Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1883-07-23
A Church-gOing Tale.

ana rosy, III COSTUME ol pure WhiGe
the time, nine o'clock on bright
summer morning in July.
"Going to church to-day, girls
most time to get ready"
II don't know said Alice, with
yawn, sits hot, and / feel languid
1 don't think I'm well lately; ones
first duty, you know, is to ones
health
81 shan't co. said Iney, ''it's a
long, dusty ride; the last time |
went, everything [ had on was ruin
ed"
ssI' IN sure I shan't immediate my
self, by sitting an hour and half
upon a hard, wooden seat, listening to
rustic eloquence with nasal intona-
tion," said Fanchette, "when | can
feed upon thoughts that breathe,
and words that burn in the pages of
Farrar or Phillips Brooks
"Well, young ladies, can't say
that I much incline to spend nay holi-
days, OF any part of them in listen
7 ing to country preaching, but you're
all such a church-going set when at
home, 1 thought of course you were
going, and for politeness sake | must
go too. 1t is very hot, that's a fact,
and one comes to the country to rest,
anyway"
Soon after the large 'platform
wagon" was driven up to the door,
where the farmer host, who was driv-
ing, called out:
'sAny passengers for meetin' theirs
seats for half dozen, Sunday ridin'
free
There was no response to this ap-
peal, and the speaker was just about
to drive off, when beautiful, dark
haired girl appeared on the steps,
enveloped in "duster' which effect
ually protected her summer finery,
tripped down the lawn and took one
of the vacant seats, being helped
thereto by the young gentleman in
white, who looked more florid than
ever as he said to himself, "What a
shame, she's the cream of the lot.
and / might have had her all to my
self, but 1 couldn't go in this cos
tune, and it's too late to change"
''It does beat ALL" said the farm
er's wife, as they drove along the
beautifully shaded mountain road.
"what heathens these city people
be; pears as if we ought to take ur
a collection and send them mission.
ary."
"They're not heathen,'' said Glars
Gale, who felt herself appealed to
"those girls are all members of the
same church with me-
"You don't say! well, 1 alway:
? thought professors went to meetin'. ;
Nothing more was said. Clar;
greatly enjoyed her ride through th'
r summer woods, whose rustling leaves
and singing birds seemed to know
5 that it was Sunday and to pour out :
choral of praise approximate to th'
sacred day. She enjoyed also th
simple, decorous service, and fel
her heart arise in praise to her Heav
emily Father as readily on the wing
? of hymn sung by farmers and thei
daughters, as ever they had ascende,
: upon the swelling organ notes, or tn
. harmony of quartette. Nor wa
her devotion to the Saviour who ha,
Il died to save sinners weakened b
:, hearing the ''old, old story" told i
words which perhaps lacked the cult
s ure of the schools. Certain it is tina
e the young minister who told it Dire,
additional inspiration from.the earn
a est and sympathetic countenance O
y his fair city auditor, and one oil
deacon said to another, as they LEI
the church:
"Twas as good as a second SCI
a mon to see that gals face; she's on
e of the right sort; we might get som
S more speritool life among us eff W
had a few sech as her,"
u The next morning the thermome
ter was found to have gone up te
% degrees, among the ninties, but n
n one seemed to remember that, as
merry party packed into the ''pla
'e form wagon" preparatory to long
L planned climb up the mountain. NJ
l did the most delicate of the Cir
- = hesitate to undertake the fatigue of
three-hours' scramble over stones
- brambles, precipices and fallen tree!
, Wardrobes were worsted in the strus
ID gle, gay pennons foated from tt
is bushes, laces and ribbons dance
IS away upon the breeze. But not
complaint was heard; gay voice
I'd happy laughter, joyous shouts tol
~. .e that all were having "a gloriol
- time.''
at Towards evening Clara Gale al
the rosy-faced young man stood t
ut gether overlooking the prospect fro
a the top of great stone.
~ ~ "Why, there's the little count
re church / went to yesterday" sa
X she, pointing down to the vale
it, ssDo you know, the memory of ye
o. terday's service has been with me :
to-day and helped to make bright
a what without it was altogether brigf
~ ~ ness. The preacher dwelt upon t
m old text, sthe shadow of great TO
o4o