The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1889-10-19

.cautionary measure, had employed the
divinity student to preach the previous
Sunday. Then he had written to sew
eral well-informed clergymen in the
denomination, and had interviewed
the editor of the jackson Ensign. The
editor could give him little satisfac-
ton; but under the spur 1f certain re-
marks of the chairman volunteered to
go to Barnbury and investigate.
On Thursday-it was a dark Thurs
day to Rev. Phineas Dustin-the chair
man received several replies to his let
tiers of inquiry. all speaking of Rev.
Phineas Dustin as a man above re-
proach. standing high in the opinion of
his brethren and never having been
settled at Barnbury; that Huckins was
his home and had been for years, and
not a temporary asylum from Barnbury.
Then did the chairman's wrath rise
high, and he hurried out to find
Briefly. After searching for him in
both the stores. in all the lighthouses
and along the wharves, he finally went
to his home and, unexpectedly, found
him there. 1t was owing to a sprained
ankle which forbade him the pleasure
of going out on search for gossip.
The chairman read the reporter the
letters he had received. He listened
amused inteSest, and then coolly
remarked: Then our parson isn't
the Barnbury parson, after all!' The
chairman lowered, he threatened, he
showed the reporter how great was
the injury done an innocent man,
and also the church. Briefly only
shrugged his shoulders. laughed lit
tie, and blew cloud of tobacco smoke
toward the aroused church officer.
While this was going on the editor
of the Ensign came in, having driven
down from jackson junction to tell
Briefly what q mistake had been made,
and to forestall the Indignation which
he felt sure would be aroused when
go to Barnbury, but had telegraphed d
friend there, and learned that the
Poke Island minister was not the man
he had supposed, SO he had hurried at
once to Briefly.
The editor viewed the matter from
different standpoint than did Briefly.
He had more at stake in his paper, and
he was more of a man. So. when he
had read the letters the chairman had
received he readily consented to go to
Parson Dustin and explain and apollo
gize. Briefly sncered at his weakness.
but was little disconnected when his
chief quietly informed him that he
need send no further communications
to the Ensign, as none from him would
be received. He kept his word to the
joy OF all Poke Island.
Rev. Phineas Dustin received his
callers in the sitting room of Deacon
Purkis, the deacon and his wife re-
naming by request. The editor told
his story as we have here told it, and
the chairman showed what had been
/ his share in the affair and produced
Akae letters Both of them, like true
men, sought to make amends. The
parson was amazed. With tears flow
ing he took these men by the hand and
begged them to forget it all, that he
bore them only love, Then he prayed
such prayer of thanksgiving for de-
liverance from evil that he uncon-
sciously showed the four how much he
| had suffered.
Now the clouds had cleared away
and he was again to preach, Carefully
did he prepare for the Sabbath serv-
ices.
By Sunday the news had spread
among the people, and that day they
seemed to feel that as a matte" of pen
ance or apology they should attend
church. The result was that when
Rev. Phineas Dustin stepped upon the
platform he faced crowded house -
and the faces were full of sympathy.
How sweetly did he beam upon them
from over his spectacles. He was never
so full of love-never so clear and
logical and impressive in his sermon.
He did not refer TO the cruel matter
of the past week publicly, and was
quite displeased when several of the
crowd who came up after the sermon
TO shake hands, spoke of the affair
shamefacedly.
The next night there was a parish
meeting. 80 sweet a spirit" $50
eloquent" learned" ''gentlemanly;"
such were the expressions heard at
the meeting, which voted unanimously
to extend a call to Rev. Phiueas Dustin
to become their pastor.
The call was accepted, and his labors
began at once. He left town only long
enough to get his wife and their house
bold effects in Huckins and transport
them to the Poke Island parsonage.
Last evening the people gave their
pastor and wife a reception in the
yestry of the church. All the town
was there except Tom Briefly. He
has gone out OF the newspaper line.
The chairman, the deacon and the
Squire each made neat little speech;
but by request of Rev. Phineas Dustin
no reference was made to the late un-
nleasant mistake in identity, and only