Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-11-07
A CIRCUIT RIDERS TRIALS.
The Kind Of Work for the New Preacher
to Do.
From the Philadelphia Star.

From the Philadelphia Star.
A number of young clergymen, all graduates
OF the Methodist Theological Seminary ct
Evanstown, met down town the other day and
we're relating to each other anecdotes of their
experience in the various fields to which they
had been assigned. my most amusing ex-
perience," said one young brother, was in
little village in Iowa where the conference
sent me to begin my ministerial work.
My circuit included three or four little villages
and as many school-houses, and tried TO
preach sermon at each place once every two
weeks. In the village of Edgewood dwelt q
good old lady named Mrs. Wickham, an emf
grant from the Green Mountains and one Of the
pillars OF the church. had Just been married
before going on the circuit and the next day
after our arrival in Edgewood Mrs. Wickham
sent for my wife and myself to come to her
house. In the afternoon we went and we're
warmly greeted by the old lady. 4 am SO glad
you've come, Brother L, and brought your
wife, said she. I've been waitin' and waitin'
you don't know how anxiously ever since
Brother Jones went away, which is nigh onto
three months, and there hasn't ben preacher
In this house since. I've got some little things
come, and now you've brought Sister l..
Let's get them off'n our hands and then we can
sit down and have good, long talk
u confess 1 was little puzzled at this re-
cept1on, not knowing exactly what the people
on my circuit had been in the habit of saving
up Tor the minister to do. However, was not
long left in the dark. The old lady disap-
peared into the kitchen and soon called for us
to follow. We did 80, and found the room lit
tered with two or three old bedsteads that had
been taken to pieces and spread about the floor.
In the middle of the floor stood Mrs. Wickham,
with big kettle of boiling water at her side.
Now, Sister l., jest you take this here
apron OF mine, or you'll spoil your dress she
said to my wife. The pesky bugs have been
so bad in these bedsteads that have some
times felt jest as if couldn't wait till you come
to give 'em good scalding.'
This, then, was part of the circuit riders
duties In Iowa, thought l; but the old lady
seemed to take it so entirely as q matter of
course that the preacher should help her with
her work that I couldn't well refuse. NV wife
iaughlngly put on the apron and went to work
and took off my coat and cuffs and took hold,
too. 1t was q long job, and after we had got
the bedsteads thoroughly scalded they had to
be carried upstairs, set up, and corded for
they were the old-fashioned kind of bedsteads
IN which ropes did duty instead of springs or
STATS"
But this did not end the work, for on COM
ing down stairs the old lady remarked that the
stove was little warm yet, but that if I was
careful could black it without burning my
hands. This was little too much, and I was
ABOUT to rebel. but my wife whispered to me
that we might as well make day of it. So we
went at that stove and polished it till you could
see your face in it, and then helped the old
lady clean up the kitchen. By that time
the sun was down, and our hostess kindly per-
United us to withdraw. Did we stay to supper?
Why, bless you, the good soul in her Joy at
getting her house cleaned up forgot to say
anything about supper. We were glad enough
to get home without being asked to dig up the
the potatoes or build calf pen. But ever
since that day my wife and have always had
prior engagement when aked to visit Mrs.
Wickham"