St. Landry democrat., 1888-06-09

| NPoAi {" hees' Anoetiu mouse JUST hCrOS
the way. Then Ephraim married. l
was most foolish step from a world,
point of view. If the Blue Rock peopl,
were sure to find fault with youns
woman of many accomplishments ant
snug dowry, they were sure to fine
ten thousand faults with Israel Foster
daughter, though she was as prett,
and sweet as one of the wild roses tina
for brief time in June made the ston,
fences of Blue Rock beloved of hum
ming birds and bees. Israel Foster wa
OF no more account than Father Down
ney. de had earned little home anc
a few acres of land bartering tin-wart
for rags; but the house was now mort
gagged up to its full value t.
pay the debts of the
son who had lain down in that bee
OF shame and sorrow-a drunkard' s
grave. Pretty Ruth knew no more
about getting on in the world than
Ephraim. They were as worldly wise
as two babies in the woods. Having q
new Westinghouse, for which they
praised themselves not little, and
feeling secretly conscious they could
pay seven hundred year as easily as
they paid Mr.. Downey four, the Blue
Rock people were not modest in ex-
| pressing their dissatisfaction with the
| pas: Or s wife. The four hundred dol
lars began to fall behind in payment,
and Ephraim was compelled TO break
up housekeeping on his own account,
and go and live in the wing of his
father-in-law's shabby house, and this,
OF course, made matters worse.
Though small, Smyrne had its retailer
OF the unpleasant and as the Fosters
were not supposed to have the feelings
that 90 with full purses, through them
Mr.. Downey speedily learned that the
church was growing disaffected toward
him. He resigned at once. The Lord
had need of him elsewhere, he reasoned.
But that would have been an anxious
year had it not been for the never-fail-
ing tenderness Of father and mother
Foster, who were even unreasonable
enough to weep when he received
call to Sawville, a village of two thou
sand inhabitants and a real post-office.
The sawville church had big new
bell tower, and debt of proportionate
size. The late pastor had gone away
in stiff quarrel, as had each one of
his predecessors, and the church was
divided into two hostile camps of about
equal numbers with either Of which it
was destruction for the pastor to SYM
pathize. For eight years Mr.. Downey
administered to this people, trying to
bring peace where, from the nature OF
things, there could only be pieces"
At last the election of deacon dis
turbed the hardly maintained equilib-
rum to such degree the pastor was
compelled to resign. Il did the best / |
could" he wrote to DR.. Strong. But,
my dear old friend, they would fight
St. Peter. speak simply the truth
ITO justify self, we sometimes APP
proach dangerous ground" wrote back |
DR.. Strong, with very black lines under
the words; but he added, kindly: Il
have sent your name to Sandy Greek.
a most desirable settlement, and also to |
Sandy Creek was determined to call
q D. D. Plenty was to be had cheap
Ephraim. therefore, never received SO
much as postal card from that COM
nittee. But Annex, being oppressed
BY a big debt and the failure of one of
is principal givers (known vaguely as
"a speculator }, called him at twelve
hundred dollars-eight hundred less
han the last they had ever before
given a pastor. Annex prices were ex-
'rbitant But Ephraim was ignorant
# this fact, and believing this call "a
eading of Providence" as no doubt it
vas, accepted it The church member
hip was very like panorama. Fam
lies moved in from Zoar, staid year,
hen, tired of living Item miles from
emon, y returned. It was very neces-
airy that the Annex pastor should be
Lrawing man, the permanent residents
etiO, ~ PClSGdOC 1lCN~JOulcIS VI IueduS |
o remain. He must, of course, be a
ocial man, and know the gossip of
oar. His wife, too must be
lively, and a credit to the congrega-
ion. With weedy whiskers, mild gray
yes, and red hands, Ephraim could
o more bestylish than he could fly. But
God clothes, could he have afforded
hem, would have improved his looks,
nd horse and buggy would have
realty facilitated his sociability; for
lnnex was In the hands of real estate
len, and though small in numbers,
as vast in distances. The late pastor
ad received ten hundred dollars per
mum more. His wife, too, had a
rivate fortune, and he had been able
} go about in neat coupe, in excel
mt broadcloth, and. most pleasing of
/. ut his own expense. Then, too, he .
nd been to Europe. and had stand
I'd by which to make critical sug-
estions. But the end would not have I
'me SO soon could Mr.. Downey have
rought himself to preach without c
The pastor of the largest c
nd most fashionable church of Annex $
God up before his people like a pres U
digitator who wishes to convince his