The Brookhaven leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1883-1891, 1884-03-13

and had coat, as good as new, at
some saving of cost.
Ellen rang the breakfast bell, and
Dorcas joined me in pre- sing the stran-
ger and the deacon TO join Us at the ta-
bic, but both declined on the ground
that they had alrea " breakfasted. And
cordial exchange of blessings the former
went his way.
| had been honored shortly before
with an invitation to participate in
protracted meeting to be held about
hundred mile; away, under tie aus
pices of an old college classmatc. And
now that [ had decent coat to my
back Dorcas insisted on my going. She
posses ed good deal of wifely ambi-
ton, and had set her heart on my speedy
rise in the church to which she seemed
to think the only thing requ's. was
more widely diliused knowledge of my
gifts.
Of course Dorcas had her way, and
everything was got in readiness for the
journey. Ipieked out my best sermon
and touched it up bit here and there,
somewhat improving the rhetoric if not
the doctrine, If it should only impress
the hearers half as much as it did my
self it couldn't fail of doing good.
wanted to travel In my old coat, but
Dorcas wouldn listen to it. A clergy
mans appearance, she insisted, should,
at all times, comport with the dignity
of his calling. l could wear my custer
in the stage-coach, bit must be sure to
remove it whenever l STOPPED.
Had been going as missionary to
Timbuctoo Dorcas could scarcely have
been in greater fidget. | shall not
risk incurring the charge of exaggera-
ton b., hazarding a con lecture a to the
number of times she packed, uDpacked
and repaeked my hand-trunk, or by di-
vulging her ews as to the number of
night and day shirts, white ties and
t1roat-lOzenges required for a weeks
ministerial campaign. How to get
such an unlimited quantity into limited
space was a problem solvable only by
feminine ingenuity.
| confess to a feeling of relief when
the hoor came to kiss Dorcas good-by
and take my place in the coach.
Half an hour had elapsed, and | had
Just gotten comfortably settled down in
a corner of the back seat. when all of a
sudden started from the revery into
which was being gently jolted.
Wasn't like the man who went shoot
ing and forgot his gun? Hadn't l LETT
my sermon behind? Irememb red lay
ing it out before starting. but re ollect-
ed nothing further. | began a hurried
search, and couldn't help an exclama-
ton of relief as my hand encountered
the precious document in my inside
breast pocket.
The journey was without incident till
the last day, which was Saturday, when
suddenly we collapsed wheel. Fortu
nately the accident occurred at the en-
trance of populous village, where the
passengers could be made comfortable
pending the repairs.
A wheelwright was sent FOR, who, af-
ter careful diagnosis, declared that it
would take at least ha'f-a day TO get the
velicle on its legs. must either, then
remain where | was till Monday. or con-
t;nue my journey on the Sabbath, which
was against my prime ple'. l had re-
Gently made the sin of Sunday-travel-
ing the subject of set discourse, and
felt obliged to practice my own teach
ings as well for consistencys as for con-
science sake.
Twas inwardly deploring the neces-
sity of spending the coming Sabbath in
the promiscuous society of village
ia ern, when a grand looking gentle
man accOsted me:
a presume, by your garb," he said
that you are clergyman, and beng
of that calling myself, and conjecturing
your AYERS on toproceeding on Quincy
under circumstances which may carry
it into the Sabbath, permit me to tender
you the hospitality of my roof till Mon
day"
/ thankfully accepted the offer; and
shortly after myself and hand-trunk
were snugly bestowed in Brother and
Sister Gushinggood's best room.
Though an entire stranger to both, l
could scarcely have been more hospita-
bly, received had enjoyed theirin int
macy for years. In the course of the
evening Brother & shinggood and 1 dis
covered that our views completely har-
monized on certain i'm, o tant questions
then actively mooted; and before the
hoIr of retiring he pres>ingly invited
me to occupy his pulpit on the morrow.
/ saw no strong reason to decline; for
though | had trought bit single Sc
mon with me, and should be obliged to
repeat it at the protracted meet ng, the
two places were sufficiently distant 10
insure that the audiences would be
wholly different.
Before lying down / took out the SER
mon to run it over, as was my custom
Of Saturday night. Every broth r
knows that to read se:mo IN creditably,
one can not he too familiar with it.
At the first glance 4 started with sur
prise. 1t wasn't my sermon at all! |
must have forgotten the latter as l had
feared, and this must be one of the dead
minister's left in his coat pocket.
/ glanced it over and found it aswell-
compacted discourse on q popular topic.
Wby not use it? 1t was an excellent
product on and might-do great good, of
which the world was not to be deprived
merely because the author was dead.
Besides, it had fallen into my hands as
a sort of Provident al treasure. rove, in
which I felt possessed at least
usufructuary title.
But must hurry on to the point at
which rose in Mr.. Gushinggood pull
Dit next morning with the newly-discov-
cred sermon carefully smoothed out and
neatly deposi ed between the Old AID
New Testament in the big Billie on the
reading desk.