St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1888-11-22
HOW THE BAKERS WENT EARLY
TO MEETING.
Harriette Rea in Christian Union.

similar impression that he made OF
honest purpose and purity of thought
The old pastor had been gentle and
meek in his ways, studying hard to
give his people most excellent sermons,
coming back, sometimes, from a -four
weeks vacation in summer with ach-
ing head and half-rested nerves, never
dreaming of asking for another two
weeks, that should have been volunta-
rily offered. If the congregation drop
ped into careless habits, he deeply re-
GREETED them, but offered no reproof.
The new minister remarked to him
self-fOr his wife was not with him
that it was high time to bring this
church to a knowledge of it's delin-
quencies. The time for opening the
services on Sunday morning was nOmi-
nally at half-past ten, but not more
than half the congregation were pres
ent at that hour. A number came in
during the first hymn. The reading OF
Scripture was a favorable time for the
entrance of the Smiths, Browns, and
Plummers. A group waited near the
door until the long prayer was over,
and if the grown-up daughters of Peter
James did not rustic up the aisle near
the close of the anthem, the congrega-
ton knew that they were out of town.
The young clergyman waited a few
weeks, until he had called upon large
portion of the people. He began at
first to visit the sick, and this plan be-
came stepping stone to the conf
dence of those who were we'll. One
Lords Day, after reading the notices,
he said: 81 am sure you will kindly
receive the suggestions that | make
this morning, but l want to call your
attention to the hour for opening our
worship. 1t is announced as half-past
ten. This does not mean twenty,
twenty five, or fifteen minutes of
eleven. 1t means precisely half-past
ten, and the organ prelude is as much
part of our Ivice as the hymns or
the Sermon"
No one could remember a similar re-
proof from that pulpit, much as it had
been needed. The congregation, re-
covering from the first shock, rather
liked the new sensation. Smiles rip
pied over sober faces, and chances at
each other told the spirit with which
it had been received. A general
Strengthening up of the audience was,
apparently, the result of stern men
tai resolve.
The Bakers lived upon farm about
mile from the village. The head of
the house, il most worthy man in every
respect, and prompt enough in bust
ness relations, was yet persistently and
uniformly late at church on Sabbath
morning. The horse was brought to
the door fully three quarters of an
hour before it's owner was ready, and
Mrs. Baker, grOwn-up daughter, Su
sic, little Tim, and batchelor brother
passed that time in nervous irritable
ty or hopeless patience. 81 like to
have 'em get pretty well along" was
the good natured reply to all sugges-
tons of haste.
SO three members of this family were
highly pleased with the new minister's
reprOOf, and inwardly hoped that "Pa"
would appropriate the whole of it. He
had no idea of taking more than his
own share, and only observed to his
pastor, "Well, you hit the heel of
Achilles hard blow to-day"
But fixed determination to he on
time the next week, by force of strate-
gy, took possession of a majority of
the Baker household
81 will get to meeting early for
once" resolved tie house mother when
Saturday night came, and she stood
winding up the old clock, whose place
was i'll the west entry. 'T'n put this
clock along twenty minutes. It's the
first time in my life | ever did such a
thing, but | Will not have the Deacon's
folks laughing to see us come in late.
There's no earthly reason why we
should, either"
1t actually seemed as if the clock
licked faster out of pure astonishment
at being hurried along, and she was
glad to shut the door and lose the
sound.
Just as the sun looked in through
the east window on Sunday morning,
David, the bachelor brother, aroused
from sleep, and reflected that it was
meeting day. ''And | know what Pm
going to do. III put that clock along
half an hour before [ let the cows out.
I'll see if my bald head must 90 up
that aisle after everybody's there.
Wonder | never thought of doing it
beforei"
He went into the kitchen and threw
up the windows. The fragrance of
sweetbrier and honeysuckle floated in,
and the slow ticking of the tall old
timepiece sounded clear and distinct
as the strokes of a hammer through
the stiffness of the farmhouse. When
David left the outside door open, the
sunbeams danced upon the brown
floor with a wide-awake alertness, sug-
costing to him that it was high time
anyway that the family were up, and
half an hour would be no loss. He
patted the heads of the cattle, as he
turned them down the river road, with
an approving sense of his own fore
sight.
Susie woke up two hours earlier than
usual, for her young head was burden
ed with scheme for taking her father
to meeting on time. 81 shan't dare to
tell ma" ran the line of her thought,
"for she never deceives pa in any way,
but / do believe I'll put that clock
along just little way. Then we shall
gain few minutes without any fuss.
Every body will look at us and smile
if we go in late to-day. Uncle Dave
must have gone out. | don't want a
soul to know" SO, stealing down
stairs on tiptOe, through the kitchen, a
pretty figure, and fresh herself as the
early morning, she opened the glass
door that covered the face of the clock,
once more speeded the long hand
twenty minutes on its course, and then |
rushed back to her bed.
The next one to disturb the silence |
of the long room was Mr.. Baker him
self. He glanced out into the entry.
"Who'd have thought it was SO late !!
Well, I've a good mind to put that
clock along, and hurry 'em up little |
this morning. Believe I'll try and
start off twenty minutes earlier. It'll |
be good joke, and I'll do it," By the