The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1889-03-29

just beginning to shave. Actually
at Deacon Smiths they were study.
ing their Sunday.school in the sit.
ting-room. He hoped no one but
himself had made these obserya.
tions.
They drove to their usual hitch.
ing.post under a rock-maple tree,
and alighted. Tim hurried to open
the gate.
1t waslocked. No trace of the sex.
ton even; only the cool, sweet air
rustled through the trees. Above,
thewhite clouds rolled up in great
fleecy masses, as if they were trying
to afford q deeper look into the blue
sky, and the Sabbath morning still
ness rested upon the sacred place
like the peace of God. Four people
looked inquiringly at each other.
1--WE are making up for past often
ces," said David, with a faint smile.
Perhaps there isn't any meeting
to-day" suggested Susie, and inn
mcdiately felt as ifdeception was driv-
ing her deeper and deeper.
ats the strangest thing I ever
knew" remarked Mrs. Baker, and
then wondered if she had told q lie.
They found window that was
unfastened. The boy crept in, and
opened a side-door. He proposed
TINT they take Il ride, but this plan
was promptly vetoed by his mother.
When the family entered the build
ing and looked at the clock, it was
five minutes past nine.
Theyoung minister, who had been
writing Il new sermon through the
week, had not succeeded in rounding
off the closing period. 1t had oc-
cured to him that u few minutes
alone in the church might furnish the
needed inspiration. Living close by,
he walked over; but what was his
amazement to be met Mt the en-
trance by Mr.. Baker, and utter him
by the whole family.
"What is the meaning of this?" he
exclaimed.
Mr.. Bakerhad by this time return
ed to his usual sense of humor.
''Why, you see, brother, you made
such an impression on lis Inst Sun.
day that we thought we wouldn go
home ut all, so we stayed through
the week, and here we are"
"No," interposed Uncle David,
chat is stretching the story; we
came here last nj ght 80 as to be up
in good season this morning."
''But what is it, friends? You arc
giving me an awful sense of rcspon-
sibility."
"Well," answered Mr.. Baker, "I'n
own up. thought Id be on time,
and please my wife and daughter this
morning, so l gave the clock II little
push, and suppose sent it too far
ahead-that is ALL"
"Oh, phi" cried Susie, with burn
ing cheeks, sit is all my fault. l got
up and put the clock ahead twenty
minutes, SO we could come early to-
day."
This was too much for Uncle Da-
yid's generosity.
ooh, come, put it along this
morning myself an hour when l first
went out"
"Well," burst in Mrs. Baker, 81
did better than any of you, for i put
it along twenty minutes last night
when l locked up the house."
BY this time the minister had
dropped upon a seat, while the fam
lily, after staring at each other for n
moment, followed him in n paroxysm
of laughter. Then the clergyman
wiped hiseyes, shook hands all round,
and hastened home just us the SEX
ton appeared in the yard. The min
lister entered his pulpit Mt the usual
time in some trepidation, for fear
that a GLIMPSE Of the Baker family
would overcome his gravity.
But no such result followed. The
hearty laugh had only reused quick
ness of thought and energyof speech
and hef preached with unusual power.
The family clockIwas never made
to swerve from it's faithful time-keep-
ing again, but a steady improve
ment of MIR. Bakers punctuality in
church-going was apparent from
that date.-Christian Union.