Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1886-05-01
THE MINISTER'S CHOICE.

Always just so. Raining just as
hard as it can pour. Deacon Graves.
And this Sunday, too, Of all Sundays.
It's strange why this word is full of
c%ontraries!'
"It's bad, Philury, bad enough.
Johns first Sunday, too! But may be
twill clear up before meeting time.
If it rains before seven twill quit be-
fore ~'levan."
s'lt's just our luck deacon. I'm not
one bit afraid to say that it won't stop.
And there's the Pillsburys, and the
Kents, and the Simonses all in town,
besides the city boarders, and Miss Cat
lin, and they won't n of 'em hear
our John preach. The first spatter on
the window pane woke me up. The
wind is in the east, too. My sakes!'
swell. Philury, we can't change the
weather, no how, that's beyond our
jurisdiction; it's in the hands Of a
higher power"
"But what'll we do, deaconp"
1--WE can't do anything, Philury, as
I see, only submit to It,"
"We've had such gorgeous weather
all along, deacon, not a bit Of rain, and
such wsrm, sunny days, that l can't
understand why it should rain the very
first time he's going to preach. toop"
"The crops need the rain the worst
way, Philury. It will be accounted as
q great blessing of the whole country,
only l wish it had held of a day
longer"
sit might have begun this afternoon,
deacon, just as well rs this forenoon.
1 wouldn't have cared if it had rained
the rest of the week, but this morning
OF all times, when I've beon counting
on Johns preaching in u old meeting
house and praying for it ever since he
was born. How does it look nowP'
The deacon had arisen and gone to
the bed room window and was looking
toward the sky.
"'To tell the truth, Pnilury, it's set
in for an old -fashioned rain. aud wen
just have to acquiesce in the ways of
Providence and his dealings with us
this day, if they are disappointing and
completely different from what we cal
culated on"
Mrs. Deacon Graves had consecrated
her eldest son, John, to the Lord in
his earliest days. 1t had been her one
great ambition to have him a minister.
A great MANY other mothers have felt
just as Mrs. Graves did, but their am
bition was not realiz I'd. Mrs. Graves
ambition had been gratified, and al
though she had ~consecrated John un-
reservedly, yet the weakness OF the
flesh would assert itsel. Hadn't she
calculated that all the world of Aroooto-
nook should hear her son preach in the
Westinghouse that particular Sunday P
Hadn't she had q new black silk dress
made for the occasion, and her bonnet
trimmed ell overp How could she
wear all these new things in the rainP
And then, too. folks wouldn't be apt
to 60 out in the storm to meeting.
They vent everywhere else, but rains
on Sunday were quite apt to keep
Aroostonook folks at home. The
mother was very proud of John. her
John, who had just been licensed.
sits too bad. john" she said, as
she gave him a good morning kiss,
.'too bad, such a rainy day! Your
first Sunday, too. I'm so sorry about
il. The folks are all home this month,
and the city boarders and Miss Cat
lin"
I'm not sorry at all, mother" her
son answered c%heerfully. as she sat
down to breakfast. 1--WE must take
things rs they come. Old DR. Bsllamy
had a class Of theological students To
examine before the days OF the semi
naries. They had all met at his house.
After he had satisfied himself that
they were all thoroughly orthodox and
had pronounced them sound in doc
trine, he told them there was n point
more he wanted them TO remember.
1t was a very important me-. too. aud
would be of the greatest value to them
in their ministerial life. All the stu
dents were anxious to know what this
point was that had escaped their at
tention so long. After the reverend
doctor had deliberated for a few mo-
ments, he drew himself up to a hight
of dignity peculiar to himself and in a
very solemn manner said. slowly and
impressive)y: Young gentlemen. when
Il rains, let it rain! Good morning.
and owed himself out of the room.
So, mother, dear, when it rains we'll
let it rain. It's a strong theological
point you know. to be satisfied with
our present condition when it is or.
dered by heaven. and quite beyond our
power to change it."