Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-03-01
tcoxTISuKDl
A SIN NOT TO BE FORGIVEN
BY LIZZIE ". cHAxpnr.


pulsively, land read one Of your sermonan
His friend was sinking into inconsistencies
again, but he grasped the idea partially and
a smile Of unutterable relief chased the tor
ture from his face.
'You vii, take my place" he said in tone
OF perfect confidence and profound gratitude;
"you Will do everything for me better than
could do for myself. L can endure anything
now
In few moments he was quietly sleeping.
~ must not betray his trust" Halsey said to
himself, a. he rumrnaged through his friends
desk: but the drawer which probably con-
tanned the sermons was locked, and he could
not end the key He glanced at his watch;
be had barely time 10 catch the train Never
mind he thought, Il have dozen Of good
ones by the ablest New York divines in my
shorthand notebooks. / will read one or two
OF them
Hastily throwing the note books and a few
necessary articles into a hand bag, be set out
for Ramota Gilead. The station was merely
a platform in the wilderness. The little set
Element lay three miles away, around the
spur Of Mount Haystack. An elderly man
was waiting upon the platform and shook
hands with Halsey, remarking: You are
Mr. Steele, s'pose. DIR. Corcoran has writ
ten us all 50 nsucn dDcuL yCu- tLdL lLS Wuoic
parish feel as II they knew you. though there
isut one Of us that has ever set eyes on you"
Cpto this moment all that Halsey had in
tended was to explain the situation, and to
offer 10 supply his friends place by reading
some Of the sermons with which his short
hand note book vas abundantly supplied.
Now the idea struck him that he might do his
friend good turn by actually personating
him The deacon had just shown him that
this was possible Why not do it, His self
esteem told him that he could make favor
able impression upon these country peo-
pie ami that report would he sent
to Dr. Corcoran of the athletic ap-
pearance Of the Rev Andrew Steele,
which would secure his friend the posi-
ton he wiahed Personally, the whole thing
appeared to him in a ludicrous light. 1t
would be another racy experience Of life, and
would make good story for his Bohemian
club, "rhe Free Iances." There was q risk
Of detection, but that only added fascination
10 the enterprise His decision was made in
q twinklng. and he shook hands with the
deacon with quite a ministerial air.
81 am going to take you TO our house, the
deacon remarked, as he led Halsey to his
horse and blackboard, which were hidden in a
group of sycamores at a little distance from
the track. "You see it rather tires the doc
tor TO have company put up at the parson-
age"
II am glad Of that thought Halsey, won
dering how he could have stood the two days
scrutiny of q doctor CT divinity, adding
aloud: ~ ara sure shall enjoy myself with
you, and hope you will tell me something
about your people, and what kind of preach
ing you like up here
''Well, young man." the deacon replied,
tive like the Gospel Some Of the oldest
amongst us are fond Of points OF doctrine,
but the most part spiritual babes and
have to be fed on milk They can't stand
stronger meat than free agency and free or
dination. We are mostly plain people, too.
We like plain living, plain dressing and
plain speaking. We don't take much stock
in man who quotes Shakespeare in his ser
mons or that wears jewery, or that is over
particular about his victuals."
Halsey stole hand furtively within his
linen buster and removed n diamond stud of
which he was not IA little vain. He had bought
it at a bargain Of an acquaintance who was
obliged suddenly to raise sum Of money,
and it had only been a perfectly safe invest
HleIlL VI u littit npait toni, bhe feopio hciS
could not understand this, and it was just as
well 10 suppress its glitter for the present.
He was glad that he had chosen a black neck
tie that morning. and was still more thank
full that he had not thrown away his last
white one after wearing it to Mrs. Delano's
german Mt Narragansett pier.
The good deacon was evidently pleased
with the young mans Difference in asking his
opinion, and he gave it literally. 1--WE all
think sight of the old Doctor he said; ait 5
almost more than some OF us can bear to
think of his being set aside from this pulpit.
| The more you can show the people that You
| haven't come to take his place; that you look
w to him Us Your father In Israel; that you
consider yourself put here only to stay up his
hands as Aaron aud Hur did those OF Moses,
the more yon will please them. He will sit
| in his pulpit on Sunday, and of course you
| will ask him to make the longest prayer"
Gan of them, all of them" IIalsey ex-
| claimed, eagerly. He Ind not before conSd-
cred the contingency of being obliged to ad
| dress the Supreme Being in mock devotion,
and he was glad to be relieved from this act
of hypocrisy.
al suppose you've not been ordained vet"
the deacon continued. and it will be the doc
| tors part to pronounce the benedction. Any
other little attentions which you can show
him Will better Your chance with this
| congregation" The deacon seemed to
take it for granted that Halscy's SUI
preme aim in life was to settle
down as assistant preacher in this obscure
! town, and the youn. man laughed inwardly
scornfuly reviling the notion; while he re-
| piled with the utmost Difference, II will en-
deavor to bear your advice in mind"
They passed scattering farms and on one
of these the deacon pointed ont a man clad in
russell blue overals, faded blue shirt and flap
ping straw hat who was engaged in breaking
n yoke of oxen, rs IN important magnate IN
the church. That" said he, sis Brother
Slocumbe. He wa, n Methodist before he
joined our communion, and there's nothing
now that he likes better than rousing
camp meeting. He's hard worker, and gen
orally sleeps through the morning service,
hut he gets considerably refreshed in mind hy
evening. and he can be depended upon to
cupy the time if he's wanted He's fond of
pretty lively kind Of preaching. with good
deal of thrashing around The doctors get
ting too weak hinged for him. He likes to
have n minister come out strong on everlast-
ing punishment and the danger of falling
from grace and when man breaches he
wants him to preach all over
Hslsey made mental memorandum TO
give to Brother Slocumbe one Of the strong
est sermons he could find the next evening,
and he listened eagerly for further sugges-
tons
We've sprinkling," said the deacon,
I'm thankful to say it's only sprinkling,
of folks who think more of culture than they
do Of religion. The Pearce girls rather lead
here on matters of education. They read
German and attend the summer school of
philosophy at Concord When they don't
find fault with the minister we all take it for
granted that he's some. 1t would he grand
thing if you could show them that you know
as much as they do but you don't look as if
you were equal to it, and you needn't put
yourself ont for them. There are the Rogerses,
who used to be Episcopahans; they'll be
bothering You about responsive exercise,
but don't you give in, we've fit that for five
years, it would cost too much to get it
printed, its too much trouble to get used to,
and it looks like going over to Rome
Halsey rubbed his forehead thoughtfully.
Should he give the Misses Pearce one of
Felix Adler's lectures before the Society Of
Ethical Culture or one Of Joseph Cooks dis
quistionst If the Rogers family held the
,f l. -.