Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-12-15
THE DEACOH'S WEEK.
Try Rose Terry Cooke.l

give out the hymn; but he did not give 1t
out-he laid his book down on the table
and looked about on his church.
he was man of simplicity and sincerity,
fully in earnest to do the Lords work, and
do it with all his might; but he did some
times feel discouraged. His congregation
was mixture of farmers and mechanics,
for Sugar Hollow was cut in two by Sugar
Brook-a brawling, noisy stream that
turned the wheel of many mill and man
ufactory: yet on the hills around it there
was still scattered population, eating
their bread in the full perception Of the
primeval curse. So he had to contend with
the keen brain and skeptical comment OF
the men who piqued themselves on power
to hammer at theological problems as well
as hot iron, with the Jealousy and repul-
sion and bitter feeling that has bred the
communistic hordes abroad and at home
while perhaps he had still harder task
to awaken the sluggish souls OF those who
used their days to struggle with barren
hillside and rocky pasture for more food
and clothing, and their nights to sleep the
dull sleep Of physical fatigue and mental
vacuity.
1t seemed sometimes to Mr. Parkes that
nothing but the trump of Gabriel could
arouse his people from their sins and make
them believe on the Lord and follow His
footsteps. To-day-no-a long time be-
fore today-he had unused and prayed till
an idea took shape in his thoughts, and
now he was to put it in practice; yet he
felt peculiarly responsible and sol
emnized as he looked about him and fore
BODIED the success of his experiment. Then
there flashed across him, as words OF
Scripture will come back to the habitual
Bible reader, the noble utterance of Ga
maliel concerning Peter and his brethren
when they stood before the council: ''Ii
this counsel or this work be of men, it will
come to naught but if it be of God We
cannot overthrow it," So, with a sense OF
strength the minister spoke.
;'My dear friends" he said, you all
know, though did not give any notice to
that effect, that this week is the Week OF
Prayer. l have mind to ask you to make
it for this once week of practice instead
| think we may discover some things,
some of the things of God, in this manner,
that a succession of prayer-meetings would
not perhaps so thoroughly reveal to us.
Now when say this don't mean to have
you go home and vaguely endeavor to
walk strais hit in the old way; l want you
to take TOPICS as they are called, for the
prayer-meetings.
"For instance, Monday is prayer for the
temperance work. Try all that day to be
temperate in speech, in act, in indulgence
of any kind that is hurtful to you. The
next day is for Sunday schools; go and
visit your scholars, such of you as are
teachers, and try to feel that they have
living souls to save. Wednesday is day
for fellowship meeting; we are cordially
invited to attend a UNION meeting of this
sort at Bantam Few of US can 90 twenty
FIVE miles to be with our brethren there
let US spend that day in cultivating our
brethren here; let us go and see those who
have been cold to rs for some reason, heal
up our breaches of friendship, confess our
shortcoming one to another, and act as if
in our Masters words, all We are breth-
rem
Thursday is the day to pray for the
family relation; let US each try to be to
orr families on that day in a measure
what the Lord is to his family, the church,
remembering the words, Fathers, provoke
not your children to anger Husbands,
love your wives, and be not bitter against
them These are texts rarely commented
upon, have noticed, in our conference
meetings; we are more apt to speak of the
obedience due from our children, and the
submission and meekness our wives owe
us, forgetting that duties are always recip-
rocal.
Friday the church is to be prayed for
Let US, then, each for himself try to act
that day just as we think Christ our great
Exemplar would have acted in our places
Let us try to prove to ourselves and to the
world about US that we have not taken upon
US his name lightly or in vain. Saturday is
prayer day for the heather and foreign
missions. Brethren, you know and l know
that there are heather at our doors here !;
let every one of you who will take that
day to preach the gospel to some one who
does not hear it anywhere else. Perhaps
you will find work that We know not Of
lying in your midst And let US all, on
Saturday evening, meet here again, and
choose some one brother to relate his ex-
perience of the week. You who are will
ing to try this method please to rise"
Everybody rose, except old Amos Tucker
who never stirred, though his wife pulled
at him and whispered to him imploringly
He only shook his grizzled head and sat
immovable.
LET US sing the doxology," said Mr..
Parkes, and it was sung with full fervor
The new idea had reused the church fully;
it was something fixed and positive to do;
il vas the lever-point Archimedes longed
for, and each felt ready and strong to move
the world
Saturday night the church assembled
again. The cheerful eagerness was gone
from their faces; they looked downcast,
troubled, weary, as the pastor expected
When the box for the ballots was passed
about, each one tore bit of paper from
the sheet placed in the hymn books for
that purpose, and wrote on it name
The pastor said, after he had counted
them:
Deacon Emmons, the lot has fallen on
you"
'I'm sorry fort" said the deacon, rising
up and taking off his overcoat. 81 haint
got the best Of records, Mr.. Parkes, now L
tell ye"
@ihat isn't what we want" said Mr..
Parkes. eve want the whole experience
of some one among US, and we know you
will not tell US either more or less than
what you did experience"
Deacon Emmons was a short, thick-set
man, with shrewd, kindly face and gray
hair who kept the village store, and had
a well-earned reputation for honesty.
"Well, brethren" he said, 81 dono why
l shouldn't tell it. l am pretty well
ashamed of myself no doubt, but l ought
to be, and maybe l shall profit by what Pve
found out these six days back, I'll tell you
Just as it come. Monday / looked about
me, to begin with. l am amszin' fond Of
coffee, and it amt good for me-the doctor
says it amt; but, dear me, it does set a
man up good cold mornings to have cup
of hot, sweet, tasty drink, and | haven't
had the grit to refuse. knew it made me
what folks call nervous, and | call cross,
before night comes; and l knew it fetched
on spells of low spirits, when our folks
couldn't get a word out of me-not a good
one, anyway; so | thought I'd try on that
to begin with. l tell you it come hard
hankered after that drink of coffee dread
full Seemed as though l couldn't eat my