Semi-weekly interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1881-1905, 1882-12-19
A MINISTER'S FILTRATION

living. Angelina was so handsome
that no stranger ever saw her without
expressing admiration, and ore did
not weary Of the face after years Of
familiarity with It. She was well
bred, accomplished and great heiress.
/ had reason to believe that she was
very fond of me. No man could be
more entirely content than | was as /
leaned back in the first.class carriage
which took me from Glasgow into the
country to the Vale of Cruix, where !
was to preach few Sabbaths.
The pulpit was vacant, and | was
going to try my wings. With my
pecuniary prospects, | scarcely thought
1 should care to accept a call 10 the
Vale of Cruix, but had no objections
to filing its pulpit for a few weeks,
especially as Angelina had gone to the
west coast, and Glasgow was warm
and stufy and stupid. .n.
Casual remembrances of elegant
parsOnages built in Queen Annes
time; OF study where the footballs
were softened by Persian rugs and the
doors draped with portiers Of velvet;
chairs and desk carved richly as
some old confessional, fitted through
my mind. And ] thought also Of
table spread with silver and rare
china, with lady at its head who re-
sembled Queen. And breathed
luxurious sigh as awakened from my
day dream to a knowledge that the
words "Vale Of Cruix" were being
shouted on the platform, and that the
train was coming to standstill.
1 seized my travelling bag from the
rack overhead and hurried out Of the
carriage. The pOrters had just pull
ey four or five trunks on the platform.
Two old wagons stood in the road, one
driven by an old woman in a sun bon
NET, the other by red haired boy,
with bare feet; and queer, knock
kneed horse, attached to a queer old
gig, was standing at little distance.
A young man in light Summer
suit, and city family, bent on rural
happiness, we're my companions on
the platform.
The former put his trunk into the
first wagon. kissed the old woman in
the sun bonnet, 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 boy.
When the train moved away / was
left alone on the platform-alone bu.
for the station master, who sat upon a
bench smoking clay pipe.
In moment more that Official, with
out looking at me, made the remark:
deacon Stevenson has come for the
new minister. Hes over in the hotel
and will be back in a minute"
Thank you" said l.
The station master took no notice |
Of me, but having climbed upon
stool and made some changes in a
time register on the wall Of thestation,
locked the door, put the key in his
pocket and sauntered away down the
railroad.
1 took his place upon the bench and
waited. In few minutes prim lit.
tie old gentleman appeared upon the
top Of the hill, carrying in one hand a
tin can, in the other tin pail and un
der either arm brown paper parcel.
i knew at a glance that it was Mr..
Stevenson.
care you Mr.. MactaggertS" be in
quired mildly, as he approached. 81
want to know! | hadn't any expecta-
ton of being kept so long, but you
see it saves the women folks trouble
to fetch things over when drive down.
I'll jest hang this can of parafine lie
on behind. Some folks dislike the
smell-maybe you do? The sugar
loaf tee and coffee can go under the
seat jest as we'll as not. Hows your
health, sir, and how do you like Vale
of Cruixi"
/ answered that my health was
good, and that had not, as yet, seen
much OF Vale of Cruix. w Il
''NO, you havn't." said the old gen.
tleman. swell, you'll drive through
il now" And he shook the reins. and
the old horse began TO stumble along.
And on we drove past certain rows of
brick houses, very much like each
other, and with the same flowers in ,
their front gardens, until, having
nasaad the church. We came 10 one