The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1883-11-14
Written for the Sunday Sentinel.
DANIEL PLUMFIELD'S CREED.

The ''elder delivered very fine sermon
to-day" SAID David Plumffeld to his niece
Jessie Parr" 1t had the true ring, tell you
it does one good to hear such in this degen-
crate day. We had pretty fair congrega-
ton, but nothing to compare to what we
used to have forty years ago, when the coun-
try was new. People are growing careless
and stiff-necked."
THAT is your opinion" said Mrs Plum
field, coming in at that moment very much
to the relief OF Jessie who knew not how to
reply to her uncle's remarks.
"In those early times we only had preach
ing once a month and the congregation was
gathered in from half the county. Now our
churches are only two or three miles apart
and we have preaching every week which
makes a vast difference"
Well there is Just this about it, said
David, 1.-THE people came to worship then,
now they come together to show their fin
cry"
"a new ribbon was just as much to a
young girl and q starched kerchief to a ma
iron then as the plumes and velvets of to-
day. In fact the scarcity of any kind of
finery made the vanity OF those who pos
sessed few nice things to wear all the
greater"
As Jessie had been relieved from replying
to the assertions OF her uncle by the timely
appearance of Aunt Mary she went down
into the orchard where the fragrant apple
blossoms were drifting like tie falling snow
flakes in her recent home in the great lake
region.
She had lust arrived at her uncles home
,..fs. Il
this was her first walk in the open air laden
with the fragrance of the blooming fruit
trees. The early morning was spent in get
ting ready Tor Sabbath school and church.
The former beginning at nine O'clock her
uncle's carriage was at the door at half past
and at the end Of drive of fifteen minutes
duration they were seated in an
empty church, for as Kitty
Plumfield said they always had to be there
in time 10 welcome everybody else and stay
till the sexton pushed them out to close the
doors.
After Sabbath-school there was brief in
remission, and then the regular services
commenced
The sermon which so pleased David Plum
field was n regular TRADE on modern degen-
eTacy and liberality of thought. The speaker
dweit long on the imbecile state oil the
Church, as compared with the days of the
Scotch cOyenanters ard the great awakenings
of Wesley ard Whitfield.
Sermuns Of this nature were far more ac-
ceDtabIe to him than those permeated with
pune Christian teaching.
From his standpoint the times were very
much out of joint, and nothing but volleys
OF wrath would make a change for the bet
ter.
He never could reconcile himself to his
wife's religious views though her walk was
faultess and every act of her life was in har
mOny with Christianity. Her unbounded
charity of mind went clear beyond the mar
row range of his mental vision.
Jessie returned from her walk and they
gathered around tile dinner table.
The"Elders" fine sermon was still the bur-
den OF Uncle David's song
Fun loving Kitty, the apple of his eye,
whom he hoped in time to train up as a true
daughter OF the Church was requested by him
to repeat the text.
1t was something about watching for evil
but am sure can never repeat it" replied
Kitty.
II guess You could answer with more &C
curacy ii you were questioned about the
flower garden on Pink Moss's hat" said
Charlie Plumfeld.
with the teaching of the text or
that part OF it which commends
watching for evil" replied Jessie.
Then you acknowledge that finery is
an evilp' said Charley laughiDgly.
II did not mean any such thing. Those
.
but, il instead of listening you were watch
ing. to see if / was doing wrong, you were
looking for evil " Perhaps" continued she
mirthfullY you are preparing for the min
istry"
From yeur criticisms yen seem to have
fallen into the same line of thinkingas Elder
Green, and from the tone of his sermon he
seems to think that every body is on the
straight road to ruin
Crooked. Kitty, crooked" said Charley.
You know that when Abner Slippery
edges his evil deeds he
does IT by saying that he knows he has made
many crooked paths"
well have it as you like elder"
A scowl was making itself visible on David
Plumfeld's countenance. Mrs. Plumfield to
change the drift of the conversation here
broke in with the remark that the Sealields
had returned from Florida and that Mrs
Seafield seemed much improved in health,
whereupon a general exchange of words en-
sued upon the merits and dement's of various
invalid resorts which ended as they arose
from the table by Kitty remarking that the
very mention of Los Angles, Denver and
Jacksonville were suggestive to her OF tuner.
ais, because so many people make them q
last resort and come home in their collins.
There being no afternoon service the rest
of the day was spent in reading and rest
ing.
Jessie's father was an officer i'm the army
and she had never known a settled home but
had been borne hither and thither as the
families of such men usually are.
Having few months previous promised
herself in marriage 70 young farmer in the
Red River country, her visit to her uncle anC
aunt meant something more than mere re
creation Her object was to get an insight
into the management of country household
affairs. So when Monday morning came shs
was eager to enter upon her apprentice
ship" as she called it, but her aunt sug
gested that she spend one week as real yisi