The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-03-10
r. THE NEW PREACHER.

new preacher at all; he had the same
ewes. nose. mouth and hair, was OF the
same height. and offered the same hanus.
Puf Others who can read between tue
lines and are thankful for the gift, de
clare that it was a new preacher. lie had
zone through some experience. HIS soul
lad changed. He had been born again
The preacher sat in his coy study III
the afternoon hours. 1t was his "deh,
where he was secure from all interrupt
ton. and furnished with the luxury oil n
Sybarite. Soft rugs upon The hoor, hand
some vases on the low bookcases that en-
circled the walls, rare etchings upon the
easel, costly engrayinSs oil every slde' "
cabinet Of coins in one corner, II a poem
in marble in another-it was no wonde
that he felt a thrill Of selt-satisfactlon as
he glanced in every direction. And his
sense Of comfort was heightened by the
roll Of proof sheets 0H his desk-hls lalest
work almost ready for publication. There
was q long row Of volumes since his oc'
cupancy OF the pulpit, but this was TO be
his crowning effort. and to increase still
further his fame. ,
There were TIC boohS, bhC -
his genius, on a long shelf all by them
selves. The critics spoke highly OF then;
the public bought them, the learned world
acknowledged their merit. History, biog-
raphv. criticism, were his special fields.
But his mind was SO versatile that he
could produce novels as well; and his
poems had also a rapid sale. As "A popu-
lar lecturer he always commanded a large
audience. HIS travels TO the east and his
discovery Of the missing tractate OF st.
T~heodosius had gained him the doctorate
from three Old World universities.
Yes, he had been singularly successful,
and that. too, without STOPPING TO any
mean tricks. lie was above sy%cophancy
and self-advertising. He had made his
way by hard pushing, by resolute work,
by sheer stamina, he was wont 10 say.
Not two decades in the pulpit, he had
long outstripped preachers OF his class III
the seminary, and left them and older
graduates far behind. He was known as
tbs eminent, the distinguished, and he en-
loved the luxury Of fame as only men OF
his character can. He had never done a
low action; he had never driven over an
adversary, but his talent and genius made
a track for themselves from the very
start.
II must be confessed that the preacher,
who was never idle, but always a miracle
OF industry, had one solitary failing-per-
haps there were others-he loved 10 dwell
upon his success, and go over in memory
each step in his advancement. That after
noon he was just iii such a MOOD, IL his
Drido was attaining fever neal.
james, 1t was the voice of his wife
as she drew aside the heavy curtain that
shut of the ''den" from the hall of the
parsonage.
"Wellsn came a q%uerulous tone from
the preacher, disturbed In his reyery.
THE boy is here whom you wished to
see"
What boy" he asked, In an impatient
tone.
Don't you remembers The boy for
whom you were to secure a situation.
You cannot, surely, have forgotten it. "
There was a shade Of pain in her voice.
"Oh, let him come tomorrow, Edith; l
cannot be bothered now. | have my
thoughts busy enough with other matters.
Let him come--say, this day next week F"
bul OlDlt7s Win ilAl
STRANGE in her tOne-"James, his mother
is destitute; she must have money"
Il cannot help 1t. Why am | always
troubled by that class OF people, 1t
would tax the patience of Job orthe purse
of Crpsus. Let him come next week; dc
you hear''
The preachers wife heard; she sighed
as she turned away, and babe the boy
come the following week. Then seeing
him to the door, she gave him a trifie for
present needs.
The preacher resumed his r%everie, but
found it difficult 10 regain his self-satis-
faction. His nature was keenly sensitive,
and the slightest cause would often pro
duce the intensest jar. And now what
had snapped asunder his pleasant fanciesl
his exhilaration'
1t was his wife's sigh-low, tremulous,
scarcely audible-which had penetrated
his sc / and ranked there, rs If imbued
with sphysical potency. Ii was the sigh
Of his wife, gentle, patient, ~uncomplain-
ing, that had stirred him from his dreams.
He rose from his chair. He paced up and
down the room. He never sighed. Why
should his wife sighy And why should
that sigh produce such inward i'll! Had
he said aught unkindy Was he not al
ways gentle 10 herr
His wife's sigh. She was not looking
30 young. There were strcaks of gray in
her hair, and her cheeks were not so full
and round. His wife's sigh! Was it not
her wealth that gave him leisure n in
dependence Wa il not her influence
that had spread his famcY Did her sigh
imply regret at her choice, or her bitter
disappointment
The preacher had u conscience, and II
was making a sharp fight, Jacobs con-
test Of old with the wrestling angel finds
It's parallel In many an inward struggle OF
the human soul. The preachers few
minutes Of agony seemed us long as the
hours TO the patriarch, and he too pre-
vailed, and his heart was changed, like the
name Of his prototype.
II would like TO see him 90 muchV'
The tones Of u fresh, strong voice fell upon
his ear as the curtain was drawn aside
and a young man entered.
"Ah, doctor, ! could not resist the do