Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1888-12-26
EXCESSIVE PUNCTUALITY.
The Amusing way In Which the
Bakers Got 20 Church on Time.

The new minister who was called bore not
resemblance 20 The former incumbent, I'M
less a might be- IN u similar impression that
he made Of honest purpose and purity OF
thought Tho old pastor had been gentle
and meek ia all his ways, studying hard to
give his people most excellent sermons,
coming back. sometimes, from "a four weeks
vacation In summer with aching head and
half-rcstcd nerves. never dreaming OF ask
Ing for another two weeks, that should have
been voluntarily offered II the congrega-
too dropped into careless habits, he deeply
regretted them, but offered no reproof.
The new minister remarked 10 himself
for his wife was not with him-that It was
high time 10 bring this church 10 a lnowl-
edge OF its doliuqucnces. The time for
opening the services on Sunday morning
was nominally az halfpast ten, but not
more than half the congregation were pres
ent at that hour. A number came In dur
ing the first hymn The reading OF Script
urc was favorable time Tor the entrance
OF tho Smiths, Browns aud Piummcrs. A
group waited near the door until the long
prayer was over, and II the grown-up
daughters OF Peter James did not rustic up
tho aisle near the close OF the anthem, the
congregation knew that they were out Of
town.
The young clergyman waited a few weeks,
until he had called upon a large portion OF
the people. lie began M first 10 visit the
sick, and this plan became stepping-stone
10 the confidence OF those who were we'll
one Lords bay, after reading the notices,
nc said. al am sure you will kindly receive
the suggestion that | make this morning.
but / won't TO call your attention to the hour
for opening our worship. 10 IL announced
Us half-past ten. This does not mean TWEEN
80 - fttsfs 90 t.trmfng of plHVon
II means prseisclB hair gdst ten, aud the or
gan prelude Is rs much part OF our service
~ the hymns or the DCrmon."
No one could remember n similar reproOf
from that pulpit, much as IL had boen need
ed. The congregation, recovering from the
frat shock, rather liked the new sensation.
Sntlcs rlppled over sober faces, and chances
nj each otter told the spirit with which IL
had been received. A general straighten-
ing up Of the audience was apparently the
result Of "a stern mental resolve
The Bakers lived upon farm about a
mile from tho village The head Of the
house, n most worthy man In every respect,
and prompt enough la business relations,
was yet porsisteutly and uniformly late at
church on Sabbath morning. The horse
was brought TO the door fully thrce-quar-
ters Of am hour before its owner was ready,
aud Mrs Baker, grown-up daughter, Su-
.ic. little Tim and a bachelor brother, passed
ahat time In nervous irritabilty or hope
less patience. ~ like 10 have 'em get
pretty well along.r was the good-natured
reply % all suggestions OF haste.
SO three members Of this family were
highly pleased with the new minister's 70.
prcof. and inwardly hoped that " Pa - would
appropriatc the whole Of IL. He had nc
idea OF taking more than his own share
ana only observed 20 his pastors well
you hit the heel Of Achilles hard blow 20
day"
But fixed determination TO be on time
the next week, by force OF strategy, took
possession Of q majority Of the Baker house
hold.
II ,oiu get ~ meeting early for once
resolved the housC-m0ihcr. when Saturday
night came. AID she stood winding up the
old clock whose place was la the west en-
try. ssI'il put this clock along twenty min
utes. It's the FIRST time la Iny life ] evei
did such thing. but irl not have thu
dcacon's folks laughing 10 sec us come m
late. There's no earthly reason why we
should, either"
n actually seemed as II the clock licked
faster ont Of pure astonishment at being
hurried along. and she was glad 10 shut the
door and lose the sound.
JUST Is tho NAll lNNtAtA ~ AhANAfsh NtAl fHel
window on SUNDAY morning, David, the
bachelor brother. aroused from sleep, aud
reflected that II was meeting day "And
know what I'm going 10 do. IN put that
clock along half an hour before let the
cows out. TN see II my bald head must gu
up that aisle after every bOdy's there. Won
der never thought Of dong IL beforer'
He went into the kitchen and threw up
the windows TIE fragrance Of sweetbriar
and honcvsucxla foated Ia, and the slow
ticking OF the tall old timepiece scpnded
clear and distinct as the strokes OF ham,
mer through the stllness Of the farm
house. when David left the outside door
open the suabeams danced upon the brown
floor with wide-awake alertncss, suggest
ing 10 him that II was high time any way
that the funiiy were up, and half an hour
would bc no loss de patted the heads Of
she cattle. a. no turned them down the
river road, with an approving sense of his
own foresight
Susie woke mp two hours earlier thar
usual for irgr Young head was burdenec
with n scheme for taking her father 4
meeting on time Il shan't dare to tel
ma" ran tho line OF her thought, "for sh'
never dcccives p1 In any way, but do be
lieve IN put that clock along Just gittl'
way. Thou we shall gain few nHuutei
without any fuss Every body viii look a
rs nd smile u We go In late to-day. Unch
Dave must have gOne out don't want
soul 20 know. So. stealing downstairs OF
Hp-toc. through the kitchen. pretty figure
and fresh herself as the early morning, shl
opened the glass door that covered the fac
OF the clock. cncc moro spccdcd the Ion.
hand twenty minutes on its course, an,
then rushed back 10 her bed
The next one TO disturb tho silence Of IN
long room was Nr. Baker himself n
glanced ont into tho entry. Who'd hnv
thought u was 30 late Well, Two a goo
mind % pat that clock along, and hurry 'el
up q littic this morning. Believe IN tr
and start 81 tweniv minutes cerlior "a