The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1881-07-22
fGEKlT CORVALLIS GAZETTE,
Corvallis, July %, 1881
1nE PARsoN.

cies of alwestern forest, many years
ago.
The poor man felt anything but
comfortable, for he was wet through
to the skin, and almost tired to death
He had been tramping about since
morning, besides he had lost his way
no the reader can imagine what state
Of mind he was in, and also appreci
ate,the sudden transition from despair
to hope which he experienced on see
ing the glimmer Of light ahead.
He quickened his tagging feet and
soon came up to the light, which is
sued from the only window of a soil
tary log cabin IN the forest.
Remembering the scriptnral injunc'
ton, ssknock, and it shall be opened
unto you," he did SO, but without
any response. He raped again,
louder than before, and this time a
rough female voice asked:-
"Who's there?"
SIT is t. was the indefinite reply
of the rain soaked parson.
"Well. who are you, and what do
cou want?' asked the voice, gruffer
than before.
"a poor, benighted preacher OF
the gospel. who has lost his way, and
who wishes to stay here all night,
answered the preacher, in dolorous
voice.
"Well, stay there-don't sec what's
to hinder you,"
"But I'm almost starved, and will
pay you literally for some supper"
he responded, his teeth ci,attering
with cold, not at all appreciatirg the
joke.
The words ''liberally pay acted
as charm, and after a.few moments
of delay, caused by the unfastening
of the door, it war opened, and our
pastor entered!
He found himself in a rough apart.
aent,- with large fireplace at one
end, on which log was blazing; a
rough deal table and three chairs,
besides box filed with dry fax, com
prised the furniture.
Butsall minor deficiencies seemed
to be made mp by the landlady Of
the house, for she was full six feet in
height, and weighed nigh on to three
hundred pounds.
After having placed some food on
the table, she turned to the parson,
who stood shivering before the fire,
making futile attempts to warm him
self, alternately turning one side and
then the other to the fire.
: "Now want you to eat this grub
as quick as you know how and then
tramp, as it is utterly impossible for
me to keep you here over night"
"But, my good woman" said the
parson, anx,onsly, 81 shall perish in
this inclement weather. Ihave been
wandering in this fearful storm since
morning, and if You have any COM
passion or pity at all, you will try
and give me some place where / can
be sheltered from the storm of the
night" and he offered a fiye-dollar
bill.
"Well," said the woman aYaricious-
ly clutcl,ing the money!, ssif you
think you can stay in the garrett
maybe You can stay; but hurry up,
for | expect my husband home every
minute, and it's as much as your life
Is worth, if he should catch you here;
be would think no more of numbering
you than of shooting grizzly bear"
The woman produced small lad
der as she spoke.
There was a small trap-door in the
ceiling, which raised Of its own accord
on the parson pressing it upward,
and not without some difficulty he
managed to squeeze himself through
the aperture. After lie was up, the
woman told him to shut the trap,
and not to make any noise, for his
life, and then, taking the ladder
tie parson was left to his own refiec-
rIons.
Wet and uncomfortable az he was,
ais fatigue was such that he had al
most fallen asleep, when he was dis
uarbed by some one knocking st the
door.
Being somewhat curious TO Rnow
waat hind Of . leeking man his
anknoNp host was. lser rose and peeped
trough Alpalf crack ID the floor TO
20 rnop pnderneath. He w the
man epen the door csutiousTy,
|, after admitting . short, thick-set
]: o in heayy cloak, lock it again.