The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1886-02-17
Lawyer and Minister.

age, Wnen ne was SurprlSeu one evening
to receive call from his classmate,
Harvey Leigh. In college days they
had been friends, and for awhile after
their graduation they had exchanged
letters and visits; but the letters and
visits had come to an end long ago, and
it was many years since they had met.
AS they sat in the book lined study,
each eyed the other curiously. Years
had sat lightly on Mr.. Leigh, and he
was dressed fashionably, almost youth
fully. In his dark red neck-scarf was
thrust gold dogs head with ruby eyes,
and to the parson the scarf and dogs
head suggested sporting character,
and he wondered mildly that highly
respectable, prosperous and middle
aged lawyer should thus adorn his
person.
WE'LL" Mr.. Leigh said, and how
do you fancy the idea of becoming met
ropolitan preacher and seeing your
sermons garbled in the Monday morn
ing's paper?"
aThe papers didn't garble my SER
mon this week." said the doctor. "On
the contrary, the reporters picked out
the best and overlooked the worst in
the kindest and most fattering fashion,"
Mr.. Leigh laughed. "You won't be
amicable to reporters when you know
them better. This is quite change
from your old life, and an agreeable
change, no doubt. Or do you believe
that God made the country and man
made the town."
81 believe that God made them
both - renlied the parsOn.
"Ah, that's neat-very neat By
the way, / ought to call you doctor. l
read your book on the Atonement with
a good deal of pleasure" The parson
winked, but Mr.. Leigh did not observe
that. 81 don't wonder the college
doctored you for it, though your ideas
must seem rather liberal to the musty
old fogies who peddle out Latin and
Greek and theology"
l came near being one of the musty
old fogies myself" said DIR. Melton.
"They wanted me to be professor,
but / prefer to be parson."
"A city parson," said his guest.
"I am not sure about the city part"
said DR.. Melton. &C 1t was pleasant up
there in the country; l was attached to
my people; l like to putter about in my
garden. / was astonished when l re-
ceived a call from New York. don't
know that / would have accepted it if
one of my deacons had not had prom
ising son ready to fill my place, and 1
think that my congregation rather liked
the idea of a young dominic. / had
should live and die country parson !;
but here 1 am"
6 With six thousand dollars a year
and comfortable house," added Mr..
Leigh.
The parson frowned. GA man with
four children has no right to slight a
chance for lettering his fortune; but
it was not the money that brought me
to New York. There is work here"
He broke off suddenly, perhaps because
he saw the shadow of sheer on Mr..
Leigh's lips. L" And you are still living
in Philadelphia" asked DIR. Melton.
&C Yes, indeed; would not live any
where else. New Workers may turn up
their noses and call it village, but
Philadelphia suits people who belong to
the old Quaker stock"
" You have a son, believe, to per-
petuate the name?" the old parson re-
marked.
One son-an only child. Morton is
twenty-four, and reading law in my
office. A bright fellow, too; never gives
me moments uneasiness; always at
work, steady-going, and no boyish non
sense about him?
&C Twenty-four," the parson repeated
" and no nonsense about him? There
is much of nonsense about my boys,
am hap-sorry to say. Still hope they
won't disgrace me. Their mother thinks
they are all right, and / am learning
every day of my life that my wisdom,
as compared with others, is beneath
contempt. can hardly believe you
have a son twenty-four. Why, you are
a spruce young man yourself"
'sThanks to life free from excuses
of every kind" said Mr.. Leigh. "Ant
l married early-I advocate early mar
rage, if man has money enough to
support a family. This waiting to scrapt
together paltry income is terribly hare
on young man. Yes, married early
and / have every reason to believe my
son will follow my example,"
" And when is your boy to marry"
asked the doctor.
" Oh, il is not quite arranged yet,
replied Mr.. Leigh.
g So you arrange marriages in Phil
adelphia? And this particular marriage
is not quite arranged? Humph! l dom
understand that sort of a thing. Up il
the country it is Mary, | love you,
and Jack, love you in return an'
then my services are called for. How
does one arrange marriage in Phila
delphia?'
The touch of sarcasm was quite los
on Mr.. Leigh, who had crossed his leg
and sat absorbed in thought, frownin!
at the patcnt-leather tip on his nea
shoe. Ills host watched him until h
recrossed his legs and looked up.
" Have you any daughters, doctor?'
he asked.
"Two of them"
Grown up?" :,
81 hope so, otherwise they'll towe
over my head" .,o
And do you understand them?
asked Mr.. Leigh, with gravity tina