Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1888-06-08

and Ephraim was compelled TO break
up housekeeping on his own account,
and go and live in the wing of his
father-in-law's shabby house, and this
of course, made matters worse
Though small, Smyrno had its retailer
of tho unpleasant and rs tho Fosters
were not supposed to have the feelings
that go with full purses, through them
Mr. Downey speedily learned that Tic
church was growing disailcctod toward
him. He resigned at once. The Lord
had need of him elsewhere, ho reasoned.
But that would have been an anxious
wear had IL not been for the ncvor-fail
ing tenderness of father aud mother
| Foster who were even unreasonable
enough to weep when he received Z
call to Sawvillc, u village of two thou
sand inhabitants and real post-oilicc.
| The Sawvillc church had big new
bell tower, and n debt of proportionatt
size. The late pastor had gone away
in u stilf quarrel, us had each one OF
his predecessors, aud the church was
divided into two hostile camps of about
equal numbers WITH either of which II
was destruction for the pastor to SYM
pathizc. For eight years Mr.. Downcy
administered TO this people, trying to
bring peace where, from the nature OF
things, there could only be 'picces. "
At last the election of deacon dis
turbcd the hardly maintained equilib'
rum to such degree the pastor was
compelled to resign. al did tho best
could, he wrote to DR.. Strong. But,
my dear old friend, they would fight
St Peter. Ispeak simply the truth. "
"To justify self, we sometimes mp.
proach dangerous ground" wrote back
Dr. Strong, with very black lines under
the words; but he added, kindly: al
have sent your name to Sandy Creek,
most desirable settlement, and also to
Annex"
Sandy Creek was determined to call
u ID. d. Plenty was to be had cheap.
Ephraim, therefore, never received Sc
much as n postal card from that COM
mittcc. But Annex, being oppressed
by big debt and the failure of one OF
its principal givers (known vaguely as
"a spcculator"), called him ut twelve
hundred doIars-eight hundred less
than the last they had ever before
given pastor. Annex prices were eX-
orbitant. But Ephraim was ignorant
of this fact, and believing this call "a
leading of Providence" us no doubt il
was, accepted it, The church member
ship was very like n panorama. Fam
| lilies moved in from Zoar, staid year,
then, tired of living "ten miles from a
lemon" returned. 1t was very neccs-
sary that the Annex pastor should be a
drawing man, the permanent residents
said, TO persuade newcomers of means
to remain. He must, of course, be n
social man, and know the gossip OF
Zoar. His wife, too must be
lively, and credit to the congrega-
tion. With weedy whiskers, mild gray
eyes, and red hands, Ephraim could
no more be stylish than he could fly. But
good clothes, coald he have afforded
them, would have improved his looks,
and horse and buggy would have
greatly facilitated his sociability; for
Annex was in the hands of real estate
men, and though small in numbers,
had received ten hundred dollars per
annum more. His wife, too, had n
private fortune, and he had been able
to 20 about in neat coupe, in excel
lent broadcloth, and. most pleasing OF
all, at his own expense. Then, too, he
had been to Europe, and had a stand
ard by which to make critical sug-
gestions. But the end would not have
como so soon could Mr. Downey have
brought himself TO preach without n
manuscript. The pastor of the largest
and most fashionable church uf Annex
stood up before his people like pres
tidigitator who wishes to convince his
audience there is nothing up his sleeves,
! and breaches without visible note.
His sermons were good, too and the
ease with which he delivered them
went far to prove tho assertion made
by the mthiniing part of his congre.
CATION, viz, that they were eNtemporc.
II write my sermons out and commit
Them" admitted Dr. Bland, when Mr..
Downey, after Il hcctoring deacon's S
meeting, questioned him on the sub
jcct. at is nervous business.
positively must not be disturbed while
am at work-for nothing less than q
death or the house aiire. Fan time is,
too, very trying to mci and never &c
into the pulpit without nervous chill,
lest restless child be in the audi,
ence."
Yielding 10 the persistent nagging
kept up by his deacons, Ephraim Wen
one Sunday into his pulpit without his
manuscript. All, what wrotchcd
week it cost DIR. Bland had no chill
drcn. The little Downeys had rompet
and cried twice rs much rs usual
Looking about, in his turn, for rest
less child, Ephraim at once found one
and nearly lost his wits in consequence
But his effort was success, and hi
congregation congratulated him warm
ly. But he would not repeat the per
formance-fOr performance il was Il
him, since his was not the gift 10 speal
without that preparatory memorizing
The church was never in so prosperou
condition. Poor people were Gowd
ing into it to hear the "good news.
Bat these things did rot "fll tn
ticket" rs tho fat dcn con said, and h
was asked to resign. That week hi
father-in-law died, and bequcNthe
only tho memory OF unfailing love t
his heirs, In eight months Ephrair
was as far from a settlement MS on tn
day he resigned, and he had just lively
dollars. His oldest child was dropsicf
from scarlet fever, and Ruth woul
soon add fifth to the group. Mothe
Foster. deaf agd childish. was to com
to live with them. 1t was the bcgir
ming of winter, and in ten days
months rent would fall due. Worst {
all, his late charge We're angry that h
I L. a