The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1885-07-02
FROM PHILADELPHIA.
Harper's Weekly.


Harper's Weekly
The Rev. DIR. Melton was just begin
ing to feel at home in his new parson-
age when he was surprised one evening
to receive a call from his classmate,
Harvey Leigh. In college days they
had been friends, and for while after
their graduation they had exchanged
letters and visits; bnt the letters md
visits had come to an end long ago. and
it was many years since they had met
AS they sat ir the book lined study, each
eyed the other curiously. Years sat
lightly on Mr.. Leigh, and he was dress
ed fashionably, almost youthfully. In
his dark red neck scarf was thrust q
gold dogs head with ruby eyes, and to
the parson the scarf and dogs head sug-
gested a sporting character. He knew
chat Mr. Leigh was not sporting
character, and he wondered mildly
that highly respectable, pros
porous middle-aged lawyer should
thus adorn his person. More
over Mr.. Leigh had brought into
the study tall silk hat and dapper
little walking stick, and these lie held
as though they were far too precious to
be laid on an unsympathetic chair. He
chung to them until the parson was
filled with all unchristian desire tc
throw them out of the window; but in
stead, broke off in the middle or sen.
tence, took hat and stick from his guest
and carried them to the new so-called
Queen Anue rack in the hail. There
he left them, together with the en-
graved card that had announced Mr..
Leigh's presence in the house.
Mr. Leigh, in the minute that he was
alone, smiled, and the smile had in it a
touch Of plying condescension, and
when the parson re-entered the study
his guest scanned him leisurely. He
was a tall, loose-l imbed, awkard man,
clad in black broadcloth of country
cut, with low vest that displayed Q
liberal expanse of spotless linen. DR..
Melton's slippers were little the
worse for wear, but he knew that his
daughter would surprise him at Christ
mas with new pair, and meanwhile the
old ones were comfortable. His collar
and cravat were neat, albeit not fashion
able, and they were we'll hidden by {
flowing gray beard that had more white
hairs in it than there were in his nous.
tache. From under his broad forehead
pair of contemplutive blue eyes look.
ing at the world with mingled shrewd
ness and kindness, and they rested or
his guest with sort Of comical sur
prise. He thought Mr., Leigh rather
foppish in his dress, and Mr.. Leigh
hoped that the county parson would
be introduced to q New York tailor, anc
taught town ways by some of the dea
cons in the church to which he ha6
been called upon to minister.
"Well," he said, "and how do YOU
fancy the idea of becoming metropoli
tan preacher and seeing your sermon
garbled in Monday mornings paper p
The papers didn't garble my sermon
this week." the doctor said. "On thu
contrary, the reporters picked out the
best and overlooked the worst in The
kindest and most fattering fashion
Mr.. Leigh laughed. "You won't bt
so amiable to reporters when you know
them better. This is quite change
from your old life, and an agreeable
change, no doubt. Or do you bolieve
that God made the country and mai
made the town."
II believe God made them both, anl
man tries his best to spoil both," the
parson answered.
"Ah. that's neat-very neat. By
the way, I ought to call yon doctor
I read your book on the Atonemen
with good deal of pleasure. Tie par
: son WINGED, but Mr.. Leigh did not OBJ.
serve that. II don't wonder the col.
lege doctored you for it, though YOU
ideas must seem rather liberal to the
nasty old fogies who peddle out Lati1
and Greek and theology"
IT came near beng one of the nasty
old fogies myself" said Dr. Melton
"They wanted me to be professor, bu
I preferred to be a parson.
"a city parson," said his guest.
II am not so sure about the city part,
DR.. Melton said, slowly. 1T wa!
pleasant up there in the country; wa
attached to my people; I liked to potter
about in my garden. 1 was astonishe6
when received a call from New York
I don't know that would have accept
ed it if one of my deacons had not hac
a promising son ready to fill my place
and think that my congregation rather
liked the idea of a young dominic. ha6
about come to the conclusion that
would live and die country parson
1t here I am"
with $4,000 year and a comfort.
able house," added Mr.. Leigh.
The parson frowned. "A man with
four children has no right to slight {
chance of lettering his fortune; but il
was not the money that brought me tt
New York. There is work here-"He
broke off suddenly, perhaps because he
saw the shadow of a sheer on Mr.
Leigh's lips. "And you are still living
in Philadelphia ?" he asked.
"Yes, indeed; [ would not live any
where else. New Workers may turn uE
their noses and call it village, but
Philadelphia suits people who belong te
the old Quaker stock"
"Quakerl You haven't turned
Friend?" The parsons eyes lit on the
glittering scarf pin. You used to be
an Episcopalian when we were in col
lege."
II am yet," said Mr.. Leigh; "but my
ancestors were Quakers-sort OF cousins
of old Penn, you know"
"You have son, believe to perpet
uate the name?" the parson remarked
dryly.
"One son-an only child. Morton is
"a, and reading law in my Office. A
bright fellow, too; never gives me {
moments uneasiness; always at work
steady-going; no boyish nonsense abou
him."
"Twenty-four," the parson repeated
fond M hnviuh nonaonao ah0ut him