The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-03-19
Winding His Business.

Charlestown bridge one Sunday afternoon,
many years ago. One OF them was fish
ing, and the rest were telling stories, for
most of them we're sailors. Among the
men who were continually crossing the
bridge, few took any notice OF the idle
group, and they were wholly absorbed in
their pleasure, when a stranger paused,
and, lifting his hat, said conrteously to
the fisherman:
"Well, my friend, what do you expect
to catch here, on the Lords day ?"
The man addressed, flushed angrily,
and replied, :" If only had you for bait,
I'd catch the devil"
al trust you would treat him as his
Master will at the last day." answered
the stranger, and with smile he passed
on.
"Now that's what call pretty rough"
exclaimed one of the sailors, who seemed
to be a stranger to the rest of the group.
II don't make no pretensions to goodness
myself, but 1 wouldn't say anything so
rough as that, nohow."
cit served him right" replied the other,
sulkily. at was none of his business
what | was going to catch on the Lords
day."
"Begging your pardon, think it was
some of his business. Didn't you see
that the stranger was parson ?"
"Well, what if he was 7" the man re-
piled. "What difference does that make,
I'd like to know? Id thank him to mind
his own business"
"If you think little, guess you'll
see that's just what he was doing. What
is a parsons business, anyhow ? I'm a
rough, wicked man myself, but l had a
good mother, and | know a bit about
good folks. A parsons business, as un-
derstand it, is to point out the right road
to people, and when he sees them go
wrong to set them right. That's what he
gives his life to. That's his profession
his business-as much as going to sea is
mine. When that one that's just gone
along saw you fishing Sunday, he knew
you was on wrong road, and it was his
business to tell you of it. He meant them
words of his all in kindness, and it was
pretty mean of you to tell him as how
you'd catch the devil if you had him for
bait"
g. don't know but you are right about
it, jack" said the man, frankly. al never
thought of the thing in that way before.
To tell the truth, I'm sorry spoke so
rough, and if could see the old fellow
again, I'd tell him so. had good
mother, too, and if I'd followed her teach
ing l wouldn't have been here fishing on
Sunday" So saying, he threw his pole
over his shoulder and strobe away.
Perhaps it might have been about two
years later, when sailor who had ar
rived in port after long foreign voyage
found his way into the Seaman's Bethel
in Boston. As he entered, he saw a man
near the door distributing tracts.
"Hallo, jack" he exclaimed, clapping
his hand on the sailors shoulder, \" I'm
glad to see you again. Here's some bait
for you-5ut perhaps you don't need il
now, do you ?"
eyes, must confess need that sort
of bait bad," replied the sailor, taking the
tract offered him. "But must say you
have the better of me. You seem to know
me, but | haven't the least idea of who
you are"
"Don't you remember chap that was
fishing off Charlestown Bridge one Sun
day, some two years ago, and parson
came along and asked him what he ex
pected to catch there on the Lords day r
Il remember that WE'LL" said the sailor
Aud don't you remember the chap
told him, he'd catch the devil with hin
for bait, and some one said that was
pretty rough, for the parson was only
minding his own business ?"
al mind all that, and are you thai
same chap?"
81 am that very one. Your words SCI
me a.thinking, and couldn't shake then
off. Things my good old mother uset
to say kept coming back to me, anC
haunting me. Finally / came here ont
night to see if | couldn't find you again
and ask you what I'd better do. Who
should meet as | came in but that very
parson 7
o'clock here said to him. 'Aint 20,
got some sort of bait that will catch me
I've been mighty uneasy fish ever sine
Sunday, and | don't care what kind of
net takes me in now. Pm sorry / spoke 8
rough to you didn't know till after
wards that you was only minding you
own business With that, | told hin
what you said. He drew me down int
that side seat over there, saying, M,
friend, believe you are the very one I'v
been looking for tonight And he bega
w oSh hO VI WIZ lOiV nlo hOiiO ~
heaven, and came to earth, that he nigh
catch men with the bait of his great love
Well, to make long story short, when h
knelt down and prayed with me, | jus
let the great Fisher catch me, and fel
safe and rested. Ever since that night,
have stuck by this place pretty close, an
I've been heaving oui bait to the devi
in very different sense from what
meant it that Sunday so long ago.
"But, jack" he continued, after
pause. at don't seem 10 nature that 20
should lure me into the net, and stay on
side yourself. Why don't you swallo
the bait, and let the great Fisher draw yo
in, too?"
"That's question have been askin
myself all the time on my home voyage
returned the sailor, with much feeling
10 snht al