The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1886-03-24

my own sermon in my hand and passed
it to him. AS l afterward discovered,
the paper used was identical with his
own, and saw that he was under the
impression that the missing Ms. had
been restored to him, for, spreading it
out leisurly, he looked calmly round
the congregation with certain degree
of impressment, as if nothing unusual
had happened. He spoke the first few
words extempore, and then had re-
course to the MS. He started on see
ing the handwriting, but it was too late
now to recede, so, after giving me q
glance of surprise, he began to read.
The sermon was filled with passages
which / had carefully selected for their
beauty, and these he frequently deliv-
cred with true eloquence. Sir Peter
was attentive and critical, and in COM
mon with every one else plainly con-
sidered the sermon to be an excellent
one. After the conclusion of the morn
ing services the bishop sought an oppor-
tunity of speaking to me.
You relieved me-" said he, " from
most awkward predicament, though
greatly deplore the means you used.
1t would not do, of course, for the mat
ter to pass beyond ourselves; and L
think can best requite your service by
presenting you with the living of Shep-
pington."
was so overcome by surprise and
gratitude that | could scarcely murmur
my thanks. soon contrived, in an agi-
tated whisper, to convey the intelligence
to Fanny; but her sad smile told me
that she did not think my good fortune
great enough to alter the attitude of
her parents toward us. / was, never
theless, much eated, and | was so abb
sorbed by other thoughts that, when 1
! found myself in the pulpit in the after
that had given the bishop my sermon,
and had not taken care to provide my
self with another. The church was
again crowded; the bishop and Sir
Peter Surlyman were present; and
every one seemed to me to be conscious
of my mishap. / reflected that if left
the pulpit the bishop might think l was
rendering my behavior in the morning
equivocal when / had handed him the
MS, and he might therefore cancel his
presentation. My dilemma was greater
far than his, as my whole future life
seemed to be trembling in the balance.
While thus distracted, my eyes fell on
a paper lying in the bottom of the pull
pit, and almost concealed by foot
stool. l stopped to lift it, fervently
hoping that it might prove to be some
old sermon which had providentially
found its way there. Thank goodness
it was a sermon; and 1 had begun to
| 7 40 II @
the bishops own sermon, which he
usthave droppedl Providence seemed
to have eXtricated me from my diff
Guilty, and there was no time to reflect
on the propriety of my conduct; so
without any hesitation l began to
preach. l soon entered into the spirit
of the magnificent OBSCURE, and did as
much justice as l could to the eloquent
periods. Sometimes the words flowed
smoothly onward in mellifuous
stream, and anon they would rise into
the thunder of harsh denunciation.
Once when raising my hand in an ora
torial gesture, while 1 delivered an
anathema against worldliness and self
esteem, l caught the bishops eye and
quailed before the angry expression OF
his pale statuesque countenance. ]
was too much absorbed with my sub
ject, however, to be affected by any.
thing else then; was carrying my au-
dience away with me, and could not re-
linquish my hold. Almost immedi.
ately after l left the church l met the
bishop.
"Sir," he said, in low voice of sup
pressed anger, you will please con
slider the presentation l made this
morning as revoked; and l greatly re
greet that have no other means of ex
pressing my sense of your unworthy
behavior" Now to this day 1 canno
see why he should have been so great,
offended with me. He must have beef
aware that the course l had taken wa
unprecedented and involuntary. Be
sides, as he had preached my sermon
it was surely no less than just that
should preach his. / was present at TIT
dinner at the vicarage, and in his con
versation with the Bishop Sir Peter dit
not seem at all tractable-a child nigh
have told the Squire was not in
mood for granting favors-and thinl
the bishop knew it. l was mserabl,
enough myself; the ray of SUNSHINE
that had shone upon my fortunes in tn
morning was gone, and again all wa
dark. After dinner, as soon as w
reached the drawing-room, Sir Pete
Surlyman accosted me and entered int
conversation. When we had talked TO
little,
" Young ma-an," he said, with
strong nasal twang he had, that wa
stunning good sermon you gave u
this afternoon; it knocked the bishop
into cooked ha-at. l mean you to b.
the vicar of SloptonWold, and I'll com
sometimes to hear you preach"
And then to ratify his choice he pre-
claimed it to the bishop and vicar, bot
of whom seemed as astounded as my
self. / could scarcely credit my goo
fortune till had actually read it in tn
newspapers. No sordid obstacle no,
blocked my path to happiness. Fanny
parents, however, had so often an
: so Enthusiastically manifested their oil
lection to any attentions which / pal
their daughter that it was no easy mat
ter for either them or me-possessing
as | trust we did, sufficient measur
of self-respect-to approach each othe
on new footing, so that it seemed prof.
able Unjust leave ClOverfield without al
irving at the understanding which / S
greatly desired. Several evenings be
fore my departure was standing tall