The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1884-10-10
CALLING On THE NEW MINISTER.

-7ssom1s Dunn EnJltsa, in " z. Independent.
CALLING On THE NEW MINISTER.
My husband and / tried to excuse
our conduct by saying il was the length
of the drive and depth of the mud that
had prevented our calling on Rev. Mr.
Mayberry before. At the end of three
months that excuse seemed futile, and
our long-continued neglect of the Hay
town minister most reprehensible. At
length came 20 my ears stories that
We're being circulated in Haytown
about the worldliness and lack of
earnestneSs of the young minister in
Straw Center. and that Mr.. Mayberry
was feeling keenly the refusal of his
brother laborcr in the next parish to
reach out a welcoming hand. Just
why insisted on driving over to Hay
town en- that especially hot day | con-
cealed from my husband, for | knew
that he would be most wretched were
i TO tell him of the shortcomings that
were imputed TO him. He complained
that the roads were as much too dry
as they had been too wet, that the aft
ernoon sun was scorching, and that we
should lose our third meal l heard
none OF these excuses. but sent him TO
get the required conveyance while
dressed myself for the drive.
We owned no team. as horse and
carnage is called in Straw Center. but,
fortunately. in our parish was stable
Keeper, who, though absenting himself
regularly from all services, was most
jealous in letting TO his minister any
form of vehicle or quality of horse at
the shortest notice.
The thought OF my husbands world
Illness troubled me. L meant Haytown
should at once see its error. That my
husband was young could not DENY,
but that he failed in any other essential
than age 1 would never admit. 1
wanted to make myself look as sedate
and elderly as possible for the visit.
bGt the heat of the day made my
choice in my limited wardrobe very
small The only thing at all available
was 4 somewhat youthful pink gown,
which L had foolishly possessed myself
of before l ever dreamed l should be a
minister's wife. If 1 was obliged to
wear anything so inappropriately gay.
i trusted everything to an o.derly black
bonnet and sober shawl my mother
in-law had recently sent me. NV APP
pearauce was far more satisfactory as
regarded dignity and sedateness. but
the vehicle which Charles at that mo-
ment drove up to our door was
atrocious He must have neglected to
state the nsture OF our errand to the
stable-keeper, for such horse and
such vuigarly-painted buggy would
have been seemly only on a race
course, or to peddle patent soaps. Blu,
to paw a ministerial call on a perfect
stranger
Charles had tod me repeatedly that
all the stable horses were perfect cows
as regarded docility and speed. So
did not venture making myself laughed
at by suggesting that there was an ex-
preston in the horses face that did not
inspire my entire confidence, and a
restiveness in the hind feet that did not
suggest the gentle cow. But l mount
ed into the high box-llke structure.
Had | dreamed what effect the height.
nnmitigated by any kind of cover, and
the huge red wheels. would have had
on me, | never would have set foot in
the thing. L felt that Haytown, seeing
Rev. Charles Mason and his wife seat.
cd in such a vulgar, undignified vehi.
Gle. would be justified in making al.
most any remarks about worldliness.
No; better that we erred day Longer
in not calling on the new minister than
that We appear before his and our own
parishioners in such a guise.
My husband lad just confided to me
his intention OF looking at the thermom-
eter, and glancing again at the county
map to be sure OF the Haytown road
And changing that velveteen ia .ket, 81
added, seeing the undignified garb he
had forgotten to put off before going tc
the stable
But the horse or COW, SIS might be-
objected 10 standing longer looking a,
the uninteresting facade our house pre-.
sented- and forgetting that the driver
was necessary ad .unct, started at q
rapid pace down the street.
-'Oh, You forgot nv shawl on the
steps there, said. perhaps little an.
feeiinSly, 10 my husband, who had lust
succeeded IN climbing into the carriage
6y difficult way over the back, land
that coat is too dreadfulr' 1 regretted
the day | made it.
"lt S not quite the thing. but we
can't 60 back. You won't need a shaw
to-day. and. with due respect to NV
mother, it is not beautiful. and can be
forgiven solely on account of its
warmth
Little Charles knew how | had count.
cd on the ugiiness of that shawl. and
how glad had felt that owned a So
Der articlel
L tried TO be resigned. Soon that dis.
appointment was lost sight of, for the
horse was showing unmistakable signs
OF running away. ..Is this the horse
YOU generally drive?"-I meant 10 be-
calm, Though we were tearing down the
street at break-neck speed, barely es.
Gaping perambulator in which re-
posed the only son and heir of the
Methodist minister, and craziny the
carry-all driven by our Sunday-school
superintendent
-.No, never. The oth-ers-were
whoa, = were much slow = err,
Whoa. By a series of jerks Charlie:
was trying to stop the horse, to apollo.
Eize to Miss Simpson, who had beck.
oned TO us to stop.
Voice and strength were OF no az all
sad on we dashed, passing carriage