Evening capital., 1888-08-18
From the Methodist
THE PREACHER's ON VACATION.


Tho his step was slow and totterin' and twas
hard to travel there
But be hungered for the Gospel, 50 he trudged
the weary way
On the road so rough and dusty, meath the
suns hot burning ray.
By-and-bye he reached the building, TO his
soul holy place;
Then he paused and wiped the sweat-drops
from off his wrinkled face.
But he looked around, bewildered, for the old
bell did not toll
And the doors were shut and bolted, he did
not see soul
So he leaned upon his pilgrim-staff and said:
s'What does it meanf"
And he looked this and that way, till il seem
-. ed TO him a dream
He had walked the dusty highway (and he
breathed heavy sigh
just 10 60 once more to meetin' ere the sum-
mons came to die.
Soon he saw a little notice, tackled on the
meetin' door,
So he limped along to read it, and he read it
Ger and Ger;
Then he wiped his dusty glasses. and he read
Ger again,
Till his limbs began to tremble, aud his eyes
were full of pain.
As the old mad read the notice, how it made
his spirit burn
Pastor absent on Cdcdtien-Church is
closed till his return"
Then he staggered slowly backward, and sat
him down to think,
For his soul was stirred within him till he
thought his heart would sink.
So he moved along and wondered; to himself
soliloquized-
~ have lived till almost eighty and was
neCer so surprised.
As | read that oldest notice stuck on the
meetin' door
Pastor absent on cdcation never heard
the like beforel
'Why when first joined the meetin, very
many years ago,
Preachers travelled on the circuit, in the heat
and through the snow:
If they got clothes and vittals Ctwas but little
cash they goD,
They said nothing bout vacation, but were
happy in their lot.
"Would the farmer leave his cattle, or the
shepherd leave his sheep,
Who would give them care and shelter, or
provide them food to eat
Sc il strikes me very sing lar, when man of
holy hands
Thinks he needs to have vacation, and for
sakes his tender lambs.
''Did St. Paul git such notion? Did Wes-
lev, or a Knox?
Did they in the heat of summer, turn from
their needy focks?
Did they shut up their meetin'-iust to go
and lounge about?
Why, surely then if thus they did, Satin
would raise shout
''Do the tayerns close their doors, just to
take a little rest
Why 'twould be the height of nonsense, for
their trade would be distrest,
Did YOU ever know it happen, or hear anybo-
tell
Satan absent ON yacation--and closed the
doors of help
"And shall, preachers of the Gospel pack their
trunks and go away,
Leaving saints and dying sinners to get along
as best they mayg
Are the souls of saints snd timers valued less
than selling beer
mortals here
"Why it is cannot answer; but my feelings
they are stirred;
Here I've dragged my tottering footsteps to
hear the Gospel word;
But the preacher is a travelin' and the meet
in -house is closed;
confess it's very trying-hard indeed to
keep composed.
"TeH me when tread the valley, and go up
the shinin' height,
viii hear no angels singin' will | see no
gleamn' light
VIII the golden harps be silents VIII meet
no welcome there?
Why the thought is most dstressin', 'twould
be more than | could bear.
''Tell me when | reach the city, over on the
other shore.
VIII / find little notice tackled upon the gol-
den door,
Telling me, mil dreadful silence, writ in
words that cut and burn
Jesus absent on cGcation-Hedren closed
til has return?"