St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1885-02-19
Losing a Colder Opportunity

Losing Golden Opportunity.
"Will We gang to meetin' the night
STRIP
1t was my man, John, who stood in
the doorway, tall, broad, and brawny,
with rich hrogue To his Scotch voice
with its bmly rs, but trusty and faith
.ful rs ever man could be to earthly
master. 1t vas a mile from our subur
ban home to the place of worship, and
as it was beginning to snow, John
knew / would not be likely to walk. as
Oh pleasant evenings | often preferred
doing.
eyes" replied, ''you may get ont
the carriage, is no one else will go of
the family"
OF course John expected to drive me
over, the spirited horse needed at
teution, aud | felt no compunction
whatever about having JOHN outside /;
lie had cronies at the great livery sta
BILE just across the way from the chapel.
1t would be- impossible to tell why it
was, but on alighting from the carriage
preston on my mind that John want
ed to say something to me, yet did not
say it..
Well, we had beautiful meeting
DIR. Willard, our pastor. read passages
of Scripture hearing upon our person
nj obligations III the matter of bring
ing others 10 Christ and the tone he
ing given, all who spoke followed in
the same line of remark. And all
seemed very much Interested. | re
member being 80 warmed up by the
spirited conference which followed the
pastors appeal that arose and stated
feclingly and honestly my fixed pur-
pose to do all in my power to bring
some suulS to "A knowledge of Christ,
and the effort should be made without
delay.
And so engrossed was with my re
Elections and resolves that il escaped
my particular notice at the time that
John was holding the horse close by
the chapel door rs | emerged; nor did
it occnr 10 me in any other light than
John observed in his usual respectful
tones: There were likely mony ut
the place the night, SIR, with the
storm and a -
Eyes, quite a good many ont, John"
Then | fell to musing deeply and
wondering also for good and true as
my intentions had been in speaking as
had. yet now the pertinacious inquiry
kept forcing itself, with whom will
Won begin this blessed work ?" and
the inquiry puzzled me. There was
Mr.. Hubert Hoiyoke, my next door
neighhor. evidently rather goddess
man his Sundays were spent in rid
ing or boating. or some other sport,
hut he would be difficult case to be
gin with Then there was Mr.. Simeon
Styles, my opposite neignhor; but
here my reflections were broker in up
on by John who said briefly: ''It's II
bonny fine voice has the parson, sir-r."
eyes. very fine voice indeed,
John = yet it never occurred to me
that my man must have been listening
thus To comment upon them Well,
where WAS t.? oh, Nh styles he at
tended church once in Il while, and al
though affable to delightful degree
as a neighhor, still he was a proud
man and belonged To very aristoerat-
ic old family, and was there not dan
ger of his resenting what he might
consider as "A meddicsome piece of i'm
pertinence on my part7 On the train
every day saw Colonel Parsons, an
entertaining gentleman of no very
fixed principles, if report said true :;
we were very good friends, but uu-
douhtcdiv lie would ridicule any ad-
vances on the subject of his souls sal
vation-it almost annoyed me when
Johns deep, honest voice intruded it
self for another brief observation 81
suppose. sir, the kirk is open To a
alike " hen needfu.'"
Fitting memories of the fact that
nay wife had imagined of late that John
was much Interested in kittie NAL
colin, waitress at Nh. Stiles house.
Hp-ttl iHibu-h NY iiiiiti ~ 1 tiiSus
half regretfuliy, II suppose the man
wants tn marry Kittie some day" So
replied somewhat shortly. "Yes, John
presume any one can have the Use Oi
the church who wishes it,"
Was ii my fancy, or did John really
sigh heavily A. lac drew in the reins
and soothed Matte the mare. whc
seemed iuelined tn shy and stumble il
an Hnw0nted mhnner. she trotted
briskly through the snow
81 guess Matte must bs sharpshod
tomorrow, john" said, coming
some wl,at out of my reverie- -....
"Aye, aye, sir-r; its guide care "
gle the horse 10 fear-r :"
Was there really tinge of bitter
ness IN the voice Of my always re
spectful John oh Dot it was simply