone oppressed
God speaks to me and am blest "
no more was said but as time rolled on
The pews IN the church filled, one by one
And as never before, from far ana near,
The people locked to the church TO hear
III. ayhug yntxoD'" for so he was known
BY boys and girls and men tull grown
And at length the meeting house which before
Had held them all, with room for more
Became SO crowded that ere the fall
All effort set on foot BY all
10 build a new house. with ample room
'I an 'l4t I''PlV VINO " lSlcu ~ come.
And though the years rolled swiftly by
The fire still glowed in the parsons eye:
And he often said in his pleasant way,
As Ne iabored on from day to day,
That his power to work with steady plnd
Was due To his love OF the creel and rod
The parsou lived long and rejoiced to think
Ut the souls that were saved from Ruins brink
I5"e pslo II D..,t he had tried to be
As faithful as those of Gailee
Twas at eighty and three and preaching still
And serving his Master with heart and will,
That the welcome summons at last was sent
To call hm home from Punishment
And this they cut on his tombstone deep
When he at last had fallen TO sleep
m. 18th HI. f<hiug lD,fso,.," and then.
"H'S master mule him II d~h.J ~ mea-"
James II Hoadley