The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-09-03

thinking over the long years he'd been
among us. My heart warmed as / re-
membered the tender way in which he
used to hold our little ones as he baptized
them. | couldn't think of time of
trouble or of Joy when his face hadn't
been good to see. couldn't remember a
time of sickness when he hadn't brought
strength and comforts and l could almost
hear again how often his voice had seemed
to bring down beam of hope and faith
as we stood by an open grave.
When he come to his text John gave
me little poke, for, if you'll believe me,
it was the same we'd heard in the morn
ing. But had to confess to myself l
hadn't listened much, for I'd got into
way of thinking Brother Miles sermons
didn't edify me any longer. / thought to
myself, though, that il / hadn't listened
then | would now. And when saw the
man we'd heard in the entry give little
nod to the other man, once in a while, as
much as to say, "Didn't tell you so7
That's one of his clinchers " actually
began to feel little bit scared wondering
whether some of these Radnor folks
mightnt take notion to give our pastor
q call.
think John, as we'll as me, was little
proud to have folks know he was our min.
lister when the handwriting came when
meeting was out. Aud when some one
congratulated him at hearing such preach.
ing all the time, he took it Just exactly as
if he'd always considered Mr.. Miles the
greatest preacher going.
We didn't speak word for morn half
the way home, and then says John;
al say, Maria, there's such thing as
going further and faring worse"
"Well," says /, eff that's what you
mean we've been doing tonight, 1 think
we've been faring just about the same"
NO." says he, "that isn't what l
mean" And after while he says
Maria, how much bigger salary ought
we to raise for preacher ?"
| was right up and down discouraged
to hear him go back to that, for I'd been
all the time hoping he'd been thinking
pretty much as l had. But didn't say
anything, for I've often seen it's no use
to oppose John when he's worked up
over a thing, but to try a quiet word
or two afterwards. He went on
ayes, it ought to be done. Things
need stirring up, and Pm going to stir
EN-" He jerked the lines so Prancer
gave jump.
"That old parsonage wants lots of re-
pairing. I'll talk to the men about it,
and then couldn't some of you women
folks see about new carpets and papering
and things?"
says yes, although there was a chok-
ing in my throat as thought of doing it
for folks didn't care for, and it come
right face to face before me the idea of
our pastor going out to seek home
among strangers. had a longing in my
heart to do better by him and his than
ever I'd done yet, and feeling that he
could do more for us now he was getting
older than he could as young man. But
didn't say anything, and, indeed, John
didn't give me any chance, for he kept
right on, speaking louder and more ex-
cited
"Yes, Maria, we'll set things humming
Pm blessed if we don't We won't
stop till we've done the thing up right,
and then we'll wind up with rousing
housc-warming-but it shall be for the
old parson, Maria-and we'll let him
know before we get through that he's
worth ten times more to US than all the
young ones that ever lived. Get up,
Prancer "-Interior.