Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1886-12-08
mind you don't often see more earn

mind you don't often see a. more earn
est, scholarly face than his.
Then | noticed the sprinkling of
gray In his hair and beard, and some
how the tears would come into my
eyes as began thinking over the long
years he'd been among us. I couldn't
remember time or sickness when he
hadn't brought strength and comfort,
and | could almost hear again how
often his voice had seemed to bring
down beam of hope and faith as we
stood by all open grave.
When he came to his text John gave
me little poke, if you'll believe me, it
was the same we'd heard in the morn
ing. But had to confess to myself I
hadn't listened much, for I'd got into
the way Of thinking Brother Miles SER
mons didn't edify me any longer. |
thought to myself, though, that If
hadn't listened then, I would now;
and when saw the man we'd heard
in the entry give q lite nod to the
other man once in a while, as much as
to say, Didn't [ tell you SO? that's
one of of his clinches." I actually be-
gan to feel little bit scared, wonder
ing whether some of these Radnor folks
mightn't take g. notion to give our
pastor a call.
I think John, as we'll as I, was lit
tie proud to have folks know he was
our minister when the Misunderstanding
came, when meeting was out. And
when some one congratulated him at
hearing such preaching all the time, he
took it just exactly as if he'd always
considered Mr.. Miles the greatest
preacher going.
We didn't speak word for more
than half the way home, and then
John said:
81 say, Maria, there'ssuch thing as
going farther and faring worse"
"Well," said I, eff that's what you
mean, we've been faring just about the
same.n
"No." said he. "that isn't what
mean," and after awhile he said:
"Maria, how much bigger salary
ought We to raise for preacher?"
[ was right up and down disceur-
aged to hear him go back to that, for L
been all the time hoping he had been
thinking pretty much as l had. But I
didn't say anything, for I've often seen
it IS no use to oppose John when he's
worked up over q thing, but to try q
quiet word or two afterward. He went
on:
eyes, it ought to be done. Things
need stirring up, and I'm going to stir
EN-" He jerked the lines so Prancer
gave q jump. "That old parsonage
wants lots of repairing. Plltalk to the
men about it, and then couldn't some
OF you women folks see about new car
pets and papering and things?"
| said Eyes," although there was q
choking In my throat as [ thought of
doing it for folks / didn't care for, and
it came right face to face before me the
idea of our pastor going to seek home
among strangers. had q longing in
my heart to do better by him and his
than ever I'd done yet, and q feeling
that he could do more for us now that
he was getting little older, than he
could do as young man. But [
didn't say anything, and indeed, John
didn't give me any chance, for he kept
right on, speaking louder and more
excitedly:
eyes, Maria, we'll set things hum
ming. We won't stop till we've done
the thing up right, and then we'll wind
up with q rOusing big house-warming-
but it shall be for the old parson,
Maria-and we'll let him know before
we get through that he's worth ten
times more to us than all the young
ones that ever lived. Get up, Pranc-
er."