The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1886-09-01
The Minister'S Wife.

hard as it can pour, Deacon Graves.
And this Sunday, too, of all Sundays.
It's strange why the world is full of
contrariesp'
cts 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 'leven.'"
cts 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 Simmonses all in
town, besides the city boarders and
Miss Catlin, and they won't one of
'em hear our John preach. The first
spatter on the window-pane woke me
up. The wind is east, too My sakesl'
Well, Philury, we can't change the
weather, nohOw; that's beyond our
jurisdiction; it's in the hands of a
higher Power.'
But what'll we do, deacon?'
GIVE can't do anything, Philury, as l
see, only submit to it,"
"We've had such gorgeous weather
all along, deacon-not bit of rain, and
such warm, sunny days-that l can't
understand why it should rain the very
first day Johns home. And the very
first time he's going to preach, tool"
THE crops need the rain the worst
way, Philury. 1t will be accounted as a
great blessing to the whole country,
only wish it had held off a day longer.'
g 1t might have begun this afternoon,
deacon, just as well as this forenoon.
l wouldn't have cared if it had rained
the rest of the week. but this morning
Of oil ,.,lo,,
on Johns preaching in the old meeting
house and praying for it ever since he
was boy. How does it look now?"
The deacon had arisen and gone to the
bedroom window and was looking
toward the sky.
"To tell the truth, Philury, it's set
in for an old-fashioned rain, and We'll
have to acquiesce in the ways of Provi-
dence and his dealings with us this day,
if they are disappointing and completely
different from what we calculated 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 realized. Mrs. Graves
ambition had been gratified, and al
though she had consecrated John I'M
reservedly, yet the weakness of the
flesh would assert itself Hadn't she
calculated that all the world of Aroos-
tonook should hear her son preach in
the Westinghouse that particular Sun
day? Hadn't she had new black silk
dress made for the occasion and her
bonnet all trimmed over? How could
she wear all these new things in the
rain? And then, too, folks wouldn't be
apt to 60 out in the storm to meeting.
They went 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.
Its too bad, john" she said, as she
gave him good-morning kiss, /" too
bad-such rainy day. Your first Sun
day, too. Pm so sorry about it. The
folks are all home this month, and the
city boarders and Miss Catlin.'
"Pm not sorry at all, MOTHER" her
son answered, cheerfully, as he sat
down to breakfast. "We must take
things as they come. Old DIR. Bellamy
had class of theological students to
examine before the days of the SEM
inaries. They had all met at his house.
After he had satisfied himself that they
were all thoroughly orthodox and had
pronounced them sound in doctrine, he
told them there was one point more he
wanted them to remember. 1t was g
very important one, too, and would be
of the greatest value to them in theil
ministerial life. All the students were
anxious to know what this point was
that had escaped their attention so long
After the reverend doctor had deliber
ated few moments, he drew himself
up to height of dignity peculiar tC
himself, and in very solemn manner
said, slowly and impressively, Young
gentlemen, when it rains, let it rain
Good morning;' and he bowed himself
out of the room. So, mother dear
when ii rains we'll let it rain. It's {
strong theological point, you know, Il
be satisfied with our present condition
when it's ordered by Heaven and quit'
beyond our power to change it,"
g May be they'll all go if it does rain,
the mother ventured to remark. "It'r
warm rain, and most of the womeI
have gOssamers nowadays
John smiled.
Did you ever think, mother, what al
ordeal it might be for young man t,
preach in his own town, where he ha
always been known, his boyish prank
remembered, his youthful unhedged act
all set down against him? To get up il
the pulpit and preach to all the father
and mothers, who only look on me a
Deacon Graves boy John, takes ava
agreat deal of the enthusiasm, the glor
as you might please to call it. Have yo
considered that | may disappoint yo1
and not come up to the standard" HI
said, laughingly, and you be ashame
of your preacher son, my dear, good
ambitious mother? Perhaps you vii
have occasion to thank the Lord de
voutly that he sent rain upon the thirst
earth this particular morning"
When the first bell began to sen
forth its music the clouds really SCENE
to be moving off. If the wind coul