Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-04-03
The MINISTER'S CHOICE,


IS 1t can pour, Deacon Graves And this
Sunday, too, of all Sundays. It's strange
why the world is full of contrariest"
It's bad, Philury, bad enough. Johns
first Sunday, too! But may be twill clear
up before meeting time. If il rains before
seven twill quit before 'leven.''
It's just cur luck, deacon. I'm not one
bit afraid to say that it won't stop. And
there's the Piilsburys, and the Kents, and
the Simorses all IN town, besides the city
boarders, and Miss Catlin, and they won't
one of EN- hear our John preach. The
first spatter on the window-pane woke
me up. The wind IS in the east, too. Nv
sakes ~
Well. Philury, we can't change the
weather, no how; that's beyond our iuris-
diction; lis in the hands of higher pow
en-"
But what'l we do, deacon ?"
We can't do any thing Philury, as |
see, only submit to it..
We've had such gorgeous weather all
along. deacon, not bit of rain, and such
warm, sEnny days, that | can't understand
why it should rain the very first time he's
going to preach, too?"
The crops need the rain the worst way.
| Philury. Ii will be accounted as a great
! blessing to the whole country, only wish
it had held off day longer"
J Ii might have begun this afternoon.
deacon, just as well as this forenoon. |
wouldn't have cared if ii had rained the
rest of the week, but this morning of all
times, when I've been counting on Johns
! preaching in our cid Westinghouse and
praying for it ever since he was born.
! How does it look now?"
The deacon had arisen and gone to the
bedroom window and was looking toward
| thesky.
ITO tell the truth Philury, it's set in for
an old-iashiuned rain, and We'll 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 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. 4 great MANY
other mothers have felt Just as Mrs Graves
did, but their ambition was not realized.
Mrs. Graves ambition had been gratified,
and although she had consecrated John I'M
| reServedly, yet the weakness of the flesh
would assert it. Hadn't she calculated that
all the world of Aroostonook should hear
her son preach in the meeting house that
particular Sunday? Hadn't she had new
| black silk dress made for the occasion, and
her bonnet trimmed all over? How could
she wear all these new things in the rain d?
And then, too, folks wouldn't be apt to go
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 IL
| censed.
Its too bad, John" she said, as she gave
| him good morning kiss, too bad, such a
rainy day Your first Sunday, too. I'm
so sorry about it. The folks are all home
this month, and the city boarders and Miss
Catlin."
I'm not sorry at ALL mother" her son
answered cheeriully, as she sat down to
breakfast I'VE must take things as they
come. Old Br. Bellamy had class of the
illogical students to examine before the
| days of the seminaries. They had all met
| at his house. Alter he had satisfied him.
self That they were all thoroughly orthodox
aud had pronounced them sound in doc
trine, he told them there was one point
more he wanted them to remember 1t
was very important one. too, and would
| be Of the greatest value To them in their
ministerial life. All the students were anx-
ious to know what this point was that had
escaped their attention so long After the
reverend doctor had deliberated for few
moments, he drew himself up to hight
of dignity peculiar to himself, and in a very
solemn manner said, slowly and impress
sively: Young gentlemen, when il rains
let 1t rain Good morning. and bowed
himself out of the room. SO, mother, dear
when it rains We'll let it rain. It's strong
theological point you know, TO be satisfied
with cur present condition when 1t is or
derei by heaven, and quite beyond ON
power to change it."
" Maybe they all 20 if it does rain. " the
mother ventured II Remark " It's a warm
rain, and most of the women have gossa-
mers nowadays"
John smiled.
Did you ever think, mother, what az
ordeal it might be for a young man tt
preach in his own town, where he has al
ways been known, his boyish FRANKS re
membered, his youthful unfledged acts al
set down against him ? To get up in the
pulpit and preach to all the fathers and
mothers, who only look on me as Deacon
Graves boy John, takes away great dea
Of the enthusiasm, the glory, as you might
please to call it. Have you considered that
| may Gislppoint you and moi come up to the
standard?' he SAID, laughingly-" and YOU
be ashamed oi your preacher son, my dear
good, ambitious mother? Perhaps you will
have occasion to thank the Lord devuutly
that he sent rain upon the thirsty earth
this particular morning"
When the first bell began to send forth
its music the clouds really seemed to be
moving off. If the wind could only be
coaXed to shift into the northwest it would
be sure to be clear But the obstinate
-. . IL
proud head, would not be induced as
much as to look sideways toward the point
of compass sure to indicate clearing up.
When the second bell rang it was raining
hard. Mrs Graves put on her second best
dress and her everyday bonnet, and told
the deacon she felt ~ if she had had cold
wafer poured over her. But the Pillsburys
and the Kents, and the city boarders, and
even Miss Catlin came in, one after an
other, with dripping umbrellas and wet
gossamers. Everybody wanted to hear
Deacon Graves son John preach his first
sermon in the old meeting house. The
girls, who had known him all his life, had
decorated the church with flowers, and the
choir had been drilling all the preceding
week.
Rev. John Graves seemed perfectly self
possessed III the pulpit beneath who's,
droppings he soothingly slept on his moth
ers arm when child, and later heard hi,
name read off among those who were tc
Join on the profession of their faith.
The good old silver haired pastor had intro
duced the new disciple of the Lord Jesn.
Christ as lone of our children of the COW
enant." The sermon was far beyond what
the people who had always known Johr
had given him credit for. So often did Tho
loving mother find herself thinking of the
temporal glory, instead ofthe spiritual, tina
she offered up Il silent prayer that she
might be kept from spiritual pride, and re
ceive this mark of Gods kindness to her il
4 humble manner But her ewes woulC
stray to the corner OF the pew in which
Miss Catlin sat. She watched that vouns
ladys face; she noted the interest witt
which she listened. For Mrs. Graves hac
only arrived at oneof the nights of her am
bition; although she would scarcely &C
knowledge it 10 herself, she had another
ambition to which, as yet, she had not at
tanned unto. She wanted John to marry
Miss Catlin. Miss Catlin was Just her idet
Of ministers wife She had tact to &c
along with al the different kinds OF meIa
bers. Mrs. Graves firmly believed that il :
minister got good wife it was hal the bat
tie won. She was going to invite Miss Cat
| lin with some othar