River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1888-12-20

| 1uAttcu himself very creditaOly. lie
delivered a striking and pathetic adj
dress from the words: The Foolish
ness OF Preaching" and the physical
disability under which he was evident
" laboring, only served to heighten
the effect of his illusions TO tie
'earthen vessels" 10 which celestial
treasures were so often intrusted. But
In the evening. obedient to his doctors
orders. the good man stayed at home,
leaving the whole service to Mr.. Crib
Der, and submitting himself patiently
TO such coddling measures as his wife
thought At 20 enforce.
A. the night drew on DIR. Sparkle
became very much depressed. despite
all his wife's efforts to cheer him.
Il am sure you would have been
pleased, dear, il you could have heard
the way the people spoke of you when
coming out of church this morning.
The Grundys had some friends with
them, and they said that they never
heard better sermon
tienerally the vicar was keen enough
to listen to any little bit OF tittle-tattle
OF a fattering character. but on the
present occasion he seemed distressed
rather than pleased. Turning uneasi-
" on the pillow-his wife had made
him go to bed carlyle merely said,
in languid voice:
And you. my dear-what did you
think OF it?"
II think It was the most beautiful
sermon you ever preached" replied
the lady, enthusiastically. though all
your sermons have been splendid OF
late Some months ago. you remem-
Der. you complained of feeling ex-
hausted. and insisted that the fountain
Of your ideas was drying up. But it
seems to me that ever since your ideas
have been brighter AM more original
than formerly; they have bubbled and
sparkled as though TO match your
name"
This was an old family joke, and it
| always used to please him. Now,
however, It seemed to have lost its eff
cacy. TIE worthy man threw his arms
| impatiently on the counterpane. and
exclaimed, DlLterly:
II feel exhausted and utterly dried
up tonight, anyhow. I'm fit for moth
ing
You have studied too hard, Lethe,
/ dear. Your brain has been over
wrought said Mrs. Sparkle, affec-
tiOnately. I'VE must go for nice
long holiday when the new curate
comes Only last week DIR. Brigg said
that if ever a man had earned holt
day you had"
''Ah, by the way, | wonder how
Cribber is getting on" interrupted the
vicar, glad. apparently, to change TO
the topic of conversation. Il should
like to have heard him for myself"
You are better where you are. dear,
much better" urged the good woman,
as she carefully tucked him in for the
night Mr.. Grundy will bring US all
the news in the morning. and then We
can talk things over"
The important thing is what Mrs.
Grundy, the mouthpiece of the flock,
will say" remarked the vicar. as he
settled himself among the pillows,
pleased apparently with his own wit
On Monday morning the vicar was
SO far recovered that he was able to
receive Mr.. Grundy in his study. The
worthy churchwarden was evidently
i'll at ease. His inquiries as to the
pastors health were profuse and long
drawn out; his observations on the
weather diffuse and inconsistent. At
length DIR. Sparkle found it necessary
to bring him to the point.
"Well. Mr.. Grundy. l am waiting to
hear how every thing went off last
night"
'Oh, first-rate. sir. first-rate. Large
congregation, beautiful anthem, Of
fertory above the average"
''And Mr.. Cribber?"
"A most excellent young man. as
believe. sir Fine voice; made a good
impression-that is, ON those who
hadn't heard you in the morning"
The vicar smiled, and looked well
pleased at what he deemed neat COM
pliment intended for himself.
We'll, my friend, you must remem-
Der he is but young man and without
much experience. We ought not to be
too critical We all had to make
beginning once"
1T isn't that sir. 1t was the coinci-
dence that struck the people"
The what?1 exclaimed DIR. Sparkle,
a vague sense of uneasiness creeping
over him
The coincidence. sir. He gave us
The FOolishness of Preaching over
again. mean his text was the same
as that which you so ably expounded
il the morning"
Rather awkward" laughed the
vicar. II fear it would have embar-
rassed the poor young fellow had he
known about it; but, after all, the
thing might easily happen. The
words are in the evening lesson, though
/ took them for my text in the morn
ing. You see, the arrangement for
Mr.. Cribber to preach was somewhat
hurriedly made"
But it isn't only the text-it is the
sermon itself the people are talking
about, sir. didn't pay much atten-
ton myself. but Mrs. Grundy sill have
it that. though the words were differ
ent. the substance, the backbone, the
skeleton was just the same"
The skeleton exclaimed the vicar,
in a hOrrOr-stricken voice.
We'll. that is the word my wife
used" said the church warden, apollo
geticalIy. Il didn't quite follow her
myself; for. though I've heard Of peo-
pie having skeletons in a cupboard,
never knew of one in a pulpit" Mr..
Grun1y laughed at his own smartness.
S;;t dark cloud settled upon the broad
brow OF DIR. Sparkle.
Il think" he at last said. gravely,
that the people must have been misled
by some passing resemblances and fam
cied analOgies. Hearing the same
text. the thoughts Of those who were
present in the morning would natural
" run in the lines suggested by my
treatment OF the subject. ana they
would thus read meaning and refer
ence into the. perhaps. confused Ian
guage Of a Young and inexperienced
preacher, which were not really in
tended TO be conveyed by him"