Weekly Chillicothe crisis. (Chillicothe, Livingston Co., Mo.) 1878-19??, 1884-02-28
THE PARSONS CANOE TRIP.

THE PARSONS CANOE TRIP.
Old MIR, Bittleston had charming
house and grounds on the Thames, near
NARROW, including pretty little eyot.
One Sunday afternoon he was enjoying
u placid doze in a shady harbor near
the waters edge, when he was aroused
by the splashipg of oars, and beheld
young man in boating costume in tho
act of alighting upon the lawn. MIR.
Bitllesten sprang 10 his feet in an in
slant, prepared to loose his temper on
small provocation, He knew the stran-
gers errand, for he had received half Il
dozen promiscuous visits of this kind in
the course of tho day. When the young
man drew near he proved to bo rather
mild-looking youth who wore spec.
ticles and seemed diflidept and embar-
rassed.
"Have l the pleasure of speaking to
the proprietor Of this island?" he in
quired, politely lifting his straw hat
from his head.
"Ycs, the island belongs to me-" said
MIR, Blttleston, shortly.
"Will you permit me to hand you my
card" said the stranger, producing u
card case.
Mr. Bittleston felt somewhat molli-
fed by tho young mans polite and ro.
spectful dsmeanor, and ho took the
card. # bore the following inscrip-
tion: "The Rev. Mark Avery, IA Hay
ter, St. Georges in-the. East"
"0h, you are clergyman" re-
marked the old gentleman, who had q
good old-fashioned regard for "the
cloth"
"Yes, in spite OF my dress, which is
decidedly anti-clerical," said theyoung
man, smiling. 81 suppose YOU can
guess why troubled you. We are on
our way to Oxford, and l wish your
permission to camp on your island for
the night with my friends"
obliged to put a stop to that" said Mr..
Bittleston; "I'm afraid can not make
an exception in your case"
81 hope you will, sir, said the par.
son, persua>ively; 81 plead not so much
for myself rs for my two companions.
They are both very worthy young men,
and this little trip, which | have or
ganized, is pleasure which they have
never before experienced. Onc is =
Pupil teacher at our schools, and the
other is assistant in tho night school.
They have both earned n holiday, and
| wish to do all can to promote their
enjoyment"
"You will find plenty of aeoomoda.
ton at NARROW, at all events" said
Mr.. Bittleston.
"Undoubtedly, but the fact is, We
can not afford to pay for it," returned
the Rev. Mark, candidly; my compan
ions have no money, and my own purse
is, unfortunately very narrow"
"Oh, then you are paYmaster," salt
the old gentleman, whose kind hear
was touched by the parsons artles:
confession.
"Yes, it is my treat, in fact" an
swered the Rev. Mark, smiling; 90
course, If you object to our landing OF
your island, we must try elsewhere
But it is q convenient spot, and hopet
"Well, well, for this once l will max
an exception" interrupted Mr.. Bittles
ton, unable to resist any longer. I"
must ask you to fix yosr camp on tn
most remote corner of the island, an,
not to damage the underwood" "W
will do nothing that can possibly OF
| fouJ ,,o,, rntnrpnb thn ,Tnunrr mo ~
offering his hand to Mr. Bittleston, VIII,
grasped it in friendly fashion; 81 IN
exceedingly obliged to you for you
kindness"
Don't mention it," said the oil
gentleman, walking by the parsOn'
side across the lawn; "any little thin
we can do for you, or supply you with
do not hesitate to ask. Have you an
fresh milkP | know that it is CON
modify which is generally in request.
"Thank you. We won't trespas
further on your Kindness" returne
Rev. Mark, heartily; "we have ou
provisions.
"Would you and your companion
come up and dino at the house with m
to-nightP" inquired Mr.. Bittlestor
who. was a hospitable old gentleman
and had taken rather q fancy to tn
, Young man; "my wife and daughter
would be pleased" "You are extreme
ly kind, but the fact is, my con
panions, though excellent young mer
n are not quite refined enough to sit 6
your table," said the Rev. Mark, cat
tiously lowering his voice, so that tn
occupants of the boat should not hea
o him; "for myself" no added aloud, "
q should only be too pleased, but unfol
tunately, ! have no clothes but these
stand up in. We are only away fC
T the inside of q week, and must be bac
t on Sunday" "Never mind you
: Clothes" said old Mr.. Bittleston; "w
shall be quite alone tonight, and m
:, wife and daughters are accustomed't 7
J see guests in boating costume"
sin that case, shall be only too hal
py," said the Rev. Mark, as he steppe
IL into the boat; "what time do you dineP ?
Y eat seven you will hear the gong,
s answered Mr.. Bittlestou, from ii
]. bank, as he glanced at the young pa
sons companions. The latter wei
; very unprepossessing young men an
: would have been out of place in a gel
j. tleman's dining-room. On seeing then
It it occurred to MIR. Bittleston that
"a had been little too precipitate wit
, ~ his invitations, aud it was partly ov
l. ing to this reflection that he took dow
N the clergy list on reaching the hous
D. and searched for the Rev. Mark Avery
n name. He found it duly recorded, al
= learned that the young man was cura
~ of St. Blaise's church, one of the lar
D. est and poorest parishes in the east
lLudoon,